Genesis 31:19

Translations

Modern

Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.

Traditional

And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s.

Literal

And Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole the teraphim that belonged to her father.

Latin

Eo tempore ierat Laban ad tondendas oves, et Rachel furata est idola patris sui.

Original

Hebrew

English

Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.

Notes

Genesis 31:19–20

Rachel 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 similar—Rachel stole (Hebrew wattignob) Laban's household gods. Jacob tricked (Hebrew wayyignob, "stole the heart of, deceived") Laban.

Genesis 31:17–21

Jacob left Laban secretly because he was afraid of revenge (31:31).

Genesis 31:1–21

Jacob’s return journey led to a conflict with Laban. This conflict created a lasting boundary between Israel (Jacob) and Aram (Laban). God kept his promise to Jacob. He made Jacob successful in Paddan-aram and protected him as he traveled back home.

Genesis 29:1–31:55

These chapters describe how God fulfilled his promise by greatly blessing Jacob with a family and possessions. God also disciplined Jacob, leaving him to struggle with Laban for many years. Laban was Jacob’s match in deception, and thus a means of correction.
The story of Jacob and Laban is similar to Israel's later stay in Egypt. Jacob struggled while serving his uncle but finally emerged with a large family (the founders of the 12 tribes) and great wealth. In Egypt, the Israelites suffered under their oppressors, but they also flourished, becoming a great nation of 12 large tribes and escaping with great riches.

Theme notes and profiles

Arameans Jacob Rachel Symbolic Numbers

Related verses

1 Samuel 19:13
Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment.
Hosea 3:4
For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol.
Genesis 31:30
Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”
Ezekiel 21:21
For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He shakes the arrows, he consults the idols, he examines the liver.
Genesis 35:2
So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments.
Judges 17:4–5
So he returned the silver to his mother, and she took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into a graven image and a molten idol. And they were placed in the house of Micah.
Genesis 31:34
Now Rachel had taken Laban’s household idols, put them in the saddlebag of her camel, and was sitting on them. And Laban searched everything in the tent but found nothing.
Genesis 31:32
If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.
Judges 18:14–24
Then the five men who had gone to spy out the land of Laish said to their brothers, “Did you know that one of these houses has an ephod, household gods, a graven image, and a molten idol? Now think about what you should do.”
Joshua 24:2
And Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your fathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates and worshiped other gods.
Judges 18:31
So they set up for themselves Micah’s graven image, and it was there the whole time the house of God was in Shiloh.

People

Laban: Brother of Rebekah; father of Leah and Rachel Rachel: Wife of Jacob; mother of Joseph and Benjamin

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Birthright Ebla Tablets Genesis, Book of Laban (Person) Monotheism Nathanael Nuzi, Nuzi Tablets Patriarchs, Period of the Teraphim Wages

Topics

Dishonesty: Rachel Steals the Household Gods Haran: Also Called Charran: Returns From, with Rachel and Leah Idolatry: Early Notice of, Amongst God's Professing People Laban: Outwitted by Jacob Polytheism: General Scriptures Concerning Rachel: Steals the Household Images (Teraphim, Legal Deed) of Her Father Sheep: Shearing of Teraphim used by Laban, Stolen by Rachael Theft and Thieves by Rachel, of the Household Gods (Teraphim) Theft: Rachel Women: Rachel, in Stealing Images

Genesis 31:19

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