Genesis 31:30
28 But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing.
29 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.’
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.
32 If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.
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 you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”
- KJV
- And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
- WEB
- Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father’s house, but why have you stolen my gods?”
- ASV
- And now, [though] thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father`s house, [yet] wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
- DARBY
- And now that thou must needs be gone, because thou greatly longedst after thy father's house, why hast thou stolen my gods?
- BLB
- And you have surely gone away because you have surely longed for the house of your father. Why did you steal my gods?”
- ÅB
- Men når du nå har draget bort, fordi du lengtes så såre etter din fars hus, hvorfor stjal du da mine guder?
- OTB
- Nå har du dratt av sted fordi du lengtet etter å vende tilbake til din fars hus. Men hvorfor tok du mine guder?»
- B1930
- Men når du nu har draget bort, fordi du lengtes så såre efter din fars hus, hvorfor stjal du da mine guder?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 10:11
Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.”
Read in contextGenesis 31:19
Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.
Read in contextJudges 18:24
He replied, “You took the gods I had made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you say to me, ‘What is the matter with you?’”
Read in context1 Samuel 5:2–6
carried it into the temple of Dagon, and set it beside his statue.
Read in context2 Samuel 5:21
There the Philistines abandoned their idols, and David and his men carried them away.
Read in contextIsaiah 46:1–2
Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.
Read in contextIsaiah 37:19
They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.
Read in contextNumbers 33:4
who were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them; for the LORD had executed judgment against their gods.
Read in context