Genesis 31:1-39 ▼

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.

28 But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing.

29 I have power to do you⁺ great harm, but last night the God {Elohe} of your⁺ father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob (he grasps the heel), either good or bad.’

30 Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”

31 “I was afraid,” Jacob (he grasps the heel) answered, “for I thought you (white) would take your daughters from me by force.

32 If 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 (he grasps the heel) did not know that Rachel (little lamb) had stolen the idols.

33 So Laban (white) went into Jacob’s (he grasps the heel) tent, then Leah’s (weary) tent, and then the tents of the two maidservants, but he found nothing. Then he left Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s (little lamb) tent.

34 Now Rachel (little lamb) had taken Laban’s household idols, put them in the saddlebag of her camel, and was sitting on them. And Laban (white) searched everything in the tent but found nothing.

35 Rachel said to her father, “Sir, do not be angry that I cannot stand up before you; for I am having my period.” So Laban searched but could not find the household idols.

36 Then Jacob (he grasps the heel) became incensed and challenged Laban (white). “What is my crime?” he said. “For what sin of mine have you so hotly pursued me?

37 You have searched all my goods! Have you found anything that belongs to you? Put it here before my brothers and yours, that they may judge between the two of us.

38 I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock.

39 I did not bring you anything torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for what was stolen by day or night.