Genesis 31:44-55

44 Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.”
45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.
46 He said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap.
47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.[a]
48 Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” That is why it was called Galeed.
49 It was also called Mizpah,[b] because he said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.
50 If you mistreat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”
51 Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is this heap, and here is this pillar I have set up between you and me.
52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap and pillar to my side to harm me.
53 May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac.
54 He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there.
55 Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.[c]

Genesis 31:44-55 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.

Cross References 26

  • 1. S Genesis 21:27; Genesis 26:28
  • 2. S Genesis 21:30; Joshua 24:27
  • 3. S Genesis 28:18
  • 4. ver 48,51,52
  • 5. S Genesis 21:30
  • 6. S ver 46
  • 7. S Genesis 21:30; Jeremiah 29:23; Jeremiah 42:5
  • 8. Joshua 11:3; Judges 10:17; Judges 11:29; 1 Samuel 7:5-6
  • 9. Genesis 16:6
  • 10. Deuteronomy 31:19; Joshua 24:27; Judges 11:10; 1 Samuel 12:5; 1 Samuel 20:14,23,42; Job 16:19; Jeremiah 29:23; Jeremiah 42:5; Micah 1:2
  • 11. S Genesis 21:30; S Deuteronomy 4:26; S Jeremiah 7:11
  • 12. S ver 46
  • 13. S Genesis 28:18
  • 14. S Genesis 21:30
  • 15. S ver 46
  • 16. S ver 7; S Genesis 26:29
  • 17. S Genesis 24:12; Genesis 28:13
  • 18. S Genesis 11:27
  • 19. S Genesis 16:5
  • 20. S Genesis 21:23,27
  • 21. S ver 42
  • 22. Genesis 46:1; Exodus 24:5; Leviticus 3:1
  • 23. S Genesis 26:30
  • 24. S ver 28; Ruth 1:9
  • 25. S Genesis 24:60; S Exodus 39:43
  • 26. Genesis 18:33; Genesis 30:25

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. The Aramaic "Jegar Sahadutha" and the Hebrew "Galeed" both mean "witness heap."
  • [b]. "Mizpah" means "watchtower."
  • [c]. In Hebrew texts this verse (31:55) is numbered 32:1.
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