Genesis 31:1-21

Modern English 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 he has gotten all his wealth from what was our father’s.” ² Jacob saw the look of Laban and saw he was not congenial toward him as before.

³ Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers, to your family, and I will be with you.”

⁴ So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flock was, ⁵ and said to them, “I see your father’s demeanor, that it is not congenial toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. ⁶ You know that with all my strength I have served your father. ⁷ Your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me. ⁸ If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then all the flock produced speckled. If he said, ‘The striped will be your pay,’ then all the flock produced striped. ⁹ In this way God has taken away your father’s flock and given them to me.

¹⁰ “When the livestock conceived, I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the male goats mating with the flock were striped, speckled, and spotted. ¹¹ The angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ ¹² He said, ‘Now lift up your eyes and see all the male goats which mate with the flock are striped, speckled, and spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has done to you. ¹³ I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, where you vowed a vow to Me. Now arise, and get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’ ”

¹⁴ Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left for us in our father’s house? ¹⁵ Are we not seen by him as foreigners? For he has sold us and has completely spent our money also. ¹⁶ For all the riches which God has taken from our father are ours and our children’s. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.”

¹⁷ Then Jacob rose up and set his sons and his wives on camels. ¹⁸ Then he carried away all his livestock and all his goods which he had obtained, his acquired livestock which he had gotten in Paddan Aram, in order to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.

¹⁹ When Laban went to shear his sheep, Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s. ²⁰ Jacob also deceived Laban the Syrian by not telling him that he was fleeing. ²¹ So Jacob fled with all that he had, and he rose up and passed over the river and headed toward the mountains of Gilead.