Genesis 31:49
◄  Genesis 31:49  ►
New International Version (©2011)
It was also called Mizpah, because he said, "May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.

New Living Translation (©2007)
But it was also called Mizpah (which means "watchtower"), for Laban said, "May the LORD keep watch between us to make sure that we keep this covenant when we are out of each other's sight.

English Standard Version (©2001)
and Mizpah, for he said, “The LORD watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
and Mizpah, for he said, "May the LORD watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
and also Mizpah, for he said, "May the LORD watch between you and me when we are out of each other's sight.

International Standard Version (©2012)
It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, "May the LORD watch between you and me, when we are estranged from each other.

NET Bible (©2006)
It was also called Mizpah because he said, "May the LORD watch between us when we are out of sight of one another.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
and also Mizpah [Watchtower], because he said, "May the LORD watch between you and me when we're unable to see each other.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another.

American King James Version
And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another.

American Standard Version
and Mizpah, for he said, Jehovah watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The Lord behold and judge between us when we shall be gone one from the other.

Darby Bible Translation
and Mizpah; for he said, Let Jehovah watch between me and thee, when we shall be hidden one from another:

English Revised Version
and Mizpah, for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.

World English Bible
and Mizpah, for he said, "Yahweh watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another.

Young's Literal Translation
Mizpah also, for he said, 'Jehovah doth watch between me and thee, for we are hidden one from another;

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

31:43-55 Laban could neither justify himself nor condemn Jacob, therefore desires to hear no more of that matter. He is not willing to own himself in fault, as he ought to have done. But he proposes a covenant of friendship between them, to which Jacob readily agrees. A heap of stones was raised, to keep up the memory of the event, writing being then not known or little used. A sacrifice of peace offerings was offered. Peace with God puts true comfort into our peace with our friends. They did eat bread together, partaking of the feast upon the sacrifice. In ancient times covenants of friendship were ratified by the parties eating and drinking together. God is judge between contending parties, and he will judge righteously; whoever do wrong, it is at their peril. They gave a new name to the place, The heap of witness. After this angry parley, they part friends. God is often better to us than our fears, and overrules the spirits of men in our favour, beyond what we could have expected; for it is not in vain to trust in him.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Mizpah,.... Which being an Hebrew word, it looks as if the heap had also this name given it by Jacob, which signifies a "watch" or "watchtower"; though, by what follows, it seems to be given by Laban, who could speak Hebrew as well, as Syriac, or Chaldee:

for he said, the Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another; or "hid one from another" (q); when being at a distance, they could not see each other, or what one another did in agreement or disagreement with their present covenant: but he intimates, that the Lord sees and knows all things, and therefore imprecates that God would watch over them both, them and their actions, and bring upon them the evil or the good, according as their actions were, or as they broke or kept this covenant.

(q) "abscondemur", Montanus, Vatablus, Drusius; "absconditi erimus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so Ainsworth.

Genesis 31:49 Parallel Commentaries

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Jacob's Covenant with Laban
…48And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and you this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed; 49And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another. 50If you shall afflict my daughters, or if you shall take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness between me and you. …

Judges 11:29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites.
1 Samuel 7:5 Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the LORD for you."
1 Samuel 7:6 When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, "We have sinned against the LORD." Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah.
1 Samuel 20:23 And about the matter you and I discussed--remember, the LORD is witness between you and me forever."