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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Genesis 31:19-55

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 pursues Jacob, catching up with him in Gilead. They eventually make a treaty that guarantees protection to both parties.

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See also Genesis 31:19-55 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 31:19. _LABAN WENT TO SHEAR HIS SHEEP_] Laban _had gone_; and this was a favourable time not only to take his images, but to return to Canaan without being perceived. _RACHEL HAD STOLE...

  • 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

    JACOB'S FLIGHT. This section is, for the most part, from E, Genesis 31:1; Genesis 31:3 are from J, Genesis 31:18 (after cattle) from P. Jacob realises from the words of Laban's sons (J) and the altere...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    IMAGES. Hebrew. _teraphim,_. kind of household gods, showing that the idolatry of Babylonia still clung to Laban's family, in spite of his protestations in Genesis 31:20; Genesis 30:27. Compare Genesi...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _gone to shear his sheep_ Jacob selected, as an opportune moment for flight, Laban's absence from home and attendance at the important festival of sheep-shearing. Among shepherds this was an occasion...

  • 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

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND LABAN WENT TO SHEAR HIS SHEEP: AND RACHEL HAD STOLEN THE IMAGES THAT WERE HER FATHER'S._ Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's, [Hebrew, _ HATªRAAPIYM_ (H8655)] - the Teraphim; Pen...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    31:19 teraphim (a-13) Household images....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE IMAGES] Heb. _teraphim._ These were figures of metal, wood, or clay of varying sizes, apparently in human form. They probably answered to the 'Lares and Penates,' or household gods of the Romans,...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ‘Rachel stole her father’s gods.’ These were small models of human shapes. Perhaps they were wooden or perhaps they were like pots. They were models of false gods. Perhaps Rachel thought that the gods...

  • 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

    LABAN WENT TO SHEAR HIS SHEEP. — The sheep-shearing was a joyous time, when the hard toil of the shearers was relieved by feasting (1 Samuel 25:8). Laban’s flocks, apparently, were also at some distan...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וְ לָבָ֣ן הָלַ֔ךְ לִ גְזֹ֖ז אֶת ־צֹאנֹ֑ו

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JACOB LEAVES LABAN Genesis 31:1 Jacob was a remarkable mixture. He had an eminently religious nature, and had intimate dealings with God. Note Genesis 31:3; Genesis 31:5;...

  • 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

    JACOB DECIDES TO LEAVE LABAN Laban and his sons eventually began to see Jacob as a drain on their flocks. Laban ceased to believe God was blessing him because of Jacob (Genesis 30:27). So, God told hi...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the (f) images that [were] her father's. (f) For so the word here signifies, because Laban calls them gods, (Genesis 31:30)....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Her father's idols. By this it appears that Laban was an idolater: and some of the fathers are of opinion, that Rachel stole away these idols, to withdraw him from idolatry, by removing the occasion o...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Teraphim: probably images for worship. Judges 17:5; 1 Samuel 19:13....

  • 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

    19._And Rachel had stolen_. Although the Hebrews sometimes call those images תרפים (_teraphim_,) which are not set forth as objects of worship: yet since this term is commonly used in an ill sense, I...

  • 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 LABAN WENT TO SHEAR HIS SHEEP,.... Which were under the care of his sons, and were three days' distance from Jacob's flocks; this gave Jacob a fair opportunity to depart with his family and substa...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that [were] her father's. Ver. 19. _Rachel had stolen the images._] She was somewhat tackt _a_ with her father's superstition, thou...

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

    _Laban went to shear his sheep_ That part of his flock which was in the hands of his sons, _three days' journey_ off. Now, 1st, It is certain it was lawful for Jacob to leave his service suddenly: it...

  • 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

    Jacob Flees and is Pursued by Laban...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And Laban went to shear his sheep; and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's. The fact that Laban, with his sons, was keeping the feast of sheep-shearing, which lasted several days, gave...

  • 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)

    IMAGES: _ Heb._ teraphim...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 du...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    QUEST. 1. What were those _teraphim_ or _images?_ ANSW. They were images made in the shape of men, 1 SAMUEL 19:13,16, which the Gentiles worshipped as subordinate gods, GENESIS 31:30,32, to which they...

  • 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 31:19 Laban H3837 gone H1980 (H8804) shear H1494 (H8800) sheep H6629 Rachel H7354 stolen H1589 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB IS COMMANDED BY YAHWEH TO RETURN HOME AND TRIES TO SLIP AWAY (31:1-21). Genesis 31:1 ‘And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father's, and he h...

  • 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

    _Then Jacob rose up._ LESSONS 1. Concurrence of all things with the call of God points out the time of man’s obedience to him. 2. He that hath God’s call for himself and others to any undertaking s...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 31:7. Changed my wages ten times.] Probably to be understood as a round number, meaning any number of times—as often as he could. The expression “ten times” is used for frequ...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 31:1 AND HE—Jacob had now served twenty years with Laban, and must accordingly have been in his ninety-seventh or seventy-seventh year (_vide_ Genesis 27:1)—HEARD THE WORDS OF LABA...

  • 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

    images. Heb. teraphim. Genesis 31:30 Genesis 31:32 Genesis 35:2 Joshua 24:2 Jud

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Laban went to shear his sheep — That part of his flock which was in the hands of his sons, three days journey off. Now, It is certain it was lawful for Jacob to leave his service suddenly: it was not...

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