King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold [this] pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee;
Complete Jewish Bible:
Lavan also said to Ya'akov, "Here is this pile, and here is this standing-stone, which I have set up between me and you.
Berean Standard Bible:
Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is the mound, and here is the pillar I have set up between you and me.
American Standard Version:
And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold the pillar, which I have set betwixt me and thee.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Laban{H3837} said{H559} to Jacob{H3290}, Behold this heap{H1530}, and behold this pillar{H4676}, which I have cast{H3384} betwixt me and thee;
Cross-References (KJV):
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 31:51
Genesis 31:51 is part of the narrative where Jacob and Laban, father-in-law and son-in-law, are settling their differences after years of tension and deceit. Jacob has worked for Laban tending sheep, and through a clever breeding strategy, he has become quite prosperous, leading to strife between them.
**Themes:**
1. **Covenant Making:** The verse reflects the ancient practice of erecting a monument as a witness to a covenant. The heap and pillar serve as a tangible symbol of the agreement between Laban and Jacob, emphasizing the seriousness and solemnity of their pact.
2. **Boundaries and Witness:** The heap and pillar mark a boundary between the two men's territories and lives. They are a physical reminder of the terms of their agreement and a witness to future generations.
3. **God as a Witness:** Although not explicitly stated in this verse, the context of the chapter suggests that both Laban and Jacob acknowledge God as a witness to their covenant, invoking divine authority to ensure its upholding.
4. **Transition and Separation:** This moment marks a significant transition in Jacob's life as he moves from being under Laban's authority to establishing his own household and returning to his homeland.
**Historical Context:**
The event occurs in the patriarchal period, around the 2nd millennium BCE, when covenants were often sealed with rituals and memorials. Such practices were common in the ancient Near East, where agreements between individuals or tribes were taken very seriously due to the lack of formal legal systems. The heap (probably a pile of stones) and the pillar would have been a typical way of marking such an agreement, serving as a mnemonic device to remind each party of their commitments and as a warning against breaking the covenant.
In summary, Genesis 31:51 captures the themes of covenant making, the establishment of boundaries, divine oversight, and the significant life transition of Jacob, set against the backdrop of ancient Near Eastern customs and the complex family dynamics of the patriarchs.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3837
There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָבָן
Transliteration: Lâbân
Pronunciation: law-bawn'
Description: the same as לָבָן; Laban, a Mesopotamian; also a place in the Desert; Laban. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H3290
There are 319 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַעֲקֹב
Transliteration: Yaʻăqôb
Pronunciation: yah-ak-obe'
Description: from עָקַב; heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch; Jacob. - Strong's Number: H1530
There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גַּל
Transliteration: gal
Pronunciation: gal
Description: from גָּלַל; something rolled, i.e. a heap of stone or dung (plural ruins), by analogy, a spring of water (plural waves); billow, heap, spring, wave. - Strong's Number: H4676
There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַצֵּבָה
Transliteration: matstsêbâh
Pronunciation: mats-tsay-baw'
Description: feminine (causatively) participle of נָצַב; something stationed, i.e. a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an idol; garrison, (standing) image, pillar. - Strong's Number: H3384
There are 75 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָרָה
Transliteration: yârâh
Pronunciation: yaw-raw'
Description: or (2 Chronicles 26:15) יָרָא; a primitive root; properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e. to shoot); figuratively, to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to teach; ([phrase]) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew, shoot, teach(-er,-ing), through.