“And what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?”
The full verse · Genesis 31:43 · KJV
And and unto , These are my , and these are my , and these are my , and all that thou is mine: and what can I this unto these my , unto their which they have ?
Asked by
Asked to
Jacob, Laban’s son-in-law, with the broader witness of both households present at this confrontation.
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionLaban asks this question to save face after failing to retrieve his daughters and grandchildren by force, shifting from accusation to feigned paternal concern while implicitly admitting he has no legal or practical recourse to stop Jacob’s departure.
The Response
What Scripture recordsJacob proposed making a covenant with Laban, and both men gathered stones to build a witness heap called Galeed, swearing not to pass that boundary with hostile intent toward each other (Genesis 31:44-54).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyLaban’s question reveals the bitter recognition that his claims mean nothing against God’s blessing. Though he asserts ownership over daughters, grandchildren, and flocks, the Hebrew interrogative ‘mah ‘e’eseh’ (what can I do) exposes his utter powerlessness to enforce those claims. He asks rather than commands because he knows Jacob has grown too strong and God too favorable for threats to work. The question carries theological weight: human authority collapses when it conflicts with divine purpose, and no earthly father can reclaim what God has transferred to another household.
Ever felt powerless when someone you once controlled walks away blessed? Laban’s question stings with the realization that control was always an illusion. When God moves someone beyond your reach, the gracious response is covenant, not coercion. Release them with blessing rather than clinging to claims that mean nothing before heaven. As Proverbs 21:30 reminds us, no wisdom or plan succeeds against the Lord’s purpose. The grace to let go is also the grace to move forward.
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