Genesis 31:49

Genesis 31:49 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
• New International Version (NIV)It was also called Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and Mizpah, for he said, "The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another's sight.
• New King James Version (NKJV)also Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another.

Context of Genesis 31:49

47Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed. 48Then Laban declared, “This mound is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore the place was called Galeed. It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other. 50If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, although no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.” 51Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is the mound, and here is the pillar I have set up between you and me.

Genesis 31:49 word by word

וְהַמִּצְפָּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔ר יִ֥צֶף יְהוָ֖ה בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ כִּ֥י נִסָּתֵ֖ר אִ֥ישׁ מֵרֵעֵֽהוּ׃Read the interlinear

• also called Mizpahמִצְפָּהmitspâh · MizpahH4709
• becauseאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• May the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• keep watchצָפָהtsâphâh · to watchH6822
• between youבַּ֫יִןbêyn · betweenH996
• whenכִּיkîy · forH3588
• we are absentסָתַרsâthar · to hideH5641
• from each otherרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
• from each otherאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376

Cross-references for Genesis 31:49

• Judges 10:17Then the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, and the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.
• Judges 11:11So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander. And Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.
• 1 Samuel 7:5Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”
• 1 Kings 15:22Then King Asa summoned all the men of Judah, with no exceptions, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials King Asa built up Geba of Benjamin, as well as Mizpah.
• Hosea 5:1“Hear this, O priests! Take heed, O house of Israel! Give ear, O royal house! For this judgment is against you because you have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.

Commentaries on Genesis 31:49

• 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
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 43-55Verses 43-55 Laban could neither justify himself nor condemn Jacob, therefore desires to hear no more of that matter. He is not willing to own himself in fault, as he ought to have done. But he proposes a covenant of friendship between them, to which Jacob readily agrees. A heap of stones was raised, to keep up the memory of the event, writing being then not known or little used. A sacrifice of peace offerings was offered. Peace with God puts true comfort…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 49The pile of stones was also called Mizpah (which means “watchtower”). God would watch over Jacob and Laban to keep them apart, because they did not trust each other.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22-5522-24. it was told Laban on the third day--No sooner did the news reach Laban than he set out in pursuit, and he being not encumbered, advanced rapidly; whereas Jacob, with a young family and numerous flocks, had to march slowly, so that he overtook the fugitives after seven days' journey as they lay encamped on the brow of mount Gilead, an extensive range of hills forming the eastern boundary of Canaan. Being accompanied by a number of his people, he…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 31:49

• Contracts
• Covenant
• Laban
• Stones

In the dictionaries

• Mizpah
• Mizpah; Mizpeh
• Absent
• Agate
• Carry
• Discern
• Fear
• Gather
• Inheritance
• Jacob

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