Genesis 31:1-6

Jacob Leaves Secretly for Canaan

1 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, "Jacob has taken away all that was our father's, and from what belonged to our father he has made all this wealth."

2 Jacob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it was not friendly toward him as formerly.

3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, "¹Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and ²I will be with you."

4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to his flock in the field,

5 and said to them, "³I see your father's attitude, that it is not friendly toward me as formerly, but ⁴the God of my father has been with me.

6 "⁵You know that I have served your father with all my strength.

Genesis 31:1-6 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.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 32:9
• 2. Genesis 28:15
• 3. Genesis 31:2
• 4. Genesis 21:22; Genesis 28:13, 15; Genesis 31:29, 42, 53; Isaiah 41:10; Hebrews 13:5
• 5. Genesis 30:29

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "he"
• [b] Lit "glory"
• [c] Lit "face"
• [d] Lit "face"