Genesis 31: Jacob runs away from Laban
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What happens?
Yahweh tells Jacob to go back to his homeland, and Jacob leaves secretly with his wives, children and flocks, while Rachel steals her father's teraphim. Laban chases them, but God warns him in a dream to say nothing to Jacob, good or bad. The two men argue, then make a covenant at a heap of stones, and Laban goes home.
Who is speaking?
God speaks in 2 of the 55 verses: to Jacob, telling him to go home (verse 3), and to Laban in a dream (verse 24). Jacob, Rachel and Leah, and Laban also speak. When Jacob retells a dream (verses 11-13) and when Laban repeats God's warning (verse 29), those are their words reporting what was said, so they are not gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Jacob heard Laban’s sons’ words, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s. He has obtained all this wealth from that which was our father’s.”
In plain English: Jacob heard that Laban's sons were saying, "Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father. He has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father."
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2Jacob saw the expression on Laban’s face, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
In plain English: Jacob saw from the look on Laban's face that Laban was not as friendly toward him as before.
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3Yahweh said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers, and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Jacob, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you."
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4Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock,
In plain English: So Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah and called them out to the field where his flock was,
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5and said to them, “I see the expression on your father’s face, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.
In plain English: and said to them, "I can see from your father's face that he is not as friendly toward me as before. But the God of my father has been with me.
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6You know that I have served your father with all of my strength.
In plain English: You know that I have worked for your father with all my strength.
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7Your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God didn’t allow him to hurt me.
In plain English: Yet your father has cheated me and changed my pay ten times. But God did not let him harm me.
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8If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore speckled. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore streaked.
In plain English: If he said, 'The speckled ones will be your pay,' then the whole flock had speckled young. If he said, 'The streaked ones will be your pay,' then the whole flock had streaked young.
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9Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock, and given them to me.
In plain English: So God has taken your father's livestock away and given them to me.
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10During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled.
In plain English: In the season when the flocks mate, I looked up and saw in a dream that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled (mottled).
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11The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’
In plain English: The angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob,' and I said, 'Here I am.'
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12He said, ‘Now lift up your eyes, and behold, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and grizzled, for I have seen all that Laban does to you.
In plain English: He said, 'Look up and see: all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled, and grizzled, because I have seen everything Laban is doing to you.
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13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me. Now arise, get out from this land, and return to the land of your birth.’”
In plain English: I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to me. Now get up, leave this land, and go back to the land where you were born.'"
Good to know: Jacob is retelling his dream. In it, the angel of God says, "I am the God of Bethel": the God who spoke to Jacob at Bethel in . The text has the angel speak as God.
Church tradition: Churches read this in different ways. Some teach that God himself appeared as the angel, others that a messenger spoke in God's name. Genesis 31 does not say which.
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14Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
In plain English: Rachel and Leah answered him, "Is there still any share or inheritance for us in our father's house?
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15Aren’t we considered as foreigners by him? For he has sold us, and has also used up our money.
In plain English: Doesn't he count us as foreigners? He sold us, and he has also used up our money.
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16For all the riches which God has taken away from our father are ours and our children’s. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”
In plain English: All the wealth God has taken away from our father belongs to us and our children. So now, do whatever God has told you."
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17Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives on the camels,
In plain English: Then Jacob got up and put his sons and his wives on the camels,
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18and he took away all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had gathered, including the livestock which he had gained in Paddan Aram, to go to Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan.
In plain English: and he drove off all his livestock and took all the goods he had gathered, the livestock he had gained in Paddan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
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19Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep; and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father’s.
In plain English: Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father's teraphim (family idols).
The Hebrew word: "Teraphim" is teraphim, a word for family idols. Laban calls them "my gods" in .
How it is translated: This Bible keeps the Hebrew word "teraphim" in 14 of its 15 verses. Older Bibles like the King James say "images" here.
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20Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian, in that he didn’t tell him that he was running away.
In plain English: Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian (in Hebrew: stole Laban's heart) by not telling him that he was running away.
The Hebrew words: "Deceived" is, word for word, "stole the heart of": Jacob stole Laban's heart. It is the same word as "stole" in , where Rachel steals the teraphim. Laban uses the same words when he accuses Jacob in .
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21So he fled with all that he had. He rose up, passed over the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead.
In plain English: So he ran away with everything he had. He set out, crossed the River, and headed for the mountain of Gilead.
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22Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.
In plain English: On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had run away.
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23He took his relatives with him, and pursued him seven days’ journey. He overtook him in the mountain of Gilead.
In plain English: He took his relatives with him and chased after Jacob for a seven days' journey, and caught up with him in the mountain of Gilead.
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24God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.”God speaks
In plain English: But God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream at night and said to him, "Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, good or bad."
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25Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain, and Laban with his relatives encamped in the mountain of Gilead.
In plain English: Laban caught up with Jacob. Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain, and Laban and his relatives camped in the mountain of Gilead.
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26Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword?
In plain English: Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like prisoners taken in war.
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27Why did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn’t tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp;
In plain English: Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, and not tell me? I would have sent you off with joy and songs, with tambourine and harp.
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28and didn’t allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly.
In plain English: You did not even let me kiss my grandchildren (in Hebrew: my sons) and my daughters. You have acted foolishly.
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29It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.’
In plain English: I have the power to harm you, but last night the God of your father said to me, 'Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, good or bad.'
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30Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father’s house, but why have you stolen my gods?”
In plain English: Now, you have gone because you longed so much for your father's house, but why did you steal my gods?"
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31Jacob answered Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Lest you should take your daughters from me by force.’
In plain English: Jacob answered Laban, "Because I was afraid. I said to myself, 'You might take your daughters away from me by force.'
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32Anyone you find your gods with shall not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it.” For Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had stolen them.
In plain English: Anyone you find your gods with will not live. In front of our relatives, look for anything of yours that I have, and take it." Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
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33Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two female servants; but he didn’t find them. He went out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.
In plain English: Laban went into Jacob's tent, into Leah's tent, and into the tent of the two female servants, but he did not find them. He came out of Leah's tent and went into Rachel's tent.
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34Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt around all the tent, but didn’t find them.
In plain English: Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel's saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt through the whole tent but did not find them.
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35She said to her father, “Don’t let my lord be angry that I can’t rise up before you; for I’m having my period.” He searched, but didn’t find the teraphim.
In plain English: She said to her father, "Don't be angry, my lord, that I can't stand up in front of you, because I'm having my period." He searched, but did not find the teraphim.
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36Jacob was angry, and argued with Laban. Jacob answered Laban, “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me?
In plain English: Jacob was angry and argued with Laban. Jacob said to Laban, "What have I done wrong? What is my sin, that you have chased after me so hotly?
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37Now that you have felt around in all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? Set it here before my relatives and your relatives, that they may judge between us two.
In plain English: You have felt through all my things. What have you found of all your household things? Put it here in front of my relatives and your relatives, and let them judge between the two of us.
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38“These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not cast their young, and I haven’t eaten the rams of your flocks.
In plain English: For these twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not lost their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks.
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39That which was torn of animals, I didn’t bring to you. I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.
In plain English: When an animal was torn by wild animals, I did not bring it to you; I took the loss myself. You made me pay for anything stolen, by day or by night.
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40This was my situation: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from my eyes.
In plain English: This is how it was for me: the heat wore me out by day and the frost by night, and I could not sleep.
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41These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.
In plain English: These twenty years I have been in your house. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you changed my pay ten times.
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42Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.”
In plain English: If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away now with nothing. God has seen my suffering and the hard work of my hands, and he rebuked you (or: gave his judgment) last night."
The Hebrew words: "The fear of Isaac" is pachad Yitschaq, a name for God: the one Isaac feared, or held in awe. It appears only here and in .
How it is translated: In its 48 verses this Bible says "fear" for pachad in about 2 of 3, and "terror" in about 1 in 5.
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43Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine! What can I do today to these my daughters, or to their children whom they have borne?
In plain English: Laban answered Jacob, "The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and everything you see is mine! But what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have had?
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44Now come, let’s make a covenant, you and I. Let it be for a witness between me and you.”
In plain English: So come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me."
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45Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
In plain English: So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.
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46Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” They took stones, and made a heap. They ate there by the heap.
In plain English: Jacob said to his relatives, "Gather stones." They took stones and made a heap, and they ate there beside the heap.
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47Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.
In plain English: Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.
Good to know: Both names mean "heap of witness" (). Laban names it in Aramaic, the language of his people (Jegar Sahadutha), and Jacob in Hebrew (Galeed). "Galeed" also sounds like Gilead, the name of the mountain.
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48Laban said, “This heap is witness between me and you today.” Therefore it was named Galeed
In plain English: Laban said, "This heap is a witness between you and me today." That is why it was named Galeed,
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49and Mizpah, for he said, “Yahweh watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another.
In plain English: and also Mizpah, because he said, "May Yahweh keep watch between you and me when we are out of each other's sight.
Good to know: "Mizpah" sounds like yitseph, "watch", in Laban's words.
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50If you afflict my daughters, or if you take wives in addition to my daughters, no man is with us; behold, God is witness between me and you.”
In plain English: If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take other wives besides my daughters, though no one else is with us, look, God is a witness between you and me."
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51Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap, and see the pillar, which I have set between me and you.
In plain English: Laban said to Jacob, "Look at this heap, and look at the pillar that I have set up between you and me.
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52May this heap be a witness, and the pillar be a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.
In plain English: May this heap be a witness, and the pillar be a witness, that I will not go past this heap to you, and you will not go past this heap and this pillar to me, to do harm.
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53The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the fear of his father, Isaac.
In plain English: May the God of Abraham and the God (or: god) of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us." Then Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac.
Good to know: The Hebrew says "may they judge", for more than one. So Laban's words can also be read as calling on two gods: the God of Abraham and the god of Nahor.
What changes: Read that way, Laban calls on Nahor's god as well as Abraham's God. Jacob swears by "the fear of his father Isaac".
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54Jacob offered a sacrifice in the mountain, and called his relatives to eat bread. They ate bread, and stayed all night in the mountain.
In plain English: Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat bread. They ate bread and spent the night on the mountain.
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55Early in the morning, Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. Laban departed and returned to his place.
In plain English: Early in the morning Laban got up, kissed his grandchildren (in Hebrew: his sons) and his daughters, and blessed them. Then Laban left and went back to his home.
Good to know: In Hebrew Bibles this verse is numbered 32:1. Hebrew chapter 32 starts one verse earlier, so its verse numbers are one higher than in English Bibles.
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