Genesis 31:26

And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives [taken] with the sword?

And Laban {H3837} said {H559} to Jacob {H3290}, What hast thou done {H6213}, that thou hast stolen away {H1589} unawares {H3824} to me, and carried away {H5090} my daughters {H1323}, as captives {H7617} taken with the sword {H2719}?

Lavan said to Ya'akov, "What do you mean by deceiving me and carrying off my daughters as if they were captives taken in war?

Then Laban said to Jacob, β€œWhat have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war!

And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters as captives of the sword?

Commentary

Context

Genesis 31:26 captures the moment Laban confronts Jacob after pursuing him for seven days. Jacob, along with his wives (Laban's daughters) and children, had secretly departed from Laban's household in Haran. Jacob's departure, though stealthy, was prompted by God's direct instruction to return to his homeland and the increasing tension with Laban, who had repeatedly changed Jacob's wages and exploited his labor over twenty years. Laban felt robbed not only of his daughters' presence but also of his household gods (teraphim), which Rachel had secretly taken, though Jacob was unaware of this.

Key Themes

  • Laban's Accusation and Exaggeration: Laban's words reveal his anger and sense of betrayal. He accuses Jacob of deceit ("stolen away unawares") and of treating his own daughters as if they were "captives taken with the sword." This dramatic language exaggerates the situation, portraying Jacob as a violent aggressor when he was simply fleeing an oppressive situation.
  • Family Conflict and Mistrust: The verse highlights the deep-seated mistrust and conflict between Jacob and Laban. Laban's pursuit and harsh accusation underscore his possessive nature and unwillingness to let Jacob and his family leave peacefully.
  • Consequences of Deception: While Jacob's immediate departure was justified by Laban's exploitation and God's command, the secret nature of his flight gave Laban a pretext for his anger and pursuit. This echoes the complex history of deception within Jacob's own family.
  • Parental Authority vs. Personal Freedom: Laban's lament over his daughters being "carried away" speaks to his perceived loss of control and authority over them, even though they were Jacob's wives and desired to leave with him.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "stolen away unawares" comes from the Hebrew verb ganav (Χ’ΦΈΦΌΧ Φ·Χ‘), which means "to steal" or "to carry away by stealth." Laban uses this term to imply that Jacob acted like a thief, taking his daughters and possessions without his knowledge or consent. This highlights the secretive nature of Jacob's departure. The dramatic phrase "as captives [taken] with the sword" (Hebrew: shevi cherev) is a strong metaphor. It describes individuals violently seized in battle, emphasizing Laban's indignant accusation that his daughters were treated as if they were war spoils, rather than leaving willingly with their husband.

Practical Application

This verse offers insights into the complexities of human relationships, particularly within families. It reminds us that:

  • Communication is Key: While Jacob's secret departure was understandable given Laban's character, it illustrates the breakdown of communication and trust, leading to further conflict.
  • Perception vs. Reality: Laban's exaggerated accusation shows how personal feelings (anger, betrayal) can distort reality and lead to unfair judgments. We often see situations through the lens of our own hurt or perceived loss.
  • Consequences of Exploitation: Jacob's flight was a direct consequence of Laban's prolonged exploitation. The verse indirectly warns against treating others unjustly, as it inevitably leads to broken relationships and difficult outcomes.
  • God's Protection: Even in moments of intense family conflict, God's hand was upon Jacob, as evidenced by His warning to Laban not to harm Jacob, showing His faithfulness to His covenant promises.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 30:2

    And had taken the women captives, that [were] therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried [them] away, and went on their way.

  • Genesis 12:18

    And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What [is] this [that] thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she [was] thy wife?

  • Genesis 20:9

    Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.

  • Genesis 20:10

    And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

  • Genesis 2:24

    Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

  • Joshua 7:19

    And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide [it] not from me.

  • Genesis 31:16

    For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that [is] ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
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