Genesis 31:27

²⁵ Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.

²⁶ And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?

Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

²⁸ And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.

²⁹ It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

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: Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps.
KJV: Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?
WEB: Why did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn’t tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp;
ASV: Wherefore didst thou flee secretly, and steal away from me, and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth and with songs, with tabret and with harp;
DARBY: Why didst thou flee away covertly, and steal away from me, and didst not tell me, that I might have conducted thee with mirth and with songs, with tambour and with harp;
BLB: Why have you fled secretly and stolen from me and not told me? And I would have sent you away with joy and with songs, with tambourines and with harps?

ÅB: Hvorfor flyktet du hemmelig og stjal deg bort fra meg og sa ikke noe om det til meg, så jeg kunne ha fulgt deg på veien med gledesrop og sanger, med trommer og harper?
OTB: Hvorfor rømte du i hemmelighet og lurte meg? Hvorfor fortalte du meg ikke, så jeg kunne ha sendt deg av sted med glede og sanger, med tamburin og lyre?
B1930: Hvorfor flyktet du hemmelig og stjal dig bort fra mig og sa ikke noget om det til mig, så jeg kunde ha fulgt dig på veien med gledesrop og sanger, med trommer og harper?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Exodus 15:20
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
Read in context
Genesis 31:3–5
And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
Read in context
Proverbs 26:23–26
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Read in context
Job 21:11–14
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
Read in context
Genesis 31:20–21
And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
Read in context
Genesis 4:21
And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
Read in context
Genesis 24:59–60
And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men.
Read in context
Judges 6:27
Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.
Read in context