Genesis 31:30
New International Version
Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father’s household. But why did you steal my gods?”

New Living Translation
I can understand your feeling that you must go, and your intense longing for your father’s home. But why have you stolen my gods?”

English Standard Version
And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?”

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

King James Bible
And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

New King James Version
And now you have surely gone because you greatly long for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?”

New American Standard Bible
Now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house; but why did you steal my gods?”

NASB 1995
“Now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house; but why did you steal my gods?”

NASB 1977
“And now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house; but why did you steal my gods?”

Legacy Standard Bible
So now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house; but why did you steal my gods?”

Amplified Bible
Now [I suppose] you felt you must go because you were homesick for your father’s house and family; but why did you steal my [household] gods?”

Christian Standard Bible
Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s family—but why have you stolen my gods? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now you have gone off because you long for your father—but why have you stolen my gods?”

American Standard Version
And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

Contemporary English Version
I can understand why you were eager to return to your father, but why did you have to steal my idols?

English Revised Version
And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Now you have left for your father's home because you were so homesick. But why did you steal my gods?"

Good News Translation
I know that you left because you were so anxious to get back home, but why did you steal my household gods?"

International Standard Version
Now, you can go if you must go, because you certainly are longing to go to your father's house. But why did you steal my gods?"

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

NET Bible
Now I understand that you have gone away because you longed desperately for your father's house. Yet why did you steal my gods?"

New Heart English Bible
Now you have indeed gone away, because you longed greatly for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou didst earnestly long after thy father's house; yet why hast thou stolen my gods?

World English Bible
Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father’s house, but why have you stolen my gods?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And now, you have certainly gone, because you have been very desirous for the house of your father; why have you stolen my gods?”

Young's Literal Translation
'And now, thou hast certainly gone, because thou hast been very desirous for the house of thy father; why hast thou stolen my gods?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And now going thou didst go, for desiring thou didst greatly desire after the house of thy father; for what didst thou steal my gods?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Suppose thou didst desire to go to thy friends, and hadst a longing after thy father's house: why hast thou stolen away my gods?

Catholic Public Domain Version
It may be that you desired to go to your own, and that you longed for the house of your father. But why have you stolen my gods?”

New American Bible
Granted that you had to leave because you were longing for your father’s house, why did you steal my gods?”

New Revised Standard Version
Even though you had to go because you longed greatly for your father’s house, why did you steal my gods?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And now you are on your way, because you longed for your father's house; yet why did you steal my gods?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And now you are going because you truly long for the house of your father. Why have you stolen my gods?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And now that thou art surely gone, because thou sore longest after thy father's house, wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Now then go on thy way, for thou hast earnestly desired to depart to the house of thy father; wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Laban Pursues Jacob
29I 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.’ 30Now 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.…

Cross References
Exodus 20:3-5
You shall have no other gods before Me. / You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Joshua 24:2
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.

1 Samuel 7:3
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

1 Kings 11:4-5
For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been. / Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

2 Kings 17:12
They served idols, although the LORD had told them, “You shall not do this thing.”

Isaiah 42:8
I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.

Jeremiah 10:10-11
But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His indignation. / 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.”

Ezekiel 20:7-8
And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’ / But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.

Hosea 2:13
I will punish her for the days of the Baals when she burned incense to them, when she adorned herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers. But Me she forgot,” declares the LORD.

Acts 17:29
Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.

Romans 1:23
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6
So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

Galatians 4:8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

Ephesians 5:5
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.


Treasury of Scripture

And now, though you would needs be gone, because you sore longed after your father's house, yet why have you stolen my gods?

my gods.

Genesis 31:19
And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.

Exodus 12:12
For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

Numbers 33:4
For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.

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Desirous Earnestly Father's Gods Greatly Heart's House Indeed Longed Needs Seems Sore Steal Stolen Surely Want Wherefore Wouldest
Genesis 31
1. Jacob, displeased with the envy of Laban and his sons, departs secretly.
19. Rachel steals her father's household gods.
22. Laban pursues after him, and complains of the wrong.
34. Rachel's plan to hide the images.
36. Jacob's complaint of Laban.
43. The covenant of Laban and Jacob at Galeed.














Now you have gone off
This phrase marks a pivotal moment in Jacob's journey, indicating a decisive action. The Hebrew root for "gone off" is "halak," which means to walk or go. This suggests not just physical movement but a purposeful departure. Jacob's decision to leave Laban's household is a significant step in fulfilling God's promise to return to the land of his fathers. It reflects a spiritual journey as much as a physical one, symbolizing obedience to God's call and a break from past entanglements.

because you long for your father’s house
The word "long" comes from the Hebrew "kasaph," which conveys a deep yearning or desire. This longing is not merely for a physical place but for a return to his roots and the promises associated with his heritage. Jacob's desire to return to his father's house is emblematic of a deeper spiritual longing for the fulfillment of God's covenant promises. It highlights the importance of family and heritage in the biblical narrative, underscoring the theme of God's faithfulness across generations.

But why have you stolen my gods?
This phrase reveals the tension between Jacob and Laban, highlighting the cultural and spiritual divide between them. The term "gods" refers to the household idols, or "teraphim," which were common in ancient Near Eastern cultures. These idols were believed to provide protection and prosperity. Laban's accusation underscores the contrast between the monotheistic faith of Jacob and the polytheistic practices of Laban. It serves as a reminder of the biblical theme that true security and blessing come from the one true God, not from man-made idols. This moment also foreshadows the ongoing struggle between faithfulness to God and the temptation of idolatry throughout Israel's history.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now
וְעַתָּה֙ (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

you have gone off
הָלֹ֣ךְ (hā·lōḵ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

because
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you long
נִכְסֹ֥ף (niḵ·sōp̄)
Verb - Nifal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 3700: To become pale, to pine after, to fear

for your father’s
אָבִ֑יךָ (’ā·ḇî·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

house.
לְבֵ֣ית (lə·ḇêṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

But why
לָ֥מָּה (lām·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

have you stolen
גָנַ֖בְתָּ (ḡā·naḇ·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1589: To thieve, to deceive

my gods?”
אֱלֹהָֽי׃ (’ĕ·lō·hāy)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT Law: Genesis 31:30 Now you want to be gone because (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 31:29
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