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Summarized Bible Commentary

Genesis 31:1-55

Contents: Jacob's resolution to return. Laban's hot pursuit; their quarrel and final agreement.

Characters: Laban, Jacob, Rachael, Leah.

Conclusion: The safety of believers under trying circumstances is much due to the hold God has on the consciences of bad men. In the path of obedience, we may count on God's care.

Key Word: Flight, Genesis 31:21.

Strong Verses: Genesis 31:49.

Striking Facts: The settlement of a quarrel is a jewel so precious, one can scarcely buy it too dearly. While the believer may resent injuries, he is not to avenge them but remember that God is the avenger.

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See also Genesis 31:1-55 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER XXXI _Laban and his sons envy Jacob_, 1, 2; _on which he is commanded by the Lord to return to his own country_, 3. _Having called his wives together, he lays before them a detailed_ _stat...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Jacob’s Flight from Haran 19. תרפים _t__e__rāpı̂ym_, Teraphim. This word occurs fifteen times in the Old Testament. It appears three times in this chapter, and nowhere else in the Pentateuch. It is...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 31 JACOB'S SERVITUDE ENDED AND FLIGHT FROM LABAN _ 1. Laban's behavior and God's commandment (Genesis 31:1)_ 2. The dream vision to return to the land (Genesis 31:11) 3. Jacob's flight (Gen...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB'S FLIGHT. This section is, for the most part, from E, Genesis 31:1; Genesis 31:3 are from J, Genesis 31:18 (after cattle) from P. Jacob realises from the words of Laban's sons (J) and the altere...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    GLORY. Hebrew weight. Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Effect), App-6. wealth, the effect (i.e. the burden or weight) being put for that which caused it....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Laban's sons_ See Genesis 30:35. It has hitherto been a contest of wits between Laban and Jacob. Jacob has had the best of it. Laban's sons are jealous and thoroughly alienated. _glory_ R.V. marg. _w...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND HE HEARD, &C.— i.e.. _Jacob_ heard: another proof of the bad divisions of the Chapter s. Three things concurred to determine him in his departure from Laban: the first, the envy and jealousy of La...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _5. Jacob's Preparation for Flight_ (Genesis 31:1-16). The complete success that Jacob achieved excited the envy and jealousy of Laban's sons, who were evidently old enough to be entrusted with the ca...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND HE HEARD THE WORDS OF LABAN'S SONS, SAYING, JACOB HATH TAKEN AWAY ALL THAT WAS OUR FATHER'S; AND OF THAT WHICH WAS OUR FATHER'S HATH HE GOTTEN ALL THIS GLORY._ He heard the words of Laban's sons...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB'S RETURN FROM HARAN 4-13. Jacob attributes his prosperity to God's favour. 14-16. Rachel and Leah point out that their father had no claim on them, since Jacob had won them by his services, an...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 31 GOD TELLS JACOB TO RETURN V1 Laban’s sons said, ‘Jacob has taken all that belonged to our father. He has gained all his wealth from our father...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE TÔLDÔTH ISAAC (Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29). THE BIRTH OF ISAAC’S SONS. Abraham begat Isaac — The _Tôldôth_ in its original form gave probably a complete genealogy of Isaac, tracing up his des...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    XXXI. JACOB’S FLIGHT. — THE PURSUIT OF HIM BY LABAN, AND THEIR RECONCILIATION. (1) LABAN’S SONS. — No mention hitherto had been made of Laban having any other children than Leah and Rachel. If his son...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּשְׁמַ֗ע אֶת ־דִּבְרֵ֤י בְנֵֽי ־לָבָן֙ ל

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JACOB LEAVES LABAN Genesis 31:1 Jacob was a remarkable mixture. He had an eminently religious nature, and had intimate dealings with God. Note Genesis 31:3; Genesis 31:5;...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In the midst of Jacob's success the second divine communication came to him, commanding him to return to the land of his fathers and giving him the promise, "I will be with thee." Thus, after at least...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    JACOB DECIDES TO LEAVE LABAN Laban and his sons eventually began to see Jacob as a drain on their flocks. Laban ceased to believe God was blessing him because of Jacob (Genesis 30:27). So, God told hi...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And he heard the (a) words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that [was] our father's; and of [that] which [was] our father's hath he gotten all this glory. (a) The children put in wo...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _After that six years were expired, and calumnies and ill-will attended Jacob in Laban's family, God ordered him to retire, ver. 3. (Haydock)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Proverbs 13:22 CONTENTS After a servitude of many years, in the family of Laban, Jacob resolves to return to his own home. And to this measure he is prompted, not only by the unkind treatment of Laba...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Sweet thought! When we can trace all our mercies into God's gifts, and all events which concern us, into God's ordination. See Genesis 45:7....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1._And he heard the words_. Although Jacob ardently desired his own country, and was continually thinking of his return to it; yet his admirable patience appears in this, that he suspends his purpose...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 29 THROUGH 35. I have no doubt that in the two wives, as I have said, we have the Gentiles and Israel: Rachel first loved on the earth, but not possessed; but...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND HE HEARD THE WORDS OF LABAN'S SONS,.... That is, Jacob, as is expressed in the Septuagint and Syriac versions, either with his own ears, overhearing their discourse in their tents, or in the field...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that [was] our father's; and of [that] which [was] our father's hath he gotten all this glory. Ver. l. And he heard the words...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _He heard the words of Laban's sons_ For it seems they spoke them in Jacob's hearing. The last chapter began with Rachel's envying Leah; this begins with Laban's sons envying Jacob. _Hath taken away a...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Iacob vpon displeasure departeth secretly. 19 Rachel stealeth her fathers images. 22 Laban pursueth after him, 26 and complaineth of the wrong. 34 Rachels policie to hide the images. 36 Iacobs...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The Plan to Flee...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory. That was the voice of envy, which beg...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    THIRD SECTION _Jacob’s thought of returning home. New treaty with Laban. His closely calculated proposition (Prelude to the method of acquiring possession of the Egyptian vessels). Laban’s displeasur...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB'S SECRET DEPARTURE The prosperity of Jacob could not but awaken the envy of Laban's sons. Jacob had gained all of this through his caring for their father's sheep: now the majority of the sheep...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-21 The affairs of these families are related very minutely, while (what are called) the great events of states and kingdoms at that period, are not mentioned. The Bible teaches people the common du...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    GENESIS CHAPTER 31 Jacob observing Laban's envy, on God's command and promise, with the consent of his wives, departs secretly, GENESIS 31:1. Laban pursues him; God in a dream warns him not to treat J...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    These Chapter s present to us the history of Jacob at least, the principal scenes in that history. The Spirit of God here sets before us the deepest instruction, first, as to God's purpose of infinite...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 31:1 heard H8085 (H8799) words H1697 Labans H3837 sons H1121 saying H559 (H8800) Jacob H3290 away...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB IS COMMANDED BY YAHWEH TO RETURN HOME AND TRIES TO SLIP AWAY (31:1-21). Genesis 31:1 ‘And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father's, and he h...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 31:1. _He heard the words of Laban's sons._ Three causes are assigned for Jacob's abrupt removal: first, the bitter reproaches of Laban's sons: secondly, the consequent change in the countenan...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers_ JACOB’S DEPARTURE FOR CANAAN I. IT WAS HASTENED BY PERSECUTION. II. IT WAS PROMPTED BY A SENSE OF OFFENDED JUSTICE. III. IT WAS...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 31:7. Changed my wages ten times.] Probably to be understood as a round number, meaning any number of times—as often as he could. The expression “ten times” is used for frequ...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 31:1 AND HE—Jacob had now served twenty years with Laban, and must accordingly have been in his ninety-seventh or seventy-seventh year (_vide_ Genesis 27:1)—HEARD THE WORDS OF LABA...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and all that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory (Genesis 31:1). In other words, they...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Jacob. Genesis 31:8 Genesis 31:9 Job 31:31 Psalms 57:4 Psalms 64:3...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    It should seem they said it in Jacob's hearing. The last chapter began with Rachel's envying Leah; this begins with Laban's sons envying Jacob. He has gotten all his glory — And what was this glory? I...

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