New King James Version
Genesis 31:1
1Now 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.”
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 Living Translation (NLT)But Jacob soon learned that Laban’s sons were grumbling about him. “Jacob has robbed our father of everything!” they said. “He has gained all his wealth at our father’s expense.”
Context of Genesis 31:1
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.” 2And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before. 3Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, 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 31:8If he said thus: ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked.
- Job 31:31If the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’
- Psalms 57:4My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
- Psalms 64:3Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words,
- Psalms 120:3What shall be given to you, Or what shall be done to you, You false tongue?
- Proverbs 14:30A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones.
- Proverbs 27:4Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, But who is able to stand before jealousy?
- Ecclesiastes 4:4Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
- Ezekiel 16:44“Indeed everyone who quotes proverbs will use this proverb against you: ‘Like mother, like daughter!’
- Genesis 45:13So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.”
- Esther 5:11Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.
- Job 31:24“If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’;
- Psalms 17:14With Your hand from men, O Lord, From men of the world who have their portion in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their possession for their babes.
- Psalms 49:16Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased;
- Isaiah 5:14Therefore Sheol has enlarged itself And opened its mouth beyond measure; Their glory and their multitude and their pomp, And he who is jubilant, shall descend into it.
- Jeremiah 9:23Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries