Genesis 31:49

49 and [also] Mizpah,[a] for he said, "May the Lord watch between you and me when we are out of each other's sight.

Genesis 31:49 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 31:49

And Mizpah
Which being an Hebrew word, it looks as if the heap had also this name given it by Jacob, which signifies a "watch" or "watchtower"; though, by what follows, it seems to be given by Laban, who could speak Hebrew as well, as Syriac, or Chaldee: for he said, the Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent
one from another;
or "hid one from another" F17; when being at a distance, they could not see each other, or what one another did in agreement or disagreement with their present covenant: but he intimates, that the Lord sees and knows all things, and therefore imprecates that God would watch over them both, them and their actions, and bring upon them the evil or the good, according as their actions were, or as they broke or kept this covenant.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 (rton) "abscondemur", Montanus, Vatablus, Drusius; "absconditi erimus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so Ainsworth.

Genesis 31:49 In-Context

47 Laban named the mound Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob named it Galeed.
48 Then Laban said, "This mound is a witness between me and you today." Therefore the place was called Galeed,
49 and [also] Mizpah, for he said, "May the Lord watch between you and me when we are out of each other's sight.
50 If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, though no one is with us, understand that God will be a witness between you and me."
51 Laban also said to Jacob, "Look at this mound and the marker I have set up between you and me.

Footnotes 1

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