Genesis 31:20
New International Version
Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away.

New Living Translation
Jacob outwitted Laban the Aramean, for they set out secretly and never told Laban they were leaving.

English Standard Version
And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee.

Berean Standard Bible
Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away.

King James Bible
And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

New King James Version
And Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee.

New American Standard Bible
And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing.

NASB 1995
And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing.

NASB 1977
And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he was fleeing.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing.

Amplified Bible
And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean (Syrian) by not telling him that he intended to leave and he slipped away secretly.

Christian Standard Bible
And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean, not telling him that he was fleeing.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean, not telling him that he was fleeing.

American Standard Version
And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

Contemporary English Version
Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean by not saying that he intended to leave.

English Revised Version
And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jacob also tricked Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was leaving.

Good News Translation
Jacob deceived Laban by not letting him know that he was leaving.

International Standard Version
Moreover, Jacob had deceived Laban the Aramean, because he had never told him that he was intending to leave.

Majority Standard Bible
Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away.

NET Bible
Jacob also deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was leaving.

New Heart English Bible
Jacob outwitted Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he intended to flee.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he was about to depart.

World English Bible
Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian, in that he didn’t tell him that he was running away.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Jacob deceives the heart of Laban the Aramean, because he has not declared to him that he is fleeing;

Young's Literal Translation
and Jacob deceiveth the heart of Laban the Aramaean, because he hath not declared to him that he is fleeing;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jacob will steal the heart of Laban the Syrian, for not announcing to him that he broke away.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jacob would not confess to his father in law that he was flying away.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Jacob was not willing to confess to his father-in-law that he was fleeing.

New American Bible
Jacob had hoodwinked Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was going to flee.

New Revised Standard Version
And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Jacob deceived Laban, the Aramean, in that he did not tell him that he was going.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yaquuv deceived the heart of Laban the Aramaean because he did not tell him that he was leaving.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Jacob outwitted Laban the Aramean, in that he told him not that he fled.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Jacob hid the matter from Laban the Syrian, so as not to tell him that he ran away.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob Flees from Laban
19Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols. 20Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away. 21So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.…

Cross References
Genesis 27:35
But Isaac replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”

Genesis 27:36
So Esau declared, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice. He took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

Genesis 27:41-45
Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” / When the words of her older son Esau were relayed to Rebekah, she sent for her younger son Jacob and told him, “Look, your brother Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you. / So now, my son, obey my voice and flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran. ...

Genesis 30:25-26
Now after Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way so I can return to my homeland. / Give me my wives and children for whom I have served you, that I may go on my way. You know how hard I have worked for you.”

Genesis 31:3
Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

Genesis 31:13
I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up, leave this land at once, and return to your native land.’”

Genesis 31:17-18
Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels, / and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan.

Genesis 31:24
But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

Genesis 31:27
Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps.

Genesis 31:29
I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’

Genesis 31:42
If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment.”

Genesis 32:9-12
Then Jacob declared, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, the LORD who told me, ‘Go back to your country and to your kindred, and I will make you prosper,’ / I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. Indeed, with only my staff I came across the Jordan, but now I have become two camps. / Please deliver me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid that he may come and attack me and the mothers and children with me. ...

Exodus 14:5
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”

1 Samuel 19:12
So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped.

1 Samuel 20:1
Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? How have I sinned against your father, that he wants to take my life?”


Treasury of Scripture

And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

unawares to Laban.

Genesis 31:27
Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

Genesis 31:20
And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

Jump to Previous
Aramaean Aramean Deceived Deceiveth Declared Depart Fled Flee Fleeing Flight Heart Intended Jacob Laban Moreover News Outwitted Running Secretly Stole Syrian Telling Unawares
Jump to Next
Aramaean Aramean Deceived Deceiveth Declared Depart Fled Flee Fleeing Flight Heart Intended Jacob Laban Moreover News Outwitted Running Secretly Stole Syrian Telling Unawares
Genesis 31
1. Jacob, displeased with the envy of Laban and his sons, departs secretly.
19. Rachel steals her father's household gods.
22. Laban pursues after him, and complains of the wrong.
34. Rachel's plan to hide the images.
36. Jacob's complaint of Laban.
43. The covenant of Laban and Jacob at Galeed.














Jacob deceived
The Hebrew root for "deceived" is "גנב" (ganab), which often means to steal or to act covertly. In this context, it implies a sense of stealth and cunning. Jacob's actions reflect a complex character who, despite being chosen by God, often resorts to human tactics to achieve his goals. This highlights the tension between divine providence and human agency, reminding us that God can work through imperfect people to fulfill His purposes.

Laban the Aramean
Laban is identified as an Aramean, which situates him within a specific ethnic and cultural context. The Arameans were a Semitic people, and this designation emphasizes the familial and cultural ties between Jacob and Laban. Historically, the Arameans were known for their interactions with the Israelites, and this relationship is marked by both kinship and conflict. This phrase underscores the complexity of family dynamics and the challenges of navigating relationships with those who may not share the same covenantal promises.

by not telling him
The act of not informing Laban is significant. It suggests a deliberate choice by Jacob to avoid confrontation or potential conflict. This decision can be seen as a lack of trust in God's protection or as a strategic move to ensure the safety of his family. It raises questions about the ethics of deception and the balance between prudence and faith. In a broader sense, it challenges believers to consider how they communicate and the importance of transparency in relationships.

that he was running away
The phrase "running away" indicates urgency and a desire for escape. The Hebrew word used here can also imply fleeing from danger or oppression. Jacob's departure is not just a physical relocation but a significant turning point in his life. It marks a transition from servitude under Laban to a journey towards fulfilling God's promises. This act of leaving behind the old life to embrace a new path resonates with the Christian journey of leaving behind sin and pursuing a life in Christ. It serves as a reminder of the courage required to step into the unknown, trusting in God's guidance and provision.

(20) Jacob stole away unawares.--Heb., stole the heart. But the heart was regarded by the Hebrews as the seat of the intellect, and so to steal a man's understanding, like the similar phrase in Greek, means to elude his observation.

Verse 20. - And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, - literally, stole the heart of Laban the Syrian, he deceived his mind and intelligence, like κλέπτειν νόον, Horn., ' II.,' 14. 227 (el. vers. 26, 27); hence - ἔκρυψε (LXX.); so Calvin, Rosenmüller, Keil, Gesenius, and others. Lange fancifully understands by the heart of Laban which Jacob stole either Laban's daughters or his favorite Rachel Gerlach contrasts Jacob's stealing with that of Rachel, in which Jacob, had no part. The exact import of Jacob s stealing is declared by the words that follow - in that he told him not (Lunge and Bush interpret הִגֹּיִד impersonally, as signifying in that or because it was not told; but in this among expositors they stand alone) that he fled.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Moreover, Jacob
יַעֲקֹ֔ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

deceived
וַיִּגְנֹ֣ב (way·yiḡ·nōḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1589: To thieve, to deceive

Laban
לָבָ֖ן (lā·ḇān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3837: Laban -- father-in-law of Jacob

the Aramean
הָאֲרַמִּ֑י (hā·’ă·ram·mî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 761: Aramean -- an inhabitant of Aram (Syria)

by not
בְּלִי֙ (bə·lî)
Adverb
Strong's 1097: Failure, nothing, destruction, without, not yet, because not, as long as

telling
הִגִּ֣יד (hig·gîḏ)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

him
ל֔וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

that
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he
הֽוּא׃ (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

was running away.
בֹרֵ֖חַ (ḇō·rê·aḥ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1272: To bolt, to flee suddenly


Links
Genesis 31:20 NIV
Genesis 31:20 NLT
Genesis 31:20 ESV
Genesis 31:20 NASB
Genesis 31:20 KJV

Genesis 31:20 BibleApps.com
Genesis 31:20 Biblia Paralela
Genesis 31:20 Chinese Bible
Genesis 31:20 French Bible
Genesis 31:20 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Genesis 31:20 Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian in that (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 31:19
Top of Page
Top of Page