Genesis 31:29

²⁷ 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.

²⁸ But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing.

I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’

³⁰ Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”

³¹ “I was afraid,” Jacob answered, “for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.

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: I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’
KJV: 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.
WEB: It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.’
ASV: It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
DARBY: It would be in the power of my hand to do you hurt; but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, Take care that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
BLB: It is in the power of my hand to do with you⁺ evil; but the God of your⁺ father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Guard yourself from speaking with Jacob from good to evil.’

ÅB: Jeg har det i min makt å gjøre ondt mot dere; men deres fars Gud sa til meg inatt: Vokt deg og si ikke noe til Jakob, hverken godt eller ondt!
OTB: Jeg har makt til å skade deg; men i natt sa din fars Gud til meg: ‘Vær forsiktig med ikke å tale til Jakob verken godt eller ondt.’
B1930: Jeg har det i min makt å gjøre ondt mot eder; men eders fars Gud sa til mig inatt: Vokt dig og si ikke noget til Jakob, hverken godt eller ondt!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Genesis 31:42
If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment.”
Read in context
Genesis 31:53
May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.
Read in context
Joshua 24:2–3
And Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your fathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates and worshiped other gods.
Read in context
Genesis 31:24
But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
Read in context
Genesis 28:13
And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie.
Read in context
Acts 5:38–39
So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail.
Read in context
Acts 9:5
“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.
Read in context
John 19:10–11
So Pilate said to Him, “Do You refuse to speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?”
Read in context