Genesis 31:20

Genesis 31:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
• New International Version (NIV)Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee.

Context of Genesis 31:20

18and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan. 19Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols. Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away. 21So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead. 22On the third day Laban was informed that Jacob had fled.

Genesis 31:20 word by word

וַיִּגְנֹ֣ב יַעֲקֹ֔ב אֶת־לֵ֥ב לָבָ֖ן הָאֲרַמִּ֑י עַל־בְּלִי֙ הִגִּ֣יד ל֔וֹ כִּ֥י בֹרֵ֖חַ הֽוּא׃Read the interlinear

• Moreover, Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• deceivedגָּנַבgânab · to stealH1589
• deceivedלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• Labanלָבָןlâbân · LabanH3837
• the Arameanאֲרַמִּי'ărammîy · ArameanH761
• the Arameanעַל‛al · uponH5921
• by notבְּלִיbelîy · withoutH1097
• tellingנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• thatכִּיkîy · forH3588
• heהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• was running awayבָּרַחbârach · to fleeH1272

Cross-references for Genesis 31:20

• Genesis 31:27Why 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.

Commentaries on Genesis 31:20

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-55Verses 1-55 - Jacob‘s Flight from Haran 19. תרפים terāpı̂ym Teraphim. This word occurs fifteen times in the Old Testament. It appears three times in this chapter, and nowhere else in the Pentateuch. It is always in the plural number. The root does not appear in Biblical Hebrew. It perhaps means “to live well,” intransitively (Gesenius, Roedig.), “to nourish,” transitively (Furst). The teraphim were symbols or representatives of the Deity, as Laban calls…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-20Rachel stole her father’s household idols: She might have wanted to recover some of the wealth Laban wasted. She may have also worshiped idols (compare 35:2–4). Having the idols might have meant claiming the family inheritance, as later customs indicate. Laban seemed to feel insecure without them. Whatever her reasons, Rachel's theft nearly caused disaster for the family when Laban overtook them. A wordplay shows that Rachel and Jacob were very…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Jacob stole away--The result showed the prudence and necessity of departing secretly; otherwise, Laban might have detained him by violence or artifice.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 31:20

• Haran
• Laban

In the dictionaries

• Jacob
• Laban
• Jacob, Israel
• Agate
• Aram
• Carry
• Discern
• Fear
• Gather
• Inheritance

Commentaries on Genesis 31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings