1
It was reported to Jacob that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken all that belonged to our father, and from what belonged to our father he has gained all this wealth.”
2
Jacob also saw from Laban’s face that Laban was no longer toward him as he had been before.
3
Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”
4
So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, where his flocks were,
5
and said to them, “I have seen from your father’s face that he is no longer toward me as he was before; but the God of my father has been with me.
6
You yourselves know that I have served your father with all my strength.
7
Yet your father has dealt deceitfully with me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to harm me.
8
If he said, ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked young.
9
Thus God took away your father’s livestock and gave them to me.
10
At one time, when the flocks were breeding, I had a dream and saw that the males which mated with the flocks were streaked, speckled, and spotted.
11
And the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob!’ And I said, ‘Here I am, Lord.’
12
Then he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see that all the males which mate with the flocks are streaked, speckled, and spotted, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.
13
I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your kindred.’”
14
Then Rachel and Leah answered Jacob, saying, “Is there still any portion or inheritance left for us in our father’s house?
15
Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and has entirely consumed our money.
16
All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, do whatever God has said to you.”
17
Then Jacob arose and set his children and his wives on camels,
18
and he drove away all his livestock and all his possessions that he had acquired, the livestock he had gained in Paddan-aram, to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
19
Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep. At that time Rachel stole her father’s household gods.
20
And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee.
21
So he fled with all that he had. He set out, crossed the Euphrates River, and went toward the hill country of Gilead.
22
On the third day it was reported to Laban that Jacob had fled,
23
so he took his kinsmen with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.
24
But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Take care that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.”
25
When Laban came up with Jacob—now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hills, and Laban with his kinsmen had pitched in the hill country of Gilead—
26
Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war?
27
Why did you flee secretly and deceive me? Why did you not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with tambourine and lyre?
28
And why did you not allow me to kiss my grandsons and my daughters? You have acted foolishly.
29
It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Take care that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.’
30
And now, though you had to go because you longed greatly for your father’s house, why have you stolen my gods?”
31
Then Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid, for I thought, ‘Perhaps you will take your daughters away from me by force.’
32
But anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. Search before our kinsmen for whatever is mine with you, and take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
33
So Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the tents of the two female servants, but he did not find them. Then he left Leah’s tent and went into Rachel’s tent.
34
Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel saddle, and sat on them. Laban searched through the whole tent, but did not find them.
35
And Rachel said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry, because I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.” So he searched carefully, but did not find the household gods.
36
Then Jacob became angry and argued with Laban. He said to Laban, “What is my fault, what is my sin, that you have pursued me so fiercely?
37
You have searched through all my goods; now what have you found from all your household things? Put it here before my brothers and your brothers, so that they may judge between the two of us.
38
These twenty years I have been with you; your female sheep and goats have never miscarried, and I have never eaten the rams of your flock.
39
What was torn by wild beasts I never brought to you; I myself made it good. What was stolen, whether by day or by night, you always required of me.
40
By day the heat consumed me, and by night the frost, and my sleep fled from my eyes.
41
These twenty years I have been in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you have 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, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and He gave judgment last night.”
43
Then Laban answered Jacob, “These women are my daughters, these sons are my sons, and this flock is my flock; indeed, all that you see here is mine. So what can I do now for these daughters of mine, or for the children they have borne?
44
Now then, let us make a covenant, you and I, so that it may be a witness between you and me.”
45
Then Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.
46
And Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” So they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there beside the heap.
47
Laban called the heap of stones Jegar-Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.
48
Then Laban said, “This heap of stones is a witness between you and me today.” Therefore he named it Galeed,
49
and also Mizpah, for he said, “May the LORD watch between you and me when we are apart.
50
If you mistreat my daughters, and if you take other wives besides my daughters, remember that even if no one is near us, God is witness between you and me.”
51
Then Laban said to Jacob, “Here is this heap of stones, and here is the pillar that I have set up between you and me –”
52
this heap of stones and this pillar shall be a witness, that I will not pass over this heap of stones to you, and that you shall not pass over this heap of stones and this pillar to me, with evil intent.
53
The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, may judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the One whom Isaac his father feared.
54
And Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain. He invited his relatives to eat bread, and they ate and spent the night on the mountain.
55
Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his children and blessed them; then Laban departed and returned to his dwelling place.
🏃♂️🔒 Summary of Genesis 31
This chapter tells of Jacob’s departure from Laban’s house, after the Lord told him to return to his native land.
1. Jacob Leaves Laban Secretly (verses 1–21)
- Jacob saw the change in Laban’s attitude and in his sons, who were envious of Jacob’s wealth.
- The Lord spoke to Jacob: “Return… I will be with you.”
- Jacob told Rachel and Leah that Laban had deceived him many times, yet God continued to bless him.
- Jacob took all his family, possessions, and livestock.
- Rachel secretly stole her father’s household idols (teraphim).
- They left without telling Laban, who was far away shearing his sheep.
2. Laban Pursues and Confronts (verses 22–42)
- After three days, Laban learned of it and pursued Jacob.
- But God warned Laban in a dream: “Do not speak evil to Jacob.”
- When he met Jacob, Laban asked why he had fled and who had stolen his idols.
- Jacob, not knowing that Rachel had stolen them, swore that the thief should die.
- Rachel hid the idols in the camel saddle and sat on them, then said that she was having her monthly period, so Laban could not search her.
3. A Covenant of Peace (verses 43–55)
- After arguing with one another, Laban and Jacob made a covenant of peace at Mizpah.
- They set up a stone pillar as a witness, and declared that they would not harm one another or cross the boundary to attack.
📖 Main Lessons
- The LORD can command us to leave our comfort zone, even when it is risky.
- Injustice can be opposed with truth and courage that are accompanied by the LORD.
- Rachel’s secrecy shows that hidden sin can become a great threat.
- Family conflict can be ended through a fair covenant and mutual respect.
- The LORD is able to defend and protect those who follow His guidance.
✨ Spiritual Meaning
- Mizpah becomes a symbol of a peaceful parting, and also of the acknowledgment that God is witness to every covenant.
- Rachel’s stealing of the idols may show leftover traces of old beliefs not yet fully abandoned, reminding us that renewal of faith must be complete.
- Jacob increasingly grows in faith and leadership, beginning to face conflict without deceiving as in the past.
- God’s presence is made real through Laban’s dream, showing that God intervenes even on behalf of outsiders.
