Genesis 31:31
New International Version
Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.

New Living Translation
“I rushed away because I was afraid,” Jacob answered. “I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.

English Standard Version
Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.

Berean Standard Bible
“I was afraid,” Jacob answered, “for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.

King James Bible
And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.

New King James Version
Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’

New American Standard Bible
Then Jacob replied to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.

NASB 1995
Then Jacob replied to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.

NASB 1977
Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Lest you would take your daughters from me by force.’

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, because I said, ‘Lest you take your daughters from me by force.’

Amplified Bible
Jacob answered Laban, “[I left secretly] because I was afraid, for I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.

Christian Standard Bible
Jacob answered, “I was afraid, for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Jacob answered, “I was afraid, for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.

American Standard Version
And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Lest thou shouldest take thy daughters from me by force.

Contemporary English Version
Jacob answered, "I left secretly because I was afraid you would take your daughters from me by force.

English Revised Version
And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Lest thou shouldest take thy daughters from me by force.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jacob answered Laban, "I left because I was afraid. I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.

Good News Translation
Jacob answered, "I was afraid, because I thought that you might take your daughters away from me.

International Standard Version
"I was afraid," Jacob replied. "I thought you might take your daughters from me.

Majority Standard Bible
?I was afraid,? Jacob answered, ?for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.

NET Bible
"I left secretly because I was afraid!" Jacob replied to Laban. "I thought you might take your daughters away from me by force.

New Heart English Bible
Jacob answered Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.'

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, It may be thou wouldest take thy daughters from me by force.

World English Bible
Jacob answered Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Lest you should take your daughters from me by force.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jacob answers and says to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, Lest you violently take away your daughters from me;

Young's Literal Translation
And Jacob answereth and saith to Laban, 'Because I was afraid, for I said, Lest thou take violently away thy daughters from me;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jacob will answer and say to Laban, Because I was afraid; for I said, Lest thou wilt tear away my daughters from me;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Jacob answered: That I departed unknown to thee, it was for fear lest thou wouldst take away thy daughters by force.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Jacob answered: “I set out, unknown to you, because I feared that you might take away your daughters by violence.

New American Bible
Jacob replied to Laban, “I was frightened at the thought that you might take your daughters away from me by force.

New Revised Standard Version
Jacob answered Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Jacob answered and said to Laban. Because I was afraid; for I said, Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yaquuv answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, and I said, lest you will take your daughters from me.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Jacob answered and said to Laban: 'Because I was afraid; for I said: Lest thou shouldest take thy daughters from me by force.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid; for I said, Lest at any time thou shouldest take away thy daughters from me, and all my possessions.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Laban Pursues Jacob
30Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?” 31 I was afraid,” Jacob answered, “for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force. 32If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.…

Cross References
Genesis 31:26-27
Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war! / 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 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 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 28:5
So Isaac sent Jacob to Paddan-aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau.

Genesis 29:20
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.

Genesis 30:1-2
When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob. / Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”

Genesis 32:6-7
When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you—he and four hundred men with him.” / In great fear and distress, Jacob divided his people into two camps, as well as the flocks and herds and camels.

Genesis 33:1-4
Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. / He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear. / But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. ...

Exodus 14:10-12
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified and cried out to the LORD. / They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? / Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Exodus 2:14-15
But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done has surely become known.” / When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, where he sat down beside a well.

1 Samuel 20:1-3
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?” / “Far from it!” Jonathan replied. “You will not die. Indeed, my father does nothing, great or small, without telling me. So why would he hide this matter from me? This cannot be true!” / But David again vowed, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, ‘Jonathan must not know of this, or he will be grieved.’ As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.”

1 Samuel 21:10-12
That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. / But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” / Now David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

1 Kings 19:3
And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,

Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.


Treasury of Scripture

And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure you would take by force your daughters from me.

Because.

Genesis 31:26,27
And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword? …

Genesis 20:11
And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.

Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Jump to Previous
Afraid Daughters Fear Force Jacob Laban Peradventure Shouldest Thought Violently Wouldest
Jump to Next
Afraid Daughters Fear Force Jacob Laban Peradventure Shouldest Thought Violently Wouldest
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.














I was afraid
The Hebrew root for "afraid" is יָרֵא (yare), which conveys a sense of fear or reverence. In this context, Jacob's fear is not just a simple emotion but a deep concern for the safety and well-being of his family. This fear reflects the human condition of vulnerability and the instinct to protect one's loved ones. It also highlights the tension between Jacob and Laban, underscoring the precariousness of Jacob's situation as he navigates his relationship with his father-in-law.

Jacob answered
The act of answering implies a response to a prior accusation or question. Jacob's response is a defense of his actions, indicating a moment of confrontation. This phrase sets the stage for a dialogue that reveals the underlying tensions and mistrust between Jacob and Laban. It is a reminder of the importance of communication and the need to address misunderstandings directly.

for I thought
The phrase "for I thought" indicates an internal reasoning or assumption. In Hebrew, the verb חָשַׁב (chashav) can mean to think, plan, or reckon. Jacob's thought process reveals his anticipation of Laban's potential actions based on past experiences. This reflects the human tendency to predict others' behavior based on previous interactions, highlighting the role of perception in shaping relationships.

you would take
The verb "take" in Hebrew is לָקַח (laqach), which can mean to seize, capture, or receive. Jacob's fear that Laban would "take" his daughters suggests a forceful action, emphasizing the power dynamics at play. This reflects the historical context of patriarchal authority and the vulnerability of women and children in ancient societies. It underscores the protective instincts of a father and husband in safeguarding his family.

your daughters
Referring to Rachel and Leah, "your daughters" highlights the familial ties and the complex relationships within Jacob's household. This phrase underscores the dual identity of Rachel and Leah as both Laban's daughters and Jacob's wives, illustrating the intricate web of family loyalties and obligations. It also reflects the cultural norms of the time, where women were often seen in relation to the men in their lives.

from me
The phrase "from me" indicates a separation or removal, emphasizing Jacob's fear of losing his family. It highlights the personal nature of the threat Jacob perceives, as it directly impacts his life and happiness. This phrase underscores the theme of possession and belonging, central to the narrative of Jacob's journey and his quest for independence and security.

by force
The term "by force" suggests coercion or violence, indicating the potential for conflict. In Hebrew, the concept of force often involves strength or might, reflecting the power struggles inherent in human relationships. This phrase highlights the potential for aggression in resolving disputes, contrasting with the biblical ideal of peace and reconciliation. It serves as a reminder of the need for trust and understanding in overcoming fear and hostility.

(31, 32) Jacob answered.--Jacob gives the true reason for his flight; after which, indignant at the charge of theft, he returns, in his anger, as rash an answer about the teraphim as Joseph's brethren subsequently did about the stolen cup (Genesis 44:9).

Let him not live.--The Rabbins regard this as a prophecy, fulfilled in Rachel's premature death. Its more simple meaning is, I yield him up to thee even to be put to death.

Verses 31, 32. - And Jacob answered - "in an able and powerful speech" (Kalisch) - and said to Laban (replying to his first interrogation as to why Jacob had stolen away unawares), Because I was afraid: for I said (sc. to myself), Peradventure (literally, lest, i.e. I must depart without informing thee lest) thou wouldest (or shoudest) take by force - the verb signifies to strip off as skin from flesh (vide Micah 3:2), and hence to forcibly remove - thy daughters from me (after which, in response to Laban's question about his stolen gods, he proceeds). With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live. If Jacob meant he shall not live, but I will slay him with mine own hand (Aben Ezra), let God destroy him (Abarbanel), I give him up to thee to put to death (Rosenmüller), let him instantly die (Drusius), he was guilty of great unadvisedness in speech. Accordingly, the import of his words has been mollified by regarding them simply as a prediction, "he will not live," i.e. he will die before his time (Jonathan), a prediction which, the Rabbins note, was fulfilled in Rachel (vide Genesis 35:16, 18); or by connecting them with clause following, "he will not live before our brethren," i.e. let him be henceforth cut off from the society of his kinsmen (LXX., Bush). Yet, even as thus explained, the language of Jacob was precipitats, since he ought first to have inquired at his wives and children before pronouncing so emphatically on a matter of which he was entirely ignorant (Calvin). Before our brethren - not Jacob's sons, but Laban's kinsmen (ver. 23) - discern thou - literally, examine closely for thyself, the hiph. of נָכַר (to be strange) meaning to press strongly into a thing, i.e. to perceive it by finding out its distinguishing characteristics (vide Furst, sub voce) - what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For (literally, and) Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them - otherwise he would have spoken with less heat and more caution.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“I was afraid,”
יָרֵ֔אתִי (yā·rê·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

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

answered,
וַיַּ֥עַן (way·ya·‘an)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

“for
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I thought
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

[you]
לְלָבָ֑ן (lə·lā·ḇān)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3837: Laban -- father-in-law of Jacob

would take your daughters
בְּנוֹתֶ֖יךָ (bə·nō·w·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

from me
מֵעִמִּֽי׃ (mê·‘im·mî)
Preposition-m | first person common singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

by force.
תִּגְזֹ֥ל (tiḡ·zōl)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1497: To pluck off, to flay, strip, rob


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

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

OT Law: Genesis 31:31 Jacob answered Laban Because I was afraid (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 31:30
Top of Page
Top of Page