Genesis 31:53

53 God of Abraham, and God of Nahor, [the] God of the father of them, deem betwixt us. Therefore Jacob swore by the dread of his father Isaac;

Genesis 31:53 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 31:53

The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their
father, judge between us
And the father of these was Terah, so that the god of them was not the true God, and is not meant, at least not as truly worshipped; but the god or gods of Terah, Nahor and Abraham worshipped while idolaters, and Laban still continued to do, though perhaps not in so gross a manner as some did: and Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac;
that is, by the true God his father Isaac feared, served, and worshipped: or "but Jacob" {r} which seems plainly to suggest, that the God whom Laban called upon to be a judge between them, should they break covenant, and swore by, and he whom Jacob swore by, were different; each swore by their own deities.


FOOTNOTES:

F18 (ebvyw) "sed juravit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Genesis 31:53 In-Context

51 And again Laban said to Jacob, Lo! this heap, and the stone, (or the pillar,) which I have raised (up) betwixt me and thee,
52 shall be witness(es); soothly this heap, and the stone be into witnessing (this heap, and the stone, shall be witnesses for both of us), forsooth if I shall pass (over) it, and go to thee, either (if) thou shalt pass (over) it, and think (to do) evil to me.
53 God of Abraham, and God of Nahor, [the] God of the father of them, deem betwixt us. Therefore Jacob swore by the dread of his father Isaac;
54 and when slain sacrifices were offered (there) in the hill (country), Jacob called his brethren to eat bread (Jacob called his kinsmen to eat with him), and when they had eaten, they dwelled there (all night).
55 Forsooth Laban rose by night, and kissed his sons, and daughters, and blessed them, and turned again into his place. (And the next day, Laban rose up early, and kissed his grandsons, and his daughters, and blessed them, and then returned to his home.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.