Genesis 31
International Standard Version
Jacob Decides to Leave Laban
31 Now Jacob[a] used to listen while Laban’s sons kept on complaining,[b] “Jacob has taken over everything our father owns! He made himself wealthy from what belongs to our father!” 2 Jacob also noticed that the way[c] Laban had been looking at him wasn’t as nice as it had been just two days earlier.[d]
3 Then the Lord ordered Jacob, “Go back to your father’s territory and to your relatives. I’ll be with you.”
4 Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah to come out to the field where his flock was 5 and informed them, “I’ve noticed that the way[e] your father has been looking at us hasn’t been as nice as it was just two days ago.[f] But my father’s God has been with me. 6 You know I’ve been serving your father with all my heart. 7 Even so, your father has cheated me. He broke our wage agreement ten times. However, God didn’t allow him to harm me.
8 “When Laban said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ then all the flock gave birth to speckled ones. Then when he said, ‘The streaked ones will be your wages,’ all the flock gave birth to streaked offspring.
9 “So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me. 10 As it was, when it was time for the livestock to breed, I once looked up in a dream, and the male goats that were mating[g] with the flock were producing streaked, speckled, and spotted offspring.
11 “Later, the angel of God spoke to me in a dream, ‘Jacob.’
“‘Here I am,’ I replied
12 “‘Look around!’ he said. ‘Go ahead, look! All the male goats have been mating with the flock, producing offspring that are streaked, speckled, and spotted, because I’ve been watching everything that Laban has done to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, the place where you consecrated that stone and made a vow to me. Now get up, leave this territory, and return to your native land.’”[h]
Rachel and Leah Consent to Leave
14 Then Rachel and Leah asked him, “Do we have anything left of inheritance[i] remaining in our father’s house? 15 He’s treating us like foreigners. He sold us and spent all of the money[j] that rightfully belonged to us. 16 Furthermore, all of the wealth that God has stripped away from our father belongs to us now and to our children. So do everything that God tells you to do.” 17 So Jacob got up, seated his children and wives on camels, 18 and drove all his livestock ahead of him, with everything that belonged to him, including the livestock that he had bought and accumulated in Paddan-aram,[k] intending to deliver them to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
Laban Pursues Jacob
19 Meanwhile, Laban had been out shearing his sheep. While he was away, Rachel stole her father’s personal idols.[l] 20 Moreover, Jacob had deceived[m] Laban the Aramean,[n] because he had never told him that he was intending to leave. 21 Jacob fled, taking everything that he owned. He got up, crossed the river,[o] and headed to the hill country of Gilead. 22 Three days later, somebody reported to Laban that Jacob had left, 23 so he took his relatives with him and pursued Jacob. Laban[p] was on the road for seven days when he finally caught up with Jacob[q] in the hill country of Gilead.
God Warns Laban
24 That night, God appeared to Laban the Aramean[r] in a dream and warned him, “Be careful what you say to Jacob, whether it’s one word good or bad.” 25 Meanwhile, Jacob had pitched his tent on the mountain, where Laban had caught up with him.[s] Laban and his relatives encamped on that same mountain in the hill country of Gilead, too.
26 Then Laban asked Jacob, “What did you do? You deceived me,[t] carried off my daughters like you would war captives,[u] 27 ran away from me secretly,[v] and stole from me by not keeping me informed. Otherwise, I could have sent you off with a party and singing, accompanied by a band playing tambourines and harps. 28 As it is, you didn’t even allow me to kiss my grandchildren[w] and daughters goodbye! You’ve acted foolishly. 29 It’s actually in my power to do some serious[x] evil to you, but last night the God of your father told me, ‘Be careful what you say to Jacob whether good or evil.’ 30 Now, you can go if you must go, because you certainly are longing to go to your father’s house. But why did you steal my gods?”
Laban Searches for His Idols
31 “I was afraid,” Jacob replied. “I thought you might take your daughters from me. 32 Now as to your gods, if you find someone has them in their possession, he’s a dead man.[y] Take our relatives as witnesses, search through our belongings, and take whatever belongs to you that’s in my possession.” But Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had stolen the idols.[z] 33 So Laban entered Jacob’s tent, Leah’s tent, and the tents of the two maid servants, but he didn’t find them.[aa] Then he left Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.
34 Meanwhile, Rachel had taken the idols,[ab] placed them inside the saddle of her camel, and sat on them. Laban searched through the whole tent, but found nothing. 35 Then Rachel told her father, “Sir, please don’t be angry that I cannot stand up in your presence. It’s that time of the month.”[ac] So Laban[ad] searched for the idols,[ae] but never did find them.[af]
Jacob Rebukes Laban
36 Then Jacob got angry and started an argument with Laban. “What have I done?” he demanded. “What’s my crime that would cause you to come pursue me so violently? 37 Now that you’ve searched all my belongings, what did you find that belongs to your house? Set it here in front of our relatives[ag] and we’ll let them judge between us! 38 Meanwhile, these past 20 years that I’ve been with you, your sheep and goats never had miscarriages, I never once ate any of the rams from your flock, 39 and whatever was torn by beasts, I never bothered to bring to you. Instead, I bore the losses myself. Even so, you demanded that I provide restitution for anything that was stolen, whether during the day or the night. 40 As it was, I was attacked by drought during the day and by cold at night. I never got any decent rest. 41 I’ve lived in your house these 20 years—serving fourteen years for your two daughters and another six years for your flocks. During all that time you changed[ah] my wages ten times. 42 If the God of my father—the God of Abraham, the God whom Isaac feared—had not been with me, you would have sent me away empty handed. But God saw my misery and how hard I’ve worked with my own hands—and he rebuked you last night.”
43 But Laban answered Jacob, “These women are my daughters. These children are my children. The flocks are mine. In fact, everything that you see belongs to me. But what would I do today to my daughters and the children they have borne? 44 Come, let’s make a covenant just between you and me. And let it serve as a witness between you and me.”
45 So Jacob took a stone and raised it as a pillar. 46 Then Jacob told his relatives, “Go gather some stones.” So they picked up stones and stacked them one on top of the other. Then they had a meal together there by the stack of stones. 47 Laban named the place Jegar-sahadutha,[ai] but Jacob named it Galeed.[aj]
48 Then Laban said, “This stack will serve as a witness between you and me today.” That’s how the place came to be named Galeed. 49 It was also called Mizpah,[ak] because Laban[al] said, “May the Lord watch between you and me, when we are estranged[am] from each other. 50 If you mistreat my daughters or if you take other wives besides them, though no one is watching[an] us, keep in mind that God stands as a witness between you and me.”
51 “Look!” Laban added, “Here is the stack of stones and here is the pillar that I’ve set up between you and me. 52 This stack is a witness, and so is this pillar, reminding me not to cross beyond this stack of stones, and reminding you not to pass by this stack in my direction, intending to cause harm. 53 May Abraham’s God and Nahor’s god judge between us.”
So Jacob made an oath by his father’s Fear,[ao] 54 offered sacrifices there on the mountain, and called on his relatives to eat some food. So they ate the food and spent the night on the mountain. 55 [ap]Early the next morning, Laban woke up, kissed his grandchildren and daughters, blessed them, and then left for home.[aq]
Footnotes
- Genesis 31:1 Lit. He
- Genesis 31:1 Lit. saying
- Genesis 31:2 Lit. face
- Genesis 31:2 Lit. been the day before yesterday
- Genesis 31:5 Lit. the face of
- Genesis 31:5 Lit. was the day before yesterday
- Genesis 31:10 Lit. climbing up
- Genesis 31:13 Lit. to the land of your birth
- Genesis 31:14 Lit. portion and inheritance
- Genesis 31:15 Lit. silver
- Genesis 31:18 Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia
- Genesis 31:19 Lit. father’s teraphim; i.e. personal idols typically stored inside a small household shrine
- Genesis 31:20 Lit. had stolen away the heart of
- Genesis 31:20 In later centuries this region would be called Syria
- Genesis 31:21 I.e. possibly the Euphrates River
- Genesis 31:23 Lit. He
- Genesis 31:23 Lit. him
- Genesis 31:24 In later centuries this region would be called Syria
- Genesis 31:25 Lit. Jacob
- Genesis 31:26 Lit. You stole my heart
- Genesis 31:26 Lit. captives of the sword
- Genesis 31:27 Lit. me, hiding yourself
- Genesis 31:28 Lit. sons
- Genesis 31:29 The Heb. lacks some serious
- Genesis 31:32 Lit. he is not to live
- Genesis 31:32 Lit. them
- Genesis 31:33 The Heb. lacks them
- Genesis 31:34 Lit. teraphim; i.e. personal idols typically stored inside a small household shrine
- Genesis 31:35 Lit. that manner of women for me
- Genesis 31:35 Lit. he
- Genesis 31:35 Lit. teraphim; i.e. personal idols typically stored inside a small household shrine
- Genesis 31:35 The Heb. lacks them
- Genesis 31:37 Lit. my relatives and your relatives
- Genesis 31:41 Lit. you cut through
- Genesis 31:47 The Aram. name Jegar-sahadutha means stack of witness
- Genesis 31:47 The Heb. name Galeed means stack of witness
- Genesis 31:49 The Heb. word Mizpah means watchtower
- Genesis 31:49 Lit. he
- Genesis 31:49 Or concealed
- Genesis 31:50 Lit. with
- Genesis 31:53 I.e. the Lord
- Genesis 31:55 This v. is 32:1 in MT
- Genesis 31:55 Lit. for his place
1 Moseboken 31
nuBibeln (Swedish Contemporary Bible)
Jakob återvänder hem
31 Men Jakob fick höra att Labans söner klagade: ”Han har tagit allt vår far ägde, och sin rikedom har han fått på vår fars bekostnad.” 2 Snart märkte Jakob att Laban blev kylig i sin attityd mot honom.
3 Herren talade nu till Jakob och sa till honom: ”Återvänd till dina förfäders land och till dina släktingar där, och jag ska vara med dig.”
4 Därför skickade Jakob en dag efter Rakel och Lea och bad dem komma ut på fälten, där han höll till med hjordarna. 5 ”Jag ser att er far är kyligare mot mig än vad han var tidigare”, sa han till dem. ”Men min fars Gud har varit med mig. 6 Ni vet hur hårt jag har arbetat för er far, så mycket jag orkat, 7 men han har lurat mig och tio gånger ändrat min lön, men Gud har inte tillåtit honom att skada mig. 8 När han sa att de spräckliga djuren skulle bli min lön, födde hela hjorden spräckliga djur och när han sa att jag kunde få de strimmiga djuren, blev alla lammen strimmiga. 9 På så sätt har Gud tagit er fars boskap och gett den till mig.
10 Vid tiden för djurens parning hade jag en dröm och såg att bockarna som parade sig med hjorden var strimmiga, spräckliga och brokiga. 11 I min dröm ropade sedan Guds ängel på mig: ’Jakob!’ Jag svarade: ’Här är jag’. 12 Ängeln sa till mig: ’Alla bockar som parar sig med flocken är brokiga, spräckliga och strimmiga. Jag har nämligen sett allt som Laban har gjort mot dig. 13 Jag är den Gud du mötte i Betel där du smorde en minnessten och gav ett löfte till mig. Lämna nu genast detta land och återvänd till det land där du föddes.’ ”
14 Rakel och Lea svarade: ”Det finns ingenting kvar för oss här av vår fars rikedom. 15 Behandlar han inte oss som främlingar? Han har sålt oss och det han fick för oss, har han redan gjort slut på. 16 De rikedomar som Gud har tagit från vår far tillhör oss och våra barn. Gör därför precis som Gud har sagt till dig!”
Laban förföljer Jakob
17 Jakob lyfte då upp sina barn och sina hustrur på kamelerna. 18 Han tog med sig all sin boskap och all sin egendom som han skaffat sig i Paddan Aram. Så begav han sig hemåt till sin far Isak i Kanaans land. 19 Laban hade gått iväg för att klippa sina får och då stal Rakel sin fars husgudar. 20 Jakob bedrog också araméen Laban genom att ge sig iväg utan förvarning. 21 Han flydde med alla sina ägodelar, gick över floden Eufrat och till Gileads bergsbygd. 22 Laban fick inte reda på att de hade flytt förrän tre dagar senare. 23 Då samlade han sina manliga släktingar och tog upp jakten. Han hann ifatt dem i Gileads bergsbygd efter sju dagar. 24 Den natten kom Gud till araméen Laban i en dröm och sa till honom: ”Akta dig noga för att säga något, vare sig gott eller ont, till Jakob!” 25 Laban kom ifatt Jakob där han hade slagit läger i Gileads bergsbygd och Laban och hans följe slog också läger där.
26 ”Vad menar du med detta?” sa Laban till Jakob. ”Du har lurat mig och rövat bort mina döttrar som fångar, tillfångatagna i strid. 27 Varför smet du iväg och lurade mig? Du sa ingenting och lät mig inte ordna en avskedsfest med sång och spel, med tamburiner och lyror? 28 Varför fick jag inte kyssa mina barnbarn och säga adjö till mina döttrar? Du har burit dig dumt åt! 29 Det skulle stå i min makt att skada dig, men din faders Gud visade sig för mig i natt och sa till mig: ’Akta dig noga för att säga något till Jakob, vare sig gott eller ont.’ 30 Men om du hade en sådan hemlängtan, varför stal du mina husgudar?” 31 ”Jag var rädd”, svarade Jakob. ”Jag trodde att du skulle ta dina döttrar ifrån mig med våld. 32 Men när det gäller dina husgudar ska den du finner dem hos dö! Se efter själv, i våra släktingars närvaro, om du finner en enda sak, som är din, så ta den!” Jakob visste nämligen inte att Rakel hade stulit husgudarna.
33 Laban gick först till Jakobs tält för att söka igenom det, sedan till Leas, och därefter sökte han i de två bihustrurnas tält. Slutligen gick han till Rakels tält. 34 Men Rakel hade gömt husgudarna i kamelsadeln och satt nu på dem. Fastän Laban sökte mycket noggrant i tältet, hittade han dem alltså inte. 35 ”Bli inte arg, min herre, för att jag inte kan resa mig”, sa Rakel till sin far, ”men jag har mina dagar[a] just nu.” Hur han alltså än letade efter sina husgudar, hittade han dem inte.
36 Nu blev Jakob rasande på Laban: ”Vad är mitt brott? Vad har jag gjort för ont? Du har jagat mig som en brottsling! 37 Nu har du letat igenom allt jag äger. Vad har du funnit? Ta nu fram allt som jag har stulit och lägg det här framför oss, framför dina och mina släktingar, så de får döma mellan oss!
38 I tjugo år har jag varit tillsammans med dig. Dina tackor och dina getter har aldrig fött i otid, och jag har aldrig rört en enda av dina baggar för att få mat. 39 Om något djur anfölls och dödades av vilda djur, kom jag aldrig till dig med det. Nej, jag tog på mig förlusten. Du fick mig också att betala för varje djur som stals från hjorden på dagen och även på natten.
40 Jag har arbetat för dig under dagens brännande hetta och under kalla, sömnlösa nätter. 41 Ja, i tjugo år har jag varit hos dig och arbetat – fjorton år för att förtjäna dina två döttrar och sex för att få hjorden. Och du har ändrat min lön tio gånger! 42 Om inte min fars Gud hade varit med mig – Abrahams Gud, som även Isak fruktade – skulle du ha sänt iväg mig tomhänt. Men Gud har sett mitt lidande och mitt hårda arbete, och det är därför som han fällde domen[b] i natt.”
43 Laban svarade: ”Dessa är mina döttrar, barnen är mina, och dessa hjordar och allt du ser här är mitt. Vad kan jag då göra med mina egna döttrar och barnen de fött? 44 Låt oss sluta ett förbund med varandra som ska vara ett vittne mellan dig och mig.”
45 Då tog Jakob en sten och reste den som ett minnesmärke, 46 och han sa till sina släktingar att samla stenar, och de byggde ett stenröse. Sedan åt de en måltid tillsammans på röset. 47 Laban kallade röset Jegar Sahaduta och Jakob kallade det Galed.[c]
48 ”Detta stenröse ska vara ett vittne mellan dig och mig”, sa Laban. Därför fick det heta Galed. 49 Det kallades också Mispa[d], för Laban sa: ”Må Herren vaka över oss, även när vi är utom synhåll för varandra. 50 Om du är hård mot mina döttrar, eller om du tar dig andra hustrur, kom ihåg att även om ingen människa är närvarande är Gud vittne mellan dig och mig.”[e]
51 ”Här är röset och här är stenstoden som jag har rest mellan dig och mig”, sa Laban till Jakob. 52 ”Detta röse och denna stod står mellan oss som vittnen för att jag inte ska gå förbi denna plats för att göra dig något ont och att du inte heller ska passera den för att göra mig något ont. 53 Må Abrahams Gud och Nachors gudar, deras fäders gudar,[f] döma mellan oss.” Då svor Jakob en ed vid honom som hans far Isak fruktade. 54 Sedan offrade Jakob ett slaktoffer på berget och inbjöd sina släktingar till en måltid och tillbringade sedan natten tillsammans med dem på berget. 55 Tidigt nästa morgon steg Laban upp och kysste sina döttrar och barnbarn till farväl och välsignade dem. Sedan återvände han hem.
Footnotes
- 31:35 En omskrivning för menstruation.
- 31:42 fällde domen kan också uppfattas som en tillrättavisning.
- 31:47 Båda namnen betyder vittnesröset eller edsröset, på arameiska respektive hebreiska.
- 31:49 Mispa betyder vaktplats.
- 31:50 Översättningen är delvis gjord med hjälp av Septuaginta.
- 31:53 Eller: Må Abrahams Gud och Nachors Gud, deras fäders Gud… Översättningen i bibeltexten ovan är den mer troliga, eftersom det hebreiska verbet ”döma” är i pluralis och Laban verkar skilja mellan Jakobs Gud och Nachors gudar. Jfr även Jos 24:15 där Abrahams familj ursprungligen tjänade andra gudar och Laban hade fortfarande andra gudar.
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
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.
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
