53
May the Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Abrahamאַבְרָהָםand the Elohimוֵאלֹהֵיof Nahorנָחוֹרjudgeיִשְׁפְּטוּbetween us,בֵינֵינוּthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof their father.”אֲבִיהֶםAnd Jacobוַ יַעֲקֹבsworeיִּשָּׁבַעby the Fearבְּפַחַדof his fatherאָבִיוIsaac.יִצְחָק
Genesis 31:53
Study it in the app“May the Elohim of Abraham and the Elohim of Nahor judge between us, the Elohim of their father.” And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 31:53, word by word
- May the Elohimאֱלֹהֵיelohe
Elohim
The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.
Where else “elohe” appears- of Abrahamאַבְרָהָםavraham
Abraham
Abraham, the name God gave to Abram; it sounds like "father of a multitude" (Genesis 17:5). The father of the people of Israel, to whom God promised the land and blessing for all the families of the earth.
Where else “avraham” appears- of Nahorנָחוֹרnachor
Nahor
Nahor, the name of Abraham's grandfather and of one of his brothers; also the town where his brother's family lived.
Where else “nachor” appears- judgeיִשְׁפְּטוּyishptu
judge
To judge and do justice, defend the weak.
Where else “yishptu” appears- of their fatherאֲבִיavi
father
The man who begets a child and heads his household.
Where else “avi” appears- And Jacobיַעֲקֹבyaakov
Jacob
Jacob, the younger son of Isaac and Rebekah, twin brother of Esau and father of the twelve tribes. In Hebrew "Yaakov" sounds like "heel" and "supplant" (Genesis 25:26; 27:36). God later gave him the name Israel; the name also stands for his descendants, the people of Israel.
Where else “yaakov” appears- sworeיִּשָּׁבַעyishava
swear
To promise with God as witness.
Where else “yishava” appears- by the Fearפַחַדfachad
dread, terror
Dread, terror, sudden fear. "The Fear of Isaac" is a name for God: the one who is revered with awe.
Where else “fachad” appears- Isaacיִצְחָקyitschak
Isaac
Isaac, the son promised to Abraham and Sarah, father of Esau and Jacob. His name means "he laughs" (Genesis 17:17, 19; 21:6).
Where else “yitschak” appears
Translation note
In the Hebrew text the verb “judge” (yishpetu) is plural. It can be understood that Laban is speaking of two different gods. Jacob swears “by the Fear of his father Isaac.”
The context
52This heap is a witness, and the standing stone is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this standing stone to me, for harm.
53 · This verse (above)
54Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and called his brothers to eat bread; they ate bread and spent the night on the mountain.
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?