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Genesis 31:43-55
Legacy Standard Bible

The Covenant at Mizpah

43 Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and (A)the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these daughters of mine or to their children whom they have borne? 44 So now come, let us (B)cut a covenant, [a]you and I, and (C)let it be a witness between [b]you and me.” 45 Then Jacob took (D)a stone and raised it up as a pillar. 46 And Jacob said to his [c]relatives, “Gather stones.” So they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. 47 And Laban (E)called it [d]Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it [e]Galeed. 48 Then Laban said, “(F)This heap is a witness between [f]you and me this day.” Therefore it was named Galeed, 49 and [g](G)Mizpah, for he said, “May Yahweh watch between [h]you and me when we are [i]absent one from the other. 50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us, see, (H)God is witness between [j]you and me.” 51 And Laban said to Jacob, “Behold this heap and behold the pillar which I have set between [k]you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass by this heap to you for harm, and you will not pass by this heap and this pillar to me for harm. 53 (I)The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, (J)judge between us.” So Jacob swore by (K)the dread of his father Isaac. 54 Then Jacob (L)offered a sacrifice on the mountain and called his [l]relatives to eat a [m]meal; and they ate [n]the meal and spent the night on the mountain. 55 [o]And Laban arose early in the morning and (M)kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 31:44 Lit I and you
  2. Genesis 31:44 Lit me and you
  3. Genesis 31:46 Lit brothers
  4. Genesis 31:47 Lit the heap of witness in Aram
  5. Genesis 31:47 Lit the heap of witness in Heb
  6. Genesis 31:48 Lit me and you
  7. Genesis 31:49 Lit the watchtower
  8. Genesis 31:49 Lit me and you
  9. Genesis 31:49 Lit hidden
  10. Genesis 31:50 Lit me and you
  11. Genesis 31:51 Lit me and you
  12. Genesis 31:54 Lit brothers
  13. Genesis 31:54 Lit bread
  14. Genesis 31:54 Lit bread
  15. Genesis 31:55 Ch 32:1 in Heb
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Genesis 31:43-55
New Living Translation

Jacob’s Treaty with Laban

43 Then Laban replied to Jacob, “These women are my daughters, these children are my grandchildren, and these flocks are my flocks—in fact, everything you see is mine. But what can I do now about my daughters and their children? 44 So come, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and it will be a witness to our commitment.”

45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a monument. 46 Then he told his family members, “Gather some stones.” So they gathered stones and piled them in a heap. Then Jacob and Laban sat down beside the pile of stones to eat a covenant meal. 47 To commemorate the event, Laban called the place Jegar-sahadutha (which means “witness pile” in Aramaic), and Jacob called it Galeed (which means “witness pile” in Hebrew).

48 Then Laban declared, “This pile of stones will stand as a witness to remind us of the covenant we have made today.” This explains why it was called Galeed—“Witness Pile.” 49 But it was also called Mizpah (which means “watchtower”), for Laban said, “May the Lord keep watch between us to make sure that we keep this covenant when we are out of each other’s sight. 50 If you mistreat my daughters or if you marry other wives, God will see it even if no one else does. He is a witness to this covenant between us.

51 “See this pile of stones,” Laban continued, “and see this monument I have set between us. 52 They stand between us as witnesses of our vows. I will never pass this pile of stones to harm you, and you must never pass these stones or this monument to harm me. 53 I call on the God of our ancestors—the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of my grandfather Nahor—to serve as a judge between us.”

So Jacob took an oath before the fearsome God of his father, Isaac,[a] to respect the boundary line. 54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice to God there on the mountain and invited everyone to a covenant feast. After they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.

55 [b]Laban got up early the next morning, and he kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.

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Footnotes

  1. 31:53 Or the Fear of his father, Isaac.
  2. 31:55 Verse 31:55 is numbered 32:1 in Hebrew text.
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Genesis 31:43-55
New International Version

43 Laban answered Jacob, “The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks.(A) All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne? 44 Come now, let’s make a covenant,(B) you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.”(C)

45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.(D) 46 He said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and piled them in a heap,(E) and they ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.[a](F)

48 Laban said, “This heap(G) is a witness between you and me today.”(H) That is why it was called Galeed. 49 It was also called Mizpah,[b](I) because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. 50 If you mistreat(J) my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness(K) between you and me.”(L)

51 Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is this heap,(M) and here is this pillar(N) I have set up between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness,(O) that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap(P) and pillar to my side to harm me.(Q) 53 May the God of Abraham(R) and the God of Nahor,(S) the God of their father, judge between us.”(T)

So Jacob took an oath(U) in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac.(V) 54 He offered a sacrifice(W) there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal.(X) After they had eaten, they spent the night there.

55 Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters(Y) and blessed(Z) them. Then he left and returned home.[c](AA)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 31:47 The Aramaic Jegar Sahadutha and the Hebrew Galeed both mean witness heap.
  2. Genesis 31:49 Mizpah means watchtower.
  3. Genesis 31:55 In Hebrew texts this verse (31:55) is numbered 32:1.
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