Genesis 31:53

I’m asking the gods of our grand-fathers to watch us and judge us. I’m asking the God of your grand-father Abraham, and the god of my grand-father Nahor and their father Terah. Those gods will keep on watching us, and they will know if one of us does the wrong thing.” Then Jacob made a strong promise to Laban. He said, “I promise that I will not go past these stones into your country, to hurt you. I’m making this promise with God listening. He is the one that my father Isaac respected.”

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.

In Context

52This pile of stones, and this other big stone, they show that we agreed to be good to each other. I will not go past these stones into your country, to hurt you. And you will not go past these stones into my country, to hurt me.

54Then Jacob killed an animal and burned it, to show respect to God. He did that right there, in the hill country. Then Jacob said to his relatives, “Come and eat food with me.” So they all ate food, and then they spent the night in that place.

Read all of Genesis 31

Cross References

Genesis 11:24Nahor was 29 years old when he had a son called Terah.

Genesis 14:22But Abram said, “I made a strong promise to my God. His name is Yahweh. He is more powerful than any other god, and he made heaven and earth.

Genesis 17:7I am making this agreement with you, and with the people that will be born into your family later on. This agreement will last for ever. It will never end. I promise that I will be your God for ever.

Genesis 22:20Later on, somebody said to Abraham, “Your brother’s wife Milcah, she had kids too. They are sons for your brother Nahor.

Genesis 26:28Then they said to Isaac, “We know that Yahweh your God is with you, and he helps you with everything you do. So we want you to make an agreement with us.

Genesis 31:42Then Jacob said to Laban, “I know that you wanted to send me away with nothing. But God was with me, and he helped me. He is the one that looked after my grand-father Abraham. And my father Isaac respected him properly too. Yes, God helped me. He saw that I worked very hard for you, and he saw that you gave me trouble. So last night, he talked strongly to you, and he showed you that you did the wrong thing.”

Matthew Henry on Genesis 31:44-55

Jacob's Covenant with Laban. ( b. c. 1739.) 43 And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born? 44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee. 45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. 46 And Jacob said unto his… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Genesis 31:53