Génesis 31
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Jacob decide volver a Canaán
31 Pero Jacob oyó las palabras de los hijos de Labán, que decían[a]: «Jacob se ha apoderado de todo lo que era de nuestro padre, y de lo que era de nuestro padre ha hecho toda esta riqueza[b]». 2 También Jacob observó[c] la actitud[d] de Labán, que ya no era amigable para con él como antes.
3 Entonces el Señor dijo a Jacob: «Vuelve a la tierra de tus padres y a tus familiares(A), y Yo estaré contigo(B)». 4 Jacob, pues, envió a llamar a Raquel y a Lea al campo, donde estaba su rebaño[e], 5 y les dijo: «Veo que el semblante de su padre no es amigable para conmigo como antes(C). Pero el Dios de mi padre ha estado conmigo(D).
6 »Ustedes saben que he servido a su padre con todas mis fuerzas(E). 7 No obstante él[f] me ha engañado(F), y ha cambiado mi salario diez veces(G); sin embargo, Dios no le ha permitido perjudicarme(H). 8 Si él decía: “Las moteadas serán tu salario”, entonces todo el rebaño paría moteadas; y si decía: “Las rayadas serán tu salario”, entonces todo el rebaño paría rayadas(I). 9 De esta manera Dios ha quitado el ganado al padre de ustedes y me lo ha dado a mí(J).
10 »Y sucedió que por el tiempo cuando el rebaño estaba en celo[g], alcé los ojos y vi en sueños que los machos cabríos que cubrían las hembras[h] eran rayados, moteados y abigarrados. 11 Entonces el ángel de Dios(K) me dijo en el sueño: “Jacob”; y yo respondí: “Aquí estoy”. 12 Y él dijo: “Levanta ahora los ojos y ve que todos los machos cabríos que están cubriendo las hembras[i] son rayados, moteados y abigarrados, pues yo he visto todo lo que Labán te ha hecho(L). 13 Yo soy el Dios de Betel(M), donde tú ungiste un pilar(N), donde me hiciste un voto. Levántate ahora, sal de esta tierra, y vuelve a la tierra donde naciste[j](O)”».
14 Raquel y Lea le respondieron: «¿Tenemos todavía nosotras parte o herencia alguna en la casa de nuestro padre? 15 ¿No nos ha tratado como extranjeras? Pues nos ha vendido, y también ha consumido por completo el[k] precio de nuestra compra[l](P). 16 Ciertamente, toda la riqueza que Dios ha quitado de nuestro padre es nuestra y de nuestros hijos; ahora pues, todo lo que Dios te ha dicho, hazlo».
Jacob huye de Labán
17 Entonces Jacob se levantó, montó a sus hijos y a sus mujeres en los camellos, 18 y puso en camino todo su ganado y todas las posesiones que había acumulado, el ganado adquirido que había acumulado en Padán Aram, para ir a Isaac su padre(Q), a la tierra de Canaán. 19 Mientras Labán había ido a trasquilar sus ovejas, Raquel robó los ídolos domésticos[m] que eran de su padre(R). 20 Jacob engañó a Labán[n] arameo al no informarle que huía.
21 Huyó, pues, Jacob con todo lo que tenía. Se levantó, cruzó el río Éufrates y se dirigió[o] hacia la región montañosa de Galaad(S).
Labán alcanza a Jacob
22 Al tercer día, cuando informaron a Labán que Jacob había huido, 23 tomó a sus parientes[p] consigo y lo persiguió por siete días; y lo alcanzó en los montes de Galaad. 24 Pero Dios vino a Labán arameo(T) en sueños durante la noche(U), y le dijo: «De ningún modo hables a Jacob ni bien ni mal(V)».
25 Alcanzó, pues, Labán a Jacob, quien había plantado su tienda en la región montañosa, y Labán y sus parientes acamparon en los montes de Galaad. 26 Entonces Labán dijo a Jacob: «¿Qué has hecho, engañándome y[q] llevándote a mis hijas como si fueran cautivas de guerra[r]? 27 ¿Por qué huiste en secreto y me engañaste[s], y no me avisaste para que yo pudiera despedirte con alegría y cantos, con panderos(W) y liras(X)? 28 ¿Por qué no me has permitido besar a mis hijos y a mis hijas(Y)? En esto[t] has obrado neciamente. 29 Tengo poder para[u] hacerte daño, pero anoche el Dios de tu[v] padre(Z) me dijo: “De ningún modo hables a Jacob ni bien ni mal(AA)”. 30 Ahora, ciertamente te has marchado porque anhelabas mucho la casa de tu padre. Pero ¿por qué robaste mis dioses(AB)?».
31 Entonces Jacob respondió a Labán: «Porque tuve miedo, pues dije: “No sea que me quites a tus hijas a la fuerza”. 32 Pero aquel con quien encuentres tus dioses, no vivirá(AC). En presencia de nuestros parientes indica[w] lo que es tuyo entre mis cosas[x] y llévatelo». Pues Jacob no sabía que Raquel los había robado.
33 Entró entonces Labán en la tienda de Jacob, en la tienda de Lea y en la tienda de las dos siervas, pero no los encontró. Después salió de la tienda de Lea y entró en la tienda de Raquel. 34 Raquel había tomado los ídolos domésticos[y], los había puesto en los aparejos del camello y se había sentado sobre ellos. Y Labán buscó[z] por toda la tienda, pero no los encontró. 35 Y ella dijo a su padre: «No se enoje mi señor porque no pueda levantarme delante de usted(AD), pues estoy con lo que es común entre las mujeres[aa]». Y él buscó, pero no encontró los ídolos domésticos[ab](AE).
Jacob responde a Labán
36 Entonces se enojó Jacob y discutió con Labán. Y Jacob dijo a Labán: «¿Cuál es mi transgresión? ¿Cuál es mi pecado para que con tanta insistencia me hayas perseguido? 37 Aunque has buscado en[ac] todas mis cosas, ¿qué has hallado de todas las cosas de tu casa? Ponlo delante de mis parientes y de tus parientes para que ellos juzguen entre nosotros dos.
38 »Estos veinte años yo he estado contigo. Tus ovejas y tus cabras no han abortado, ni yo he comido los carneros de tus rebaños. 39 No te traía lo despedazado por las fieras. Yo cargaba con la pérdida. Tú lo demandabas de mi mano, tanto lo robado de día como lo robado de noche. 40 Estaba yo que de día el calor[ad] me consumía y de noche la helada, y el[ae] sueño huía de mis ojos. 41 Estos veinte años he estado en tu casa. Catorce años te serví por tus dos hijas(AF) y seis por tu rebaño, y diez veces cambiaste mi salario(AG).
42 »Si el Dios de mi padre, Dios de Abraham(AH), y temor de Isaac, no hubiera estado conmigo, ciertamente me hubieras enviado ahora con las manos vacías. Pero Dios ha visto mi aflicción(AI) y la labor de mis manos[af], y anoche hizo justicia[ag](AJ)».
Pacto entre Labán y Jacob
43 Respondió Labán a Jacob: «Las hijas son mis hijas, y los hijos mis hijos, y los rebaños mis rebaños, y todo lo que ves es mío(AK). ¿Pero qué puedo yo hacer hoy a estas mis hijas, o a sus hijos que ellas dieron a luz? 44 Ahora bien, ven, hagamos un pacto tú y yo(AL) y que sirva de testimonio(AM) entre los dos».
45 Entonces Jacob tomó una piedra y la levantó como señal[ah](AN). 46 Y Jacob dijo a sus parientes: «Recojan piedras». Y tomaron piedras e hicieron un montón, y comieron allí junto al montón. 47 Labán lo llamó Jegar Sahaduta[ai], pero Jacob lo llamó Galed[aj](AO).
48 Entonces Labán dijo: «Este montón es hoy un testigo entre tú y yo(AP)». Por eso fue llamado Galed, 49 y Mizpa[ak](AQ), porque dijo: «Que el Señor nos vigile a los dos[al] cuando nos hayamos apartado[am] el uno del otro. 50 Si maltratas a mis hijas, o si tomas otras mujeres además de mis hijas, aunque nadie lo sepa[an], mira, Dios es testigo entre tú y yo(AR)».
51 Y Labán dijo a Jacob: «Mira este montón, y mira el pilar que he puesto entre tú y yo. 52 Testigo sea este montón y testigo sea el pilar de que yo no pasaré de este montón hacia ti y tú no pasarás de este montón y de este pilar hacia mí, para hacer daño. 53 El Dios de Abraham(AS) y el Dios de Nacor, Dios de sus padres, juzgue entre nosotros(AT)». Entonces Jacob juró por el que temía su padre Isaac(AU).
54 Luego ofreció Jacob un sacrificio en el monte, y llamó a sus parientes a comer. Comieron(AV), y pasaron la noche en el monte. 55 Labán se levantó muy de mañana, besó a sus hijos y a sus hijas(AW), y los bendijo. Entonces Labán se fue y regresó a su lugar.
Footnotes
- 31:1 Lit. diciendo.
- 31:1 Lit. gloria.
- 31:2 O vio.
- 31:2 Lit. el rostro.
- 31:4 Lit. a su rebaño.
- 31:7 Lit. su padre.
- 31:10 O se apareaba.
- 31:10 Lit. el rebaño.
- 31:12 Lit. el rebaño.
- 31:13 Lit. de tu nacimiento.
- 31:15 I.e. disfrutado los beneficios del.
- 31:15 Lit. dinero nuestro.
- 31:19 Heb. terafim.
- 31:20 Lit. robó el corazón de Labán.
- 31:21 Lit. fijó su rostro.
- 31:23 Lit. hermanos, y así en el resto del cap.
- 31:26 Lit. y has robado mi corazón.
- 31:26 Lit. de la espada.
- 31:27 Lit. me robaste.
- 31:28 Lit. Ahora.
- 31:29 Lit. Está en el poder de mi mano.
- 31:29 Así en la versión gr. (sept.); en heb. hacerles daño…de su.
- 31:32 Lit. reconoce.
- 31:32 Lit. conmigo.
- 31:34 Heb. terafim.
- 31:34 Lit. palpó.
- 31:35 Lit. la costumbre de las mujeres es sobre mí.
- 31:35 Heb. terafim.
- 31:37 Lit. palpado.
- 31:40 O la sequía.
- 31:40 Lit. mi.
- 31:42 Lit. palmas.
- 31:42 O te reprendió.
- 31:45 Lit. pilar.
- 31:47 I.e. el montón del testimonio, en arameo.
- 31:47 I.e. el montón del testimonio, en Heb.
- 31:49 I.e. Vigía.
- 31:49 Lit. vigile entre tú y yo.
- 31:49 Lit. escondido.
- 31:50 Lit. ningún hombre esté con nosotros.
Genesis 31
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 31
Jacob Flees from Laban.[a] 1 Jacob came to know what the sons of Laban were saying: “Jacob is taking what belonged to our father, and he has gotten all his wealth from what belonged to our father.” 2 And Jacob saw that Laban’s attitude toward him had changed.
3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers, to your homeland, and I will be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah who were in the fields with the flocks 5 and he told them, “I see that your father’s attitude to me is not like it was before. Still, the God of my father is with me. 6 You yourselves know that I have served your father with all my strength, 7 while your father has cheated and changed my salary ten times. But God did not let him harm me. 8 If he said, ‘The speckled animals will be your salary,’ then all the animals born were speckled. If he said, ‘The streaked animals will be your salary,’ then all the animals born were streaked. 9 Thus, God took back your father’s animals and gave them to me.
10 “Once, when the animals were in heat, I had a dream. I looked out and saw that the he-goats that were streaked, speckled, and mottled were ready to breed. 11 The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob!’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 12 He continued, ‘Look up and see: all the goats that are ready to breed are streaked, speckled, and mottled because I saw what Laban has done to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made an oath to me. Now, rise, leave this country, and return to your homeland.’ ”
14 Rachel and Leah answered, “Do we still have property or an inheritance in the house of our father? 15 Are we not considered to be outsiders by him? He sold us and then used up our money. 16 All those things that God has taken from our father belong to us and to our children. Do what God has told you to do.”
17 Jacob got up, placed his children and his wives on camels, 18 and led all the animals away. He took all his possessions with him, including the animals that he acquired in Paddan-aram, in order to return to Isaac, his father, in the land of Canaan.
19 When Laban had gone to shear the sheep, Rachel stole the household idols[b] that belonged to her father. 20 Jacob sneaked away from Laban the Aramean, not letting him know that he was about to flee. 21 This way he was able to go with all his possessions. He rose, crossed the river,[c] and traveled toward the mountains of Gilead.
22 Laban Pursues Jacob.[d] On the third day, Laban was told that Jacob had fled. 23 He took his kinsmen with him and followed him for seven days. He caught up to him in the mountains of Gilead. 24 Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to do anything to Jacob, not a thing!”
25 Laban therefore went and caught up to Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tents in the mountains, and Laban and his kinsmen were also camped in the mountains of Gilead. 26 Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You sneaked away and carried off my daughters as if they were prisoners of war! 27 Why did you secretly flee away and cheat me? Why did you not let me know? I would have given you a celebration with songs and the music of the tambourines and the harp. 28 You did not let me kiss my grandsons and my daughters. This was surely a foolish thing that you have done. 29 Realize that I could harm you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night. He forbade me to do anything to Jacob, not a thing. 30 I realize that you left because you were homesick for the house of your father, but why have you robbed my household idols?”
31 Jacob answered Laban and said, “I was afraid, and I thought that you would take your daughters back with force. 32 But as for whoever you find has taken your household idols, he will be put to death. With our relatives looking on, see if you can find anything belonging to you and take it.” Jacob did not know that Rachel had robbed them.
33 Laban entered Jacob’s tent and then the tent of Leah and the tent of the two slaves, but he did not find anything. Then he went out from Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the idols and had placed them under a camel’s saddle and had then sat upon it. Laban searched throughout the whole tent and did not find them.
35 She said to her father, “Please do not be offended, my lord, if I cannot rise in your presence, but I am having my monthly time.”[e] Laban therefore searched in the entire tent and did not find the idols.
36 Jacob was angry now and scolded Laban saying, “What crime have I committed, what sin did I do that you followed me? 37 Now that you have searched all my possessions, what have you found that belongs to you? Place it before me and your relatives and let it serve as evidence for or against me.
38 “I spent twenty years with you. None of your sheep or goats ever miscarried. I never ate any of the rams of your flock. 39 I never brought you an animal that had been injured by a wild beast. I made good for the loss myself. You held me responsible for whatever was robbed during the day and for whatever was robbed during the night. 40 By day I was burnt by the sun and by night I suffered from the cold, and I spent many sleepless nights. 41 Twenty years I was with you. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my salary ten times. 42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Terror of Isaac, had not been with me, you would have sent me away with nothing. But God saw my affliction and the work of my hands, and last night he was my judge.”
43 Laban then answered Jacob and said, “These daughters are my daughters and these grandsons are my grandsons. These cattle are my cattle, and all you see is mine. What could I do to you today and to these daughters and to the children whom they have brought into the world? 44 Come, let us make a covenant between me and you, and let it be a witness between me and you.”
45 Jacob took a stone and erected it as a pillar. 46 Then he said to his relatives, “Collect some stones,” and they took stones and made a mound out of them. They then ate sitting upon the mound. 47 Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, while Jacob called it Galeed.
48 Laban said, “Let this mound be today a witness between me and you.” Because of this he called it Galeed 49 and also Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between me and you when we will no longer see each other.[f] 50 If you mistreat my daughters and take other wives besides my daughters, be warned that God will be a judge between you and me.”
51 Laban continued and said to Jacob, “Behold this mound and this pillar that I have erected between me and you. 52 Let this mound be a witness, and this pillar be a witness, that I will not cross over past this mound to do you harm and that you will not cross over past this mound and this pillar to do me harm. 53 The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor be a judge between us.”
Jacob swore an oath by the name of the Terror of his father Isaac. 54 Then he offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat with him. They ate and spent the night on the mountain.
Footnotes
- Genesis 31:1 Stemming from a different source, this account endeavors to show that Jacob is right in his quarrels with Laban; God himself has made him prosper. Overflowing with riches, Jacob judges it more prudent to put an end to their deteriorating relations, after having rallied his wives to his cause.
- Genesis 31:19 Household idols (Hebrew, teraphim) were small statues of divinities worshiped by the family (see v. 30). They belonged by right to the principal heir.
- Genesis 31:21 The river was the Euphrates. Gilead is the mountainous region east of the Jordan.
- Genesis 31:22 The greedy uncle pursues Jacob in anger, but Rachel saves the situation through guile and Jacob takes offense at Laban’s bad faith. The latter finally resigns himself to deal with Jacob, and an agreement is concluded concerning the relations and the pasture rights between Aram and Israel in the Transjordan. Thus, an account, which is not lacking in humor, justifies once again the rightness of Jacob—and of Israel.
- Genesis 31:35 I am having my monthly time: in later times, anything a menstruating woman sat on was considered ritually unclean (Lev 15:20). Rachel, too, had become a deceiver.
- Genesis 31:49 May . . . other: the so-called Mizpah benediction, which in context is in fact a denunciation or curse.
Genesis 31
King James Version
31 And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.
2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
3 And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
5 And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
8 If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.
9 Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.
11 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
12 And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.
14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?
15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
16 For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
17 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
18 And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
19 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.
20 And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
21 So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.
22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
26 And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?
27 Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?
28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.
34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched but found not the images.
36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
37 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.
38 This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
40 Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
43 And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
46 And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
47 And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
48 And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
49 And Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
50 If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.
51 And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee:
52 This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.
53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.
54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
55 And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.
Nueva Biblia de las Américas™ NBLA™ Copyright © 2005 por The Lockman Foundation
