Keraia
Genesis 31

Genesis 31:24

Laban Pursues Jacob · Genesis 31:22–42
Read Genesis 31

Translations

Modern
But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
Traditional
And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
Literal
And God came to Laban the Aramaean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Guard yourself, lest you speak to Jacob from good to evil.”
Latin
Viditque in somnis dicentem sibi Deum: Cave ne quidquam aspere loquaris contra Jacob.

Original

Hebrew
English
But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

Notes

Genesis 31:24

Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad: God told Laban not to try to bring justice himself. When we try to enact our own sense of good and evil apart from God’s command, we always do evil (see study note on 2:9).

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.

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Laban: Brother of Rebekah; father of Leah and Rachel

Places

Paddan: The homeland of the patriarchs in Mesopotamia

Glossary

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

Topics

Dream of Laban, Concerning Jacob Dreams: Mentioned in Scripture of Laban Gilead: A Mountain: Laban Overtakes Jacob At God: Preserver: To Jacob, when he Fled from Laban, his Father-In-Law Laban: Pursues Jacob, Overtakes Him at Mount Gilead, and Covenants with Him Night: God Frequently: Revealed his Will In