God’s Word Translation
Genesis 31:1
1Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father and has gained all his wealth from him.”
Genesis 31:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory.
- New International Version (NIV)Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, "Jacob has taken all that was our father's, and from what was our father's he has gained all this wealth."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.”
Context of Genesis 31:1
Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father and has gained all his wealth from him.” 2He also noticed that Laban did not appear as friendly to him as before. 3Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your ancestors and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
Read all of Genesis 31Genesis 31:1 word by word
וַיִּשְׁמַ֗ע אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֤י בְנֵֽי־לָבָן֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לָקַ֣ח יַעֲקֹ֔ב אֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֑ינוּ וּמֵאֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאָבִ֔ינוּ עָשָׂ֕ה אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַכָּבֹ֖ד הַזֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- the wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
- of Laban’sלָבָןlâbân · LabanH3837
- sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
- hath taken awayלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- our father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
- hath he gottenעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: offerH6213
- all this gloryכָּבוֹדkâbôd kâbôd · gloryH3519
Cross-references for Genesis 31:1
- Genesis 31:8Whenever he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ all the flocks gave birth to speckled young. And whenever he said, ‘The striped ones will be your wages,’ all the flocks gave birth to striped young.
- Job 31:31“If the people who were in my tent had said, ‘We wish we had never filled ⌞our stomachs⌟ with his food’….
- Psalms 57:4My soul is surrounded by lions. I must lie down with man-eating lions. Their teeth are spears and arrows. Their tongues are sharp swords.
- Psalms 64:3They sharpen their tongues like swords. They aim bitter words like arrows
- Psalms 120:3You deceitful tongue, what can the Lord give you? What more can he do for you?
- Proverbs 14:30A tranquil heart makes for a healthy body, but jealousy is ⌞like⌟ bone cancer.
- Proverbs 27:4Anger is cruel, and fury is overwhelming, but who can survive jealousy?
- Ecclesiastes 4:4Then I saw that all hard work and skillful effort come from rivalry. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.
- Ezekiel 16:44“ ‘Everyone who uses proverbs will speak the following saying against you: Like mother, like daughter.
- Genesis 45:13Tell my father how greatly honored I am in Egypt and about everything you have seen. Hurry and bring my father here!”
- Esther 5:11Then Haman began to relate in detail to them how very rich he was, the many sons he had, and all about how the king promoted him to a position over the officials and the king’s advisers.
- Job 31:24“If I put my confidence in gold or said to fine gold, ‘I trust you’….
- Psalms 17:14With your power rescue me from mortals, O Lord, from mortals who enjoy their inheritance only in this life. You fill their bellies with your treasure. Their children are satisfied ⌞with it⌟, and they leave what remains to their children.
- Psalms 49:16Do not be afraid when someone becomes rich, when the greatness of his house increases.
- Isaiah 5:14That is why the grave’s appetite increases. It opens its mouth very wide so that honored people and common people will go down into it. Those who are noisy and joyous will go down into it.
- Jeremiah 9:23This is what the Lord says: Don’t let wise people brag about their wisdom. Don’t let strong people brag about their strength. Don’t let rich people brag about their riches.
Commentaries on Genesis 31:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1And he heard the words of Laban's sons - The multiplication of Jacob's cattle, and the decrease and degeneracy of those of Laban, were sufficient to arouse the jealousy of Laban's sons. This, with Laban's unfair treatment, and the direction he received from God, determined him to return to his own country. Hath he gotten all this glory - All these riches, this wealth, or property. The original word כבד signifies both to be rich and to be heavy; and…Read the comment
- 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. 1Jacob departs secretly. (1-21) Laban pursues Jacob. (23-35) Jacob's complaint of Laban's conduct. (36-42) Their covenant at Galeed. (43-55) Verses 1-21 The affairs of these families are related very minutely, while (what are called) the great events of states and kingdoms at that period, are not mentioned. The Bible teaches people the common duties of life, how to serve God, how to enjoy the blessings he bestows, and to do good in the various stations and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2Laban’s sons became more hostile toward Jacob because his flocks were growing faster than theirs. They were jealous because God was blessing Jacob. They were also afraid that he might take over everything they had.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-211. he heard the words of Laban's sons--It must have been from rumor that Jacob got knowledge of the invidious reflections cast upon him by his cousins; for they were separated at the distance of three days' journey.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 31:1
In the dictionaries
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
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