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Commentary Critical and Explanatory

Genesis 31:49

And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.

And Mizpah х Mitspaah (H4709)] - a watch-tower, an eminence. When the word is used as the name of a place, it always has the article prefixed (cf. Judges 10:17; Judges 11:11; Judges 11:34). Its bestowment upon this spot originated in a paronomasia in reference to the circumstances in which the parties had met.

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See also Genesis 31:49 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 31:48-1. I think these two verses are badly divided, and should be read thus: Genesis 31:48. _And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and_ _thee this day_. Genesis

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Jacob’s Flight from Haran 19. תרפים _t__e__rāpı̂ym_, 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...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 31 JACOB'S SERVITUDE ENDED AND FLIGHT FROM LABAN _ 1. Laban's behavior and God's commandment (Genesis 31:1)_ 2. The dream vision to return to the land (Genesis 31:11) 3. Jacob's flight (Gen...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 31:22 TO GENESIS 32:2. AFTER MUTUAL RECRIMINATIONS, JACOB AND LABAN MAKE A COVENANT TO REFRAIN FROM AGGRESSION ON EACH OTHER'S TERRITORIES. The analysis is uncertain; Gunkel assigns Genesis 31...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    MIZPAH. Hebrew watch-tower. HE. i.e. Laban. So that he knew Hebrew as well as Chaldee. THE LORD. Laban also uses the name Jehovah. It is used by all the speakers in Genitive except the _Nachash_ (Ge...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Pursuit of Laban, &c. 23. _his brethren_ i.e. the men of his kindred and clan, as in Genesis 31:25_; Genesis 31:32_. Jacob is similarly attended; cf. Genesis 31:37;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Mizpah_ That is, _The watch-tower_. Cf. Judges 11:29, "Mizpeh of Gilead," and Genesis 31:34, "Mizpah." Probably a common name for a height. The mention of this name comes in very abruptly at this poi...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PART FORTY-TWO THE STORY OF JACOB: HIS RETURN TO CANAAN (Genesis 31:17 to Genesis 33:20) 1. _The Covenant in Gilead: The Biblical Account_ (Genesis 31:17-55)_._ 17 Then Jacob rose up, an

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    31:49 Mizpah; (d-3) Watch-tower....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB'S RETURN FROM HARAN 4-13. Jacob attributes his prosperity to God's favour. 14-16. Rachel and Leah point out that their father had no claim on them, since Jacob had won them by his services, an...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    MIZPAH] 'Outlook place.'...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ‘Mizpah’ means ‘a place to watch’ or ‘a look-out’....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 31 GOD TELLS JACOB TO RETURN V1 Laban’s sons said, ‘Jacob has taken all that belonged to our father. He has gained all his wealth from our father...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE TÔLDÔTH ISAAC (Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29). THE BIRTH OF ISAAC’S SONS. Abraham begat Isaac — The _Tôldôth_ in its original form gave probably a complete genealogy of Isaac, tracing up his des...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    MIZPAH. — That is, _Watchtower._ There is, probably, a play in this name upon the pillar which Laban proceeds to set up, and which in Hebrew is _Mazebah._ In the reason given for the name Labau calls...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וְ הַ מִּצְפָּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔ר יִ֥צֶף יְהוָ֖

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE COVENANT BETWEEN JACOB AND LABAN Genesis 31:43 In our time covenants are engrossed on parchment, so that there may be written documentary evidence accessible, to prove that certain transactions h...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In the midst of Jacob's success the second divine communication came to him, commanding him to return to the land of his fathers and giving him the promise, "I will be with thee." Thus, after at least...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    THE COVENANT BETWEEN JACOB AND LABAN Though Jacob accused Laban of intending to do him harm if God had not warned him, Laban claimed he would not hurt his own family. Perhaps to save embarrassment be...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD (l) watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another. (l) To punish the trespasser....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Behold. Hebrew, "and Mitspah," or "Hammitspah," the watch-tower, whence God will see us. (Calmet)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Mizpah signifies a watch tower....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    49._The Lord watch between me and thee_. Laban commits to the judgment of God, for vengeance, whatever offense either of them should be guilty of against the other in his absence; as if he would say,...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 29 THROUGH 35. I have no doubt that in the two wives, as I have said, we have the Gentiles and Israel: Rachel first loved on the earth, but not possessed; but...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND MIZPAH,.... Which being an Hebrew word, it looks as if the heap had also this name given it by Jacob, which signifies a "watch" or "watchtower"; though, by what follows, it seems to be given by La...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another. Ver. 49. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 31:44 _"_...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _But Jacob called it Galeed_ The name Laban gave it signifies _the heap of witness_, in the Syrian tongue, which he used, and _Galeed_ signifies the same in Hebrew, the language which Jacob used. It a...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Iacob vpon displeasure departeth secretly. 19 Rachel stealeth her fathers images. 22 Laban pursueth after him, 26 and complaineth of the wrong. 34 Rachels policie to hide the images. 36 Iacobs...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The Covenant on Mount Gilead...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    and Mizpah, another name, which was later applied to the location on account of another remark by Laban; for he said, THE LORD WATCH BETWEEN ME AND THEE WHEN WE ARE ABSENT ONE FROM ANOTHER. Mizpah, or...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    FOURTH SECTION _Jacob’s flight. Laban’s persecution. The covenant between the two on the mountain of Gilead. Departure._ GENESIS 31:4 TO GENESIS 32:2 , 4And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB'S SECRET DEPARTURE The prosperity of Jacob could not but awaken the envy of Laban's sons. Jacob had gained all of this through his caring for their father's sheep: now the majority of the sheep...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    MIZPAH: that is, A beacon, or, watchtower...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 c...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    No text from Poole on this verse....

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    These Chapter s present to us the history of Jacob at least, the principal scenes in that history. The Spirit of God here sets before us the deepest instruction, first, as to God's purpose of infinite...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 31:49 Mizpah H4709 because H834 said H559 (H8804) LORD H3068 watch H6822 (H8799) absent H5641 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And Laban said, “This heap is witness between me and you this day.” That is why its name was called Galeed and Mizpah (place of watching), for he said, “Yahweh watch (zapah) between me and you when w...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jacob's resolution to return. Laban's hot pursuit; their quarrel and final agreement. CHARACTERS: Laban, Jacob, Rachael, Leah. CONCLUSION: The safety of believers under trying circumstance...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 31:1. _He heard the words of Laban's sons._ Three causes are assigned for Jacob's abrupt removal: first, the bitter reproaches of Laban's sons: secondly, the consequent change in the countenan...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The Lord watch between me and thee._ LESSONS 1. Injurious persons are most apt to suspect the innocent for doing wrong. 2. Wicked men would not have others wrong their children though they do it t...

  • The children's great texts of the Bible by James Hastings

    MIZPAH Therefore was the name of it called Galeed and Mizpah, for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another. Genesis 31:48-49. The sermon today is going to be...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 31:47 MIZPAH, meaning “watchtower,” became the name of a settlement north of the Jabbok River. It was the hometown of Jephthah (Judges 11:11

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 31:19 Fearful that Laban will prevent him from leaving Paddan-aram, Jacob escapes when his father-in-law is away shearing sheep. When Laban discovers what has happened, he purs...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 31:47. And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha; but Jacob called it Galeed.] “It is remarkable that in giving these names Laban chooses the Chaldee, Jacob the Hebrew, for the same...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 31:45 AND JACOB TOOK A STONE, AND SET IT UP _for_ A PILLAR—or _Matzebah_,_ as a _memorial or witness of the covenant about to be formed (Genesis 31:52); a different tran

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and all that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory (Genesis 31:1). In other words, they...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Mizpah. i.e., a beacon, or watch-tower. Judges 10:17 Judges 11:11 Judges 11:29 Mizpeh. 1 Samuel 7:5...

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