Genesis 31:53

53 May the God of Avraham and also the god of Nachor, the god of their father, judge between us." But Ya'akov swore by the One his father Yitz'chak feared.

Genesis 31:53 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 31:53

The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their
father, judge between us
And the father of these was Terah, so that the god of them was not the true God, and is not meant, at least not as truly worshipped; but the god or gods of Terah, Nahor and Abraham worshipped while idolaters, and Laban still continued to do, though perhaps not in so gross a manner as some did: and Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac;
that is, by the true God his father Isaac feared, served, and worshipped: or "but Jacob" {r} which seems plainly to suggest, that the God whom Laban called upon to be a judge between them, should they break covenant, and swore by, and he whom Jacob swore by, were different; each swore by their own deities.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (ebvyw) "sed juravit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Genesis 31:53 In-Context

51 Lavan also said to Ya'akov, "Here is this pile, and here is this standing-stone, which I have set up between me and you.

52 May this pile be a witness, and may the standing-stone be a witness, that I will not pass beyond this pile to you, and you will not pass beyond this pile and this standing-stone to me, to cause harm.

53 May the God of Avraham and also the god of Nachor, the god of their father, judge between us." But Ya'akov swore by the One his father Yitz'chak feared.

54 Ya'akov offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his kinsmen to the meal. They ate the food and spent the whole night on the mountain.

55 Early in the morning Lavan got up, kissed his sons and daughters, and blessed them. Then Lavan left and returned to his own place.