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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)But it was also called Mizpah (which means “watchtower”), for Laban said, “May the Lord keep watch between us to make sure that we keep this covenant when we are out of each other’s sight.

Context of Genesis 31:49

47Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed. 48Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” That is why it was called Galeed. It was also called Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. 50If you mistreat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.” 51Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is this heap, and here is this 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Mizpahמִצְפָּהmitspâh · MizpahH4709
• forאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• The Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• watchצָפָהtsâphâh · to watchH6822
• between me and thee, when we are absentסָתַרsâthar · to hideH5641
• oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• from anotherרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453

Cross-references for Genesis 31:49

• Judges 10:17When the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.
• Judges 11:11So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated all his words before the Lord in Mizpah.
• 1 Samuel 7:5Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you.”
• 1 Kings 15:22Then King Asa issued an order to all Judah—no one was exempt—and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using there. With them King Asa built up Geba in Benjamin, and also Mizpah.
• Hosea 5:1“Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen, royal house! This judgment is against you: 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