48
Labanלָבָןsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Thisהַזֶּהheapהַגַּלis a witnessעֵדbetween meבֵּינִיand youוּבֵינְךָtoday.”הַיּוֹםThat is whyעַל כֵּןits name was calledקָרָא שְׁמוֹGaleed,גַּלְעֵד
Genesis 31:48
Study it in the app“Laban said, “This heap is a witness between me and you today.” That is why its name was called Galeed,”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 31:48, word by word
- Labanלָבָןlavan
Laban
Laban, brother of Rebekah and father of Leah and Rachel, Jacob's father-in-law, who lived in Haran. Also a place in the wilderness.
Where else “lavan” appears- saidיֹּאמֶרyomer
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appears- heapגַּלgal
heap
Stones piled up, or ruins.
Where else “gal” appears- is a witnessעֵדed
witness
Someone who vouches for what he saw; YHWH is one too.
Where else “ed” appears- todayיּוֹםyom
today
This very day in which one speaks, the present moment.
Where else “yom” appears- its name was calledקָרָאkara
name
To give someone a name.
Where else “kara” appears- its name was calledשְׁמshem
name
The word by which a person, place or thing is called and recognized.
Where else “shem” appears- Galeedגַּלְעֵדgaled
Galeed
Galeed: "heap of witness" in Hebrew.
Where else “galed” appears
The context
47Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.
48 · This verse (above)
49and Mizpah, for he said, “May YHWH watch between me and you when we are hidden each of us from the other.
To study Genesis 31 in a group
1. What it says
Why did Jacob leave Laban’s house, and what did Elohim say to Laban in a dream (vv. 3, 24)?
2. What it means
What does the heap of stones mean as a witness between Jacob and Laban (vv. 44-50)?
3. How I live it
How can you close a conflict with someone in a clear and peaceful way?