Genesis 31:43-55
Lexham English Bible
43 Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters and the grandsons[a] are my grandsons,[b] and the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see, it is mine. Now, what can I do for these my daughters today, or for their children whom they have borne? 44 So now, come, let us make[c] a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between me and you.” 45 And Jacob took a stone and set it up as a stone pillar. 46 And Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a pile of stones, and they ate there by the pile of stones. 47 And Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha,[d] but Jacob called it Galeed.[e] 48 Then Laban said, “This pile of stones is a witness between me and you today.” Therefore its name is called Galeed,[f] 49 and Mizpah,[g] because he said, “Yahweh watch between me and you when we are out of sight of each other.[h] 50 If you mistreat my daughters, and if you take wives besides my daughters, when there is no man with us, see—God is a witness between me and you.” 51 And Laban said to Jacob, “See, this pile of stones, and see the pillar that I have set up between me and you. 52 This pile of stones is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this pile of stones to you, and that you will not pass beyond this pile of stones and this pillar to me intending harm. 53 May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father[i] judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac. 54 And Jacob sacrificed a sacrifice on the hill, and he called his kinsmen to eat the meal.[j] And they ate the meal[k] and spent the night on the hill. 55 [l] And Laban arose early in the morning and kissed his grandsons[m] and his daughters, and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his homeland.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 31:43 Or “sons”
- Genesis 31:43 Or “sons”
- Genesis 31:44 Literally “cut”
- Genesis 31:47 Aramaic for “the heap of witness”
- Genesis 31:47 Hebrew for “the heap of witness”
- Genesis 31:48 Hebrew for “the heap of witness”
- Genesis 31:49 Hebrew for “watchpost”
- Genesis 31:49 Literally “each from his neighbor is concealed”
- Genesis 31:53 That is, Terah
- Genesis 31:54 Or “food, bread”
- Genesis 31:54 Or “food, bread”
- Genesis 31:55 Genesis 31:55–32:32 in the English Bible is 32:1–33 in the Hebrew Bible
- Genesis 31:55 Or “sons”
Genesis 31:43-55
New King James Version
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, (A)let us make a [a]covenant, (B)you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.”
45 So Jacob (C)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 [b]Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it [c]Galeed. 48 And Laban said, (D)“This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore its name was called Galeed, 49 also (E)Mizpah,[d] 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 (F)judge between us.” And Jacob (G)swore by (H)the [e]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 (I)kissed his sons and daughters and (J)blessed them. Then Laban departed and (K)returned to his place.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
