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Genesis 31:25-32:12
New International Version - UK

25 Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there too. 26 Then Laban said to Jacob, ‘What have you done? You’ve deceived me, and you’ve carried off my daughters like captives in war. 27 Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me, so that I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of tambourines and harps? 28 You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. You have done a foolish thing. 29 I have the power to harm you; but last night the God of your father said to me, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.” 30 Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father’s household. But why did you steal my gods?’

31 Jacob answered Laban, ‘I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force. 32 But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it.’ Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods.

33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two female servants, but he found nothing. After he came out of Leah’s tent, he entered Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them inside her camel’s saddle and was sitting on them. Laban searched through everything in the tent but found nothing.

35 Rachel said to her father, ‘Don’t be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence; I’m having my period.’ So he searched but could not find the household gods.

36 Jacob was angry and took Laban to task. ‘What is my crime?’ he asked Laban. ‘How have I wronged you that you hunt me down? 37 Now that you have searched through all my goods, what have you found that belongs to your household? Put it here in front of your relatives and mine, and let them 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 rams from your flocks. 39 I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night. 40 This was my situation: the heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes. 41 It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times. 42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.’

43 Laban answered Jacob, ‘The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne? 44 Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.’

45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46 He said to his relatives, ‘Gather some stones.’ So they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.[a]

48 Laban said, ‘This heap is a witness between you and me today.’ That is why it was called Galeed. 49 It was also called Mizpah,[b] because he said, ‘May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. 50 If you ill-treat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.’

51 Laban also said to Jacob, ‘Here is this heap, and here is this pillar I have set up between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap and pillar to my side to harm me. 53 May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.’

So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac. 54 He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there.

55 Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.[c]

Jacob prepares to meet Esau

32 [d]Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, ‘This is the camp of God!’ So he named that place Mahanaim.[e]

3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He instructed them: ‘This is what you are to say to my lord Esau: “Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. 5 I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favour in your eyes.”’

6 When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, ‘We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.’

7 In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups,[f] and the flocks and herds and camels as well. 8 He thought, ‘If Esau comes and attacks one group,[g] the group[h] that is left may escape.’

9 Then Jacob prayed, ‘O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, “Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,” 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. 11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. 12 But you have said, “I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.”’

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 31:47 The Aramaic Jegar Sahadutha and the Hebrew Galeed both mean witness heap.
  2. Genesis 31:49 Mizpah means watchtower.
  3. Genesis 31:55 In Hebrew texts this verse (31:55) is numbered 32:1.
  4. Genesis 32:1 In Hebrew texts 32:1-32 is numbered 32:2-33.
  5. Genesis 32:2 Mahanaim means two camps.
  6. Genesis 32:7 Or camps
  7. Genesis 32:8 Or camp
  8. Genesis 32:8 Or camp
Listen to Genesis 31:25-32:12
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Genesis 31:25-32:12
New International Version

25 Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead(A) when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there too. 26 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done?(B) You’ve deceived me,(C) and you’ve carried off my daughters like captives in war.(D) 27 Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me,(E) so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of timbrels(F) and harps?(G) 28 You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye.(H) You have done a foolish thing. 29 I have the power to harm you;(I) but last night the God of your father(J) said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’(K) 30 Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father’s household.(L) But why did you steal(M) my gods?(N)”

31 Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.(O) 32 But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live.(P) In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods.(Q)

33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent(R) and into the tent of the two female servants,(S) but he found nothing.(T) After he came out of Leah’s tent, he entered Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the household gods(U) and put them inside her camel’s saddle(V) and was sitting on them. Laban searched(W) through everything in the tent but found nothing.

35 Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence;(X) I’m having my period.(Y)” So he searched but could not find the household gods.(Z)

36 Jacob was angry and took Laban to task. “What is my crime?” he asked Laban. “How have I wronged(AA) you that you hunt me down?(AB) 37 Now that you have searched through all my goods, what have you found that belongs to your household?(AC) Put it here in front of your relatives(AD) and mine, and let them judge between the two of us.(AE)

38 “I have been with you for twenty years now.(AF) Your sheep and goats have not miscarried,(AG) nor have I eaten rams from your flocks. 39 I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen(AH) by day or night.(AI) 40 This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes.(AJ) 41 It was like this for the twenty years(AK) I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters(AL) and six years for your flocks,(AM) and you changed my wages(AN) ten times.(AO) 42 If the God of my father,(AP) the God of Abraham(AQ) and the Fear of Isaac,(AR) had not been with me,(AS) you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands,(AT) and last night he rebuked you.(AU)”

43 Laban answered Jacob, “The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks.(AV) All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne? 44 Come now, let’s make a covenant,(AW) you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.”(AX)

45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.(AY) 46 He said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and piled them in a heap,(AZ) and they ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.[a](BA)

48 Laban said, “This heap(BB) is a witness between you and me today.”(BC) That is why it was called Galeed. 49 It was also called Mizpah,[b](BD) because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. 50 If you mistreat(BE) my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness(BF) between you and me.”(BG)

51 Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is this heap,(BH) and here is this pillar(BI) I have set up between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness,(BJ) that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap(BK) and pillar to my side to harm me.(BL) 53 May the God of Abraham(BM) and the God of Nahor,(BN) the God of their father, judge between us.”(BO)

So Jacob took an oath(BP) in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac.(BQ) 54 He offered a sacrifice(BR) there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal.(BS) After they had eaten, they spent the night there.

55 Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters(BT) and blessed(BU) them. Then he left and returned home.[c](BV)

Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau

32 [d]Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God(BW) met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!”(BX) So he named that place Mahanaim.[e](BY)

3 Jacob sent messengers(BZ) ahead of him to his brother Esau(CA) in the land of Seir,(CB) the country of Edom.(CC) 4 He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord(CD) Esau: ‘Your servant(CE) Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban(CF) and have remained there till now. 5 I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants.(CG) Now I am sending this message to my lord,(CH) that I may find favor in your eyes.(CI)’”

6 When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”(CJ)

7 In great fear(CK) and distress(CL) Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups,[f](CM) and the flocks and herds and camels as well. 8 He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group,[g] the group[h] that is left may escape.”

9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham,(CN) God of my father Isaac,(CO) Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’(CP) 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness(CQ) you have shown your servant. I had only my staff(CR) when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps.(CS) 11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid(CT) he will come and attack me,(CU) and also the mothers with their children.(CV) 12 But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand(CW) of the sea, which cannot be counted.(CX)’”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 31:47 The Aramaic Jegar Sahadutha and the Hebrew Galeed both mean witness heap.
  2. Genesis 31:49 Mizpah means watchtower.
  3. Genesis 31:55 In Hebrew texts this verse (31:55) is numbered 32:1.
  4. Genesis 32:1 In Hebrew texts 32:1-32 is numbered 32:2-33.
  5. Genesis 32:2 Mahanaim means two camps.
  6. Genesis 32:7 Or camps
  7. Genesis 32:8 Or camp
  8. Genesis 32:8 Or camp
Listen to Genesis 31:25-32:12
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Genesis 31:25-32:12
King James Version

25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.

26 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?

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?

28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.

29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

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

32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.

34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.

35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched but found not the images.

36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?

37 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.

38 This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.

39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.

40 Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.

41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.

43 And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?

44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.

45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.

46 And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.

47 And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.

48 And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;

49 And Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.

50 If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.

51 And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee:

52 This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.

53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.

54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.

55 And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.

32 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

4 And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:

5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.

6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.

7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;

8 And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.

9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:

10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.

11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.

12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

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