Genesis 31:49

Mizpah That is, The watch-tower. Cf. Judges 11:29, "Mizpeh of Gilead," and Genesis 31:34, "Mizpah." Probably a common name for a height. The mention of this name comes in very abruptly at this point, and may be a gloss. The Sam. reads maṣṣêbah, LXX καὶ ἡ ὅρασις = "the vision." It has been suggested that the high point here indicated might be the Rammath-mizpeh of Joshua 13:25, or the Mizpah in Gilead of Judges 11:11. A third name for "the heap of stones" is very awkward, and the grammar barely tolerable. The text has undergone some dislocation.

The Lord LXX ὁ Θεός. Jehovah is the third party in the solemn contract: He is witness; He will uphold the right, and punish the violator of the bond; cf. Genesis 16:5.

between me and thee The cairn on the hill is to be the witness of the covenant between two sets of people separated at a distance from one another, and tempted to take advantage of one another. The popular use of the word Mizpah, based on this verse, ignores the context, and, in particular, Genesis 31:50. God is here invoked, because of the mutual distrust of the two parties, to watch lest one or the other should violate the compact.

absent Heb. hidden, i.e. "separated and out of sight."