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

18He took away all the livestock he had acquired in Paddan Aram and all his moveable property that he had accumulated. Then he set out toward the land of Canaan to return to his father Isaac. 19While Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole the household idols that belonged to her father. Jacob also deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was leaving. 21He left with all he owned. He quickly crossed the Euphrates River and headed for the hill country of Gilead. 22Three days later Laban discovered Jacob had left.

Genesis 31:20 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
• stole awayגָּנַבgânab · to stealH1589
• unawaresלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• to Labanלָבָןlâbân · LabanH3837
• the Syrianאֲרַמִּי'ărammîy · ArameanH761
• in thatעַל‛al · uponH5921
• he toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• him notבְּלִיbelîy · withoutH1097
• that he fledבָּרַחbârach · to fleeH1272

Cross-references for Genesis 31:20

• Genesis 31:27Why did you run away secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me so I could send you off with a celebration complete with singing, 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