Genesis 31:1-27 ▼

1 Now Jacob heard that Laban’s (white) sons were saying, “Jacob (he grasps the heel) has taken away all that belonged to our father and built all this wealth at our father’s expense.”

2 And Jacob (he grasps the heel) saw from the countenance of Laban (white) that his attitude toward him had changed.

3 Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Jacob (he grasps the heel), “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

4 So Jacob (he grasps the heel) sent word and called Rachel (little lamb) and Leah (weary) to the field where his flocks were,

5 and he told them, “I can see from your⁺ father’s countenance that his attitude toward me has changed; but the God {Elohe} of my father has been with me.

6 You⁺ know that I have served your⁺ father with all my strength.

7 And although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God {Elohim} has not allowed him to harm me.

8 If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore speckled offspring. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore streaked offspring.

9 Thus God {Elohim} has taken away your⁺ father’s livestock and given them to me.

10 When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females.

11 In that dream the angel (Angel) of God {Elohim} said to me, ‘Jacob (he grasps the heel)!’ And I replied, ‘Here I am.’

12 ‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban (white) has done to you.

13 I am the God of Bethel (house of God), 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.’”

14 And Rachel (little lamb) and Leah (weary) replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house?

15 Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? Not only has he sold us, but he has certainly squandered what was paid for us.

16 Surely all the wealth that God {Elohim} has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has told you.”

17 Then Jacob (he grasps the heel) got up and put his children and his wives on camels,

18 and he drove all his livestock before him, (field) along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram (northwest Mesopotamia), to go to his father Isaac (he laughs) in the land in Canaan (lowland).

19 Now while Laban (white) was out shearing his sheep, Rachel (little lamb) stole her father’s household idols.

20 Moreover, Jacob (he grasps the heel) deceived (stole the heart of) Laban (white) the Aramean (exalted) by not telling him that he was running away.

21 So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates \the River/, and headed for the hill country of Gilead (rocky region).

22 On the third day Laban (white) was informed that Jacob (he grasps the heel) had fled.

23 So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead (rocky region).

24 But that night God {Elohim} came to Laban (white) the Aramean (exalted) in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob (he grasps the heel), either good or bad.”

25 Now Jacob (he grasps the heel) had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead (rocky region) when Laban (white) overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there as well.

26 Then Laban (white) said to Jacob (he grasps the heel), “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war!

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.