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.
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 King James Version
Jacob Flees from Laban
31 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this (A)wealth.” 2 And Jacob saw the (B)countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not (C)favorable toward him as before. 3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, (D)“Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will (E)be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, 5 and said to them, (F)“I see your father’s [a]countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father (G)has been with me. 6 And (H)you know that with all my might I have served your father. 7 Yet your father has deceived me and (I)changed my wages (J)ten times, but God (K)did not allow him to hurt me. 8 If he said thus: (L)‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked. 9 So God has (M)taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.
10 “And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted. 11 Then (N)the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ 12 And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for (O)I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, (P)where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now (Q)arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’ ”
14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, (R)“Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? 15 Are we not considered strangers by him? For (S)he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money. 16 For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.”
17 Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18 And he carried away all his livestock and all his possessions which he had gained, his acquired livestock which he had gained in Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of (T)Canaan. 19 Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the (U)household[b] idols that were her father’s. 20 And Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee. 21 So he fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the river, and (V)headed[c] toward the mountains of Gilead.
Laban Pursues Jacob
22 And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. 23 Then he took (W)his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead. 24 But God (X)had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you (Y)speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.”
25 So Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountains of Gilead.
26 And Laban said to Jacob: “What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and (Z)carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword? 27 Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp? 28 And you did not allow me (AA)to kiss my sons and my daughters. Now (AB)you have done foolishly in so doing. 29 It is in my power to do you harm, but the (AC)God of your father spoke to me (AD)last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.’ 30 And now you have surely gone because you greatly long for your father’s house, but why did you (AE)steal my gods?”
31 Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was (AF)afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’ 32 With whomever you find your gods, (AG)do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
33 And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the two maids’ tents, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the [d]household idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. And Laban [e]searched all about the tent but did not find them. 35 And she said to her father, “Let it not displease my lord that I cannot (AH)rise before you, for the manner of women is with me.” And he searched but did not find the [f]household idols.
36 Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban: “What is my [g]trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued me? 37 Although you have searched all my things, what part of your household things have you found? Set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both! 38 These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock. 39 (AI)That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. (AJ)You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes. 41 Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I (AK)served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and (AL)you have changed my wages ten times. 42 (AM)Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and (AN)the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. (AO)God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and (AP)rebuked you last night.”
Laban’s Covenant with Jacob
43 And Laban answered and said to Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne? 44 Now therefore, come, (AQ)let us make a [h]covenant, (AR)you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.”
45 So Jacob (AS)took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46 Then Jacob said to his brethren, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there on the heap. 47 Laban called it [i]Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it [j]Galeed. 48 And Laban said, (AT)“This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore its name was called Galeed, 49 also (AU)Mizpah,[k] because he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another. 50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take other wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us—see, God is witness between you and me!”
51 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. 53 The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father (AV)judge between us.” And Jacob (AW)swore by (AX)the [l]Fear of his father Isaac. 54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain. 55 And early in the morning Laban arose, and (AY)kissed his sons and daughters and (AZ)blessed them. Then Laban departed and (BA)returned to his place.
Footnotes
- Genesis 31:5 Lit. face
- Genesis 31:19 Heb. teraphim
- Genesis 31:21 Lit. set his face toward
- Genesis 31:34 Heb. teraphim
- Genesis 31:34 Lit. felt
- Genesis 31:35 Heb. teraphim
- Genesis 31:36 transgression
- Genesis 31:44 treaty
- Genesis 31:47 Lit., in Aram., Heap of Witness
- Genesis 31:47 Lit., in Heb., Heap of Witness
- Genesis 31:49 Lit. Watch
- Genesis 31:53 A reference to God
Nueva Biblia de las Américas™ NBLA™ Copyright © 2005 por The Lockman Foundation
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

