Genesis 31:1-21

Jacob Separates from Laban

1 Now Jacob heard what Laban's sons were saying: "Jacob has taken all that was our father's and has built this wealth from what belonged to our father."

2 And Jacob saw from Laban's face that his attitude toward him was not the same.

3 Then the Lord said to him, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you."^[a]

4 Jacob had Rachel and Leah called to the field [where] his flocks were.

5 He said to them, "I can see from your father's face that his attitude toward me is not the same, but the God of my father has been with me.

6 You know that I've worked hard for your father

7 and that he has cheated me and changed my wages 10 times. But God has not let him harm me.

8 If he said, 'The spotted sheep will be your wages,' then all the sheep were born spotted. If he said, 'The streaked sheep will be your wages,' then all the sheep were born streaked.

9 God has taken your father's herds and given them to me.

10 "When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females.

11 In that dream the Angel of God said to me, 'Jacob!' and I said: Here I am.

12 And He said, 'Look up and see: all the males that are mating with the flocks are streaked, spotted, and speckled, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.^[b]

13 I am the God of Bethel, where you poured oil on the stone marker and made a solemn vow to Me.^[c] Get up, leave this land, and return to your native land.' "

14 Then Rachel and Leah answered him, "Do we have any portion or inheritance in our father's household?

15 Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? For he has sold us^[d] and has certainly spent our money.

16 In fact, all the wealth that God has taken from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has said to you."

17 Then Jacob got up and put his children and wives on the camels.

18 He took all the livestock and possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, and he drove his herds to go to the land of his father Isaac in Canaan.

19 When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father's household idols.

20 And Jacob deceived^[e] Laban the Aramean, not telling him that he was fleeing.

21 He fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for^[f] the hill country of Gilead.

Genesis 31:1-21 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

• [a]. Gn 32:10
• [b]. Gn 30:37-40
• [c]. Gn 28:18-19
• [d]. Gn 29:19-30
• [e]. Lit And he stole the heart of
• [f]. Lit and set his face to