Genesis 31:1

Now Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken away all that belonged to our father and built all this wealth at our father’s expense.”

2 And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.

3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Now Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken away all that belonged to our father and built all this wealth at our father’s expense.”
KJV
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.
WEB
Jacob heard Laban’s sons’ words, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s. He has obtained all this wealth from that which was our father’s.”
ASV
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.
DARBY
And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob has taken away all that was our father's, and of what was our father's he has acquired all this glory.
BLB
And [Jacob] heard the words of the sons of Laban, saying, “Jacob has taken away everything that belonged to our father, and from what belonged to our father he has made all this wealth.”
ÅB
Så fikk han høre at Labans sønner hadde sagt: Jakob har tatt alt det som vår far eide, og av det som vår far eide, har han lagt seg til all denne rikdom.
OTB
Jakob hørte Labans sønner si: «Jakob har tatt alt som tilhørte vår far, og fra det som tilhørte vår far har han fått all denne rikdommen.»
B1930
Så fikk han høre at Labans sønner hadde sagt: Jakob har tatt alt det som vår far eide, og av det som vår far eide, har han lagt sig til all denne rikdom.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ecclesiastes 4:4

    I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 17:14

    from such men, O LORD, by Your hand— from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 27:4

    Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 14:30

    A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

    Read in context
  • 1 Peter 1:24

    For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,

    Read in context
  • Genesis 45:13

    Tell my father about all my splendor in Egypt and everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 16:44

    Behold, all who speak in proverbs will quote this proverb about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’

    Read in context
  • Genesis 31:8–9

    If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore speckled offspring. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore streaked offspring.

    Read in context