Genesis 31:36-55

Jacob's Covenant with Laban

36 Then Jacob became incensed and brought charges against Laban. "What is my crime?" he said to Laban. "What is my sin, that you have pursued me?
37 You've searched all my possessions! Have you found anything of yours? Put it here before my relatives and yours, and let them decide between the two of us.
38 I've been with you these 20 years. Your ewes and female goats have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams from your flock.
39 I did not bring you any of the flock torn by wild beasts; I myself bore the loss. You demanded [payment] from me for what was stolen by day or by night.
40 There I was-the heat consumed me by day and the frost by night, and sleep fled from my eyes.
41 For 20 years I have worked in your household-14 years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks-and you have changed my wages 10 times!
42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, certainly now you would have sent me off empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and my hard work,[a] and He issued His verdict last night."
43 Then Laban answered Jacob, "The daughters are my daughters; the sons, my sons; and the flocks, my flocks! Everything you see is mine! But what can I do today for these daughters of mine or for the children they have borne?
44 Come now, let's make a covenant, you and I. Let it be a witness between the two of us."
45 So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a marker.[b]
46 Then Jacob said to his relatives, "Gather stones." And they took stones and made a mound, then ate there by the mound.
47 Laban named the mound Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob named it Galeed.[c]
48 Then Laban said, "This mound is a witness between me and you today." Therefore the place was called Galeed,
49 and [also] Mizpah,[d] 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.
52 This mound is a witness and the marker is a witness that I will not pass beyond this mound to you, and you will not pass beyond this mound and this marker to do me harm.
53 The God of Abraham, and the gods[e] of Nahor-the gods of their father[f]-will judge between us." And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.
54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal. So they ate a meal and spent the night on the mountain.
55 [g] Laban got up early in the morning, kissed his grandchildren and daughters, and blessed them. Then Laban left to return home.

Genesis 31:36-55 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 31

This chapter relates how that Jacob observing that Laban and his sons envied his prosperity, and having a call from God to return to his own country, acquaints his wives with it; and reports to them Laban's ill usage of him, and the wonderful appearance of God to him, and for him, and his orders to him to depart from thence, Ge 31:1-13; to which they agreed, knowing full well their father's unkindness, and that they had nothing to expect from him, and therefore judged it best to go off with what they had got through the gift of God unto them, Ge 31:14-16; upon which Jacob set out privately, with all he had, towards his own country, while Laban was shearing his sheep, Ge 31:17-21; three days after, Laban, being informed of it, pursued after Jacob, and overtook him at Mount Gilead; but was warned by the way to be cautious what he said to him, Ge 31:22-25; yet nevertheless he warmly expostulated with him about his secret flight, not giving him the opportunity of taking his leave of his children, and especially for taking away his gods, Ge 31:26-30; to which Jacob gave an answer, Ge 31:31-35; and in his turn was warm likewise, and chided Laban severely for his hot pursuit of him, his charge of stealth, when he could find nothing on him, his hard labour for the space of twenty years with him, and his ill requital of him for it, Ge 31:36-42; however, upon the whole, an amicable agreement was made between them, and they parted in a friendly manner, Ge 31:43-55.

Footnotes 7

  • [a]. Lit and the work of my hands
  • [b]. Jos 24:26-27
  • [c]. Jegar-sahadutha is Aram, and Galeed is Hb; both names Mound of Witness
  • [d]. Watchtower
  • [e]. Jos 24:2
  • [f]. Two Hb mss, LXX omit the gods of their father
  • [g]. Gn 32:1 in Hb
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.