Genesis · Literal Standard Version
Genesis 31 Literal Standard Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And he hears the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken all that our father has; indeed, from that which our father has, he has made all this glory”;
1 Jacob heard Laban’s sons’ words, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s. He has obtained all this wealth from that which was our father’s.”
2 and Jacob sees the face of Laban, and behold, it is not with him as before.
2 Jacob saw the expression on Laban’s face, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
3 And YHWH says to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers, and to your family, and I am with you.”
3 Yahweh said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers, and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
4 And Jacob sends and calls for Rachel and for Leah to the field to his flock;
4 Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock,
5 and says to them, “I am beholding your father’s face—that it is not toward me as before, and the God of my father has been with me,
5 and said to them, “I see the expression on your father’s face, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.
6 and you have known that with all my power I have served your father,
6 You know that I have served your father with all of my strength.
7 and your father has played on me, and has changed my hire ten times; and God has not permitted him to do evil with me.
7 Your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God didn’t allow him to hurt me.
8 If he says thus: The speckled are your hire, then all the flock bore speckled ones; and if he says thus: The striped are your hire, then all the flock bore striped;
8 If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore speckled. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore streaked.
9 and God takes away the substance of your father, and gives to me.
9 Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock, and given them to me.
10 And it comes to pass at the time of the flock conceiving, that I lift up my eyes and see in a dream, and behold, the male goats, which are going up on the flock, [are] striped, speckled, and spotted;
10 During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled.
11 and the Messenger of God says to me in the dream, Jacob, and I say, Here I [am].
11 The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’
12 And He says, Now lift up your eyes and see [that] all the male goats which are going up on the flock [are] striped, speckled, and spotted, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you;
12 He said, ‘Now lift up your eyes, and behold, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and grizzled, for I have seen all that Laban does to you.
13 I [am] the God of Bethel where you have anointed a standing pillar, where you have vowed a vow to me; now, arise, go out from this land, and return to the land of your birth.”
13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me. Now arise, get out from this land, and return to the land of your birth.’”
14 And Rachel answers—Leah also—and says to him, “Have we yet a portion and inheritance in the house of our father?
14 Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
15 Have we not been reckoned strangers to him? For he has sold us, and he also utterly consumes our money;
15 Aren’t we considered as foreigners by him? For he has sold us, and has also used up our money.
16 for all the wealth which God has taken away from our father, it [is] ours, and our children’s; and now, all that God has said to you—do.”
16 For all the riches which God has taken away from our father are ours and our children’s. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”
17 And Jacob rises, and lifts up his sons and his wives on the camels,
17 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives on the camels,
18 and leads all his livestock, and all his substance which he has acquired, the livestock of his getting, which he has acquired in Padan-Aram, to go to his father Isaac, to the land of Canaan.
18 and he took away all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had gathered, including the livestock which he had gained in Paddan Aram, to go to Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan.
19 And Laban has gone to shear his flock, and Rachel steals the teraphim which her father has;
19 Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep; and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father’s.
20 and Jacob deceives the heart of Laban the Aramean, because he has not declared to him that he is fleeing;
20 Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian, in that he didn’t tell him that he was running away.
21 and he flees, he and all that he has, and rises, and passes over the River, and sets his face [toward] the Mount of Gilead.
21 So he fled with all that he had. He rose up, passed over the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead.
22 And it is told to Laban on the third day that Jacob has fled,
22 Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.
23 and he takes his brothers with him, and pursues after him a journey of seven days, and overtakes him in the Mount of Gilead.
23 He took his relatives with him, and pursued him seven days’ journey. He overtook him in the mountain of Gilead.
24 And God comes to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and says to him, “Take heed to yourself lest you speak with Jacob from good to evil.”
24 God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.”
25 And Laban overtakes Jacob; and Jacob has fixed his tent in the mountain; and Laban with his brothers have fixed [theirs] in the Mount of Gilead.
25 Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain, and Laban with his relatives encamped in the mountain of Gilead.
26 And Laban says to Jacob, “What have you done that you deceive my heart, and lead away my daughters as captives of the sword?
26 Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword?
27 Why have you hidden yourself to flee, and deceive me, and have not declared to me, and I send you away with joy and with songs, with tambourine and with harp,
27 Why did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn’t tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp;
28 and have not permitted me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have acted foolishly in doing [so];
28 and didn’t allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly.
29 my hand is to God to do evil with you, but the God of your father last night has spoken to me, saying, Take heed to yourself from speaking with Jacob from good to evil.
29 It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.’
30 And now, you have certainly gone, because you have been very desirous for the house of your father; why have you stolen my gods?”
30 Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father’s house, but why have you stolen my gods?”
31 And Jacob answers and says to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, Lest you violently take away your daughters from me;
31 Jacob answered Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Lest you should take your daughters from me by force.’
32 with whomsoever you find your gods—he must not live; before our brothers discern for yourself what [is] with me, and take to yourself”: and Jacob has not known that Rachel has stolen them.
32 Anyone you find your gods with shall not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it.” For Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had stolen them.
33 And Laban goes into the tent of Jacob, and into the tent of Leah, and into the tent of the two handmaidens, and has not found; and he goes out from the tent of Leah, and goes into the tent of Rachel.
33 Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two female servants; but he didn’t find them. He went out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.
34 And Rachel has taken the teraphim, and puts them in the furniture of the camel, and sits on them; and Laban feels all the tent, and has not found;
34 Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt around all the tent, but didn’t find them.
35 and she says to her father, “Let it not be displeasing in the eyes of my lord that I am not able to rise at your presence, for the way of women [is] on me”; and he searches, and has not found the teraphim.
35 She said to her father, “Don’t let my lord be angry that I can’t rise up before you; for I’m having my period.” He searched, but didn’t find the teraphim.
36 And it is displeasing to Jacob, and he strives with Laban; and Jacob answers and says to Laban, “What [is] my transgression? What my sin, that you have burned after me?
36 Jacob was angry, and argued with Laban. Jacob answered Laban, “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me?
37 For you have felt all my vessels: what have you found of all the vessels of your house? Set here before my brothers, and your brothers, and they decide between us both.
37 Now that you have felt around in all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? Set it here before my relatives and your relatives, that they may judge between us two.
38 These twenty years I [am] with you: your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, and the rams of your flock I have not eaten;
38 “These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not cast their young, and I haven’t eaten the rams of your flocks.
39 the torn I have not brought to you—I repay it—from my hand you seek it; I have been deceived by day, and I have been deceived by night;
39 That which was torn of animals, I didn’t bring to you. I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.
40 I have been [thus]: drought has consumed me in the day, and frost by night, and my sleep wanders from my eyes.
40 This was my situation: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from my eyes.
41 This [is] to me twenty years in your house: I have served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock; and you change my hire ten times;
41 These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.
42 unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac, had been for me, surely now you had sent me away empty; God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and reproves last night.”
42 Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.”
43 And Laban answers and says to Jacob, “The daughters [are] my daughters, and the sons my sons, and the flock my flock, and all that you are seeing [is] mine; and to my daughters—what do I to these today, or to their sons whom they have born?
43 Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine! What can I do today to these my daughters, or to their children whom they have borne?
44 And now, come, let us make a covenant, I and you, and it has been for a witness between me and you.”
44 Now come, let’s make a covenant, you and I. Let it be for a witness between me and you.”
45 And Jacob takes a stone, and lifts it up [for] a standing pillar;
45 Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
46 and Jacob says to his brothers, “Gather stones,” and they take stones, and make a heap; and they eat there on the heap;
46 Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” They took stones, and made a heap. They ate there by the heap.
47 and Laban calls it Jegar-Sahadutha; and Jacob has called it Galeed.
47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.
48 And Laban says, “This heap [is] witness between me and you today”; therefore has he called its name Galeed;
48 Laban said, “This heap is witness between me and you today.” Therefore it was named Galeed
49 Mizpah also, for he said, “YHWH watches between me and you, for we are hidden from one another;
49 and Mizpah, for he said, “Yahweh watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another.
50 if you afflict my daughters, or take wives beside my daughters—there is no man with us—see, God [is] witness between me and you.”
50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take wives in addition to my daughters, no man is with us; behold, God is witness between me and you.”
51 And Laban says to Jacob, “Behold, this heap, and behold, the standing pillar which I have cast between me and you;
51 Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap, and see the pillar, which I have set between me and you.
52 this heap [is] witness, and the standing pillar [is] witness, that I do not pass over this heap to you, and that you do not pass over this heap and this standing pillar to me—for evil;
52 May this heap be a witness, and the pillar be a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.
53 the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, judges between us—the God of their father,” and Jacob swears by the Fear of his father Isaac.
53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the fear of his father, Isaac.
54 And Jacob sacrifices a sacrifice on the mountain, and calls to his brothers to eat bread, and they eat bread, and lodge on the mountain;
54 Jacob offered a sacrifice in the mountain, and called his relatives to eat bread. They ate bread, and stayed all night in the mountain.
55 and Laban rises early in the morning, and kisses his sons and his daughters, and blesses them; and Laban goes on, and turns back to his place.
55 Early in the morning, Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. Laban departed and returned to his place.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Jacob
He wrestled with God through the night and rose as Israel, father of twelve tribes.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 25–35; 46–49
Rachel
Jacob's beloved wife, mother of Joseph and Benjamin, who died in childbirth.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 29-35
Cross references (51)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Ecclesiastes 4:4; Psalm 17:14; Proverbs 27:4; Proverbs 14:30; 1 Peter 1:24
- 2 Daniel 3:19; 1 Samuel 18:9–11; Genesis 4:5; Genesis 30:27; 1 Samuel 19:7
- 3 Genesis 28:15; Hebrews 13:5; Genesis 32:9; Genesis 31:13; Psalm 50:15
- 5 Genesis 31:2–3; Genesis 31:53; Genesis 48:15; Genesis 31:42; Genesis 32:9
- 6 Genesis 30:29; Ephesians 6:5–8; Colossians 3:22–25; Genesis 31:38–42; Titus 2:9–10
- 7 Zechariah 8:23; Genesis 31:29; Genesis 31:41; Nehemiah 4:12; Numbers 14:22
- 8 Genesis 30:32
- 9 Genesis 31:1; Genesis 31:16; Proverbs 13:22; Matthew 20:15; Esther 8:1–2
- 10 Deuteronomy 13:1; Genesis 20:6; Numbers 12:6; 1 Kings 3:5; Genesis 31:24
- 11 Isaiah 58:9; Genesis 31:13; Genesis 48:15–16; Genesis 18:17; 1 Samuel 3:16
- 12 Exodus 3:7; Genesis 31:42; Deuteronomy 24:15; Ecclesiastes 5:8; Ephesians 6:9
- 13 Genesis 31:3; Genesis 32:9; Genesis 28:12–22; Genesis 35:7
- 14 Ruth 4:11; Genesis 2:24; Genesis 29:29; Genesis 29:24
- 15 Genesis 29:15–20; Genesis 29:27–30; Nehemiah 5:8; Genesis 30:26; Exodus 21:7–11
- 16 Genesis 31:9; Genesis 30:35–31:1; Psalm 45:10
- 17 Genesis 24:61; 1 Samuel 30:17; Genesis 24:10
- 18 Genesis 27:41; Genesis 28:21; Genesis 27:1–2; Genesis 35:27–29
- 19 1 Samuel 19:13; Hosea 3:4; Genesis 31:30; Ezekiel 21:21; Genesis 35:2
- 21 2 Kings 12:17; Joshua 24:2–3; Genesis 37:25; Genesis 15:18; Luke 9:51–53
- 22 Exodus 14:5–31; Genesis 30:36; Job 5:12–13
- 23 Genesis 13:8; Exodus 2:11; Exodus 2:13; Genesis 24:27
- 24 Genesis 24:50; Genesis 20:3; Genesis 31:29; Numbers 24:13; Genesis 31:42
- 25 Genesis 33:18; Hebrews 11:9; Genesis 12:8
- 26 1 Samuel 30:2; Genesis 4:10; Genesis 31:36; 1 Samuel 17:29; Genesis 2:24
- 27 Exodus 15:20; Genesis 31:3–5; Proverbs 26:23–26; Job 21:11–14; Genesis 31:20–21
- 28 Genesis 31:55; 1 Kings 19:20; Ruth 1:14; Acts 20:37; Genesis 31:24
- 29 Genesis 31:42; Genesis 31:53; Joshua 24:2–3; Genesis 31:24; Genesis 28:13
- 30 Jeremiah 10:11; Genesis 31:19; Judges 18:24; 1 Samuel 5:2–6; 2 Samuel 5:21
- 31 Proverbs 29:25; Genesis 31:26–27; Genesis 20:11
- 32 Genesis 31:19; Genesis 31:23; 1 Samuel 12:3–5; Genesis 44:9–12; Genesis 31:30
- 33 Genesis 24:28; Genesis 24:67
- 34 Genesis 31:19; Genesis 31:17
- 35 Leviticus 19:32; Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1; 1 Kings 2:19; Genesis 18:11–12
- 36 Ephesians 4:26; Genesis 30:2; 2 Kings 5:11; Mark 3:5; Numbers 16:15
- 37 1 Peter 2:12; Hebrews 13:18; 1 Corinthians 6:4–5; 1 Thessalonians 2:10; Joshua 7:23
- 38 Deuteronomy 28:4; Ezekiel 34:2–4; Exodus 23:26; Genesis 30:27; Genesis 30:30
- 39 Exodus 22:10–13; Leviticus 22:8; Luke 2:8; Exodus 22:31; John 10:12–13
- 40 Psalm 78:70–71; Luke 2:8; Exodus 2:19–22; John 21:15–17; Hebrews 13:7
- 41 Genesis 31:7; Genesis 31:38; 2 Corinthians 11:26; Genesis 30:33–40; 1 Corinthians 15:10
- 42 Psalm 31:7; Isaiah 8:13; Genesis 31:53; Genesis 31:29; Genesis 31:24
- 44 Joshua 24:25–27; 1 Samuel 20:14–17; Genesis 15:18; Joshua 22:27; Deuteronomy 31:19
- 45 Genesis 28:18–22
- 46 Ecclesiastes 3:5; Genesis 31:37; Genesis 31:32; Joshua 4:5–9; Joshua 7:26
- 47 Hebrews 12:1
- 48 Joshua 24:27; Joshua 13:8–9; Genesis 31:23; Deuteronomy 3:16; Deuteronomy 2:36
- 49 Judges 11:29; Judges 10:17; 1 Samuel 7:5–6; Judges 11:11; 1 Kings 15:22
- 50 Jeremiah 42:5; Jeremiah 29:23; Micah 1:2; Judges 11:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:5
- 52 Genesis 31:48; Genesis 31:44–45
- 53 Genesis 31:42; Genesis 16:5; Exodus 3:6; Joshua 24:2; Genesis 11:24–29
- 54 Exodus 18:12; Genesis 26:30; 2 Samuel 3:20–21; Genesis 21:8; Genesis 37:25
- 55 Genesis 31:28; Deuteronomy 23:5; Genesis 30:25; Genesis 18:33; Proverbs 16:7
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
For not only did not the nations in this life serve this Jacob; but even after he had received the blessing, he himself going forth [from his home], served his uncle Laban the Syrian for twenty years; and not only was he not made lord of his brother, but he did himself bow down before his brother Esau, upon his …
In fact, "a testament" is a name given in the Scriptures not only to that which is of no avail till the death of the testators, but every covenant and decree they used to call a testament. For Laban and Jacob made a testament, which was certainly to have force between the living; and such cases without number are read …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
Moreover, Joshua, the son of Nun, even set up a stone as witness of his words (already a heap somewhere had been called a witness by Jacob), for he says, "Behold this stone shall be a witness unto you this day to the end of days, when ye lie to the Lord our God," perhaps believing that by God's power …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)