Bible Strands
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.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator reports that Jacob heard Laban’s sons making a public accusation about his departure. This moment occurs just before Jacob observes Laban’s altered attitude toward him in the immediate context.
The words — The verb וַ/יִּשְמַ֗ע (va/i.yish.Ma') means "and he heard," marking Jacob’s reception of the report. The phrase דִּבְרֵ֤י בְנֵֽי\־ לָבָן (div.Rei ve.nei- la.Van) literally denotes "the words of Laban’s sons," framing the claim as their direct speech.
The thread — The narrative shifts from external accusation to internal observation when Jacob notes Laban’s changed countenance (Genesis 31:2). Later passages address the consequences of such family disputes, including Joseph’s instruction to report his splendor in Egypt and bring Jacob down (Genesis 45:13), and the subsequent fulfillment of labor wages through supernatural alteration of the flock (Genesis 31:8).
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to recognize how unspoken grievances can alter workplace and family dynamics. It demands attention to the immediate consequences of perceived economic exploitation before any resolution occurs.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
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.
- Genesis 31:8 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.
- Genesis 45:13 Tell my father about all my splendor in Egypt and everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”
- Esther 5:11 Haman recounted to them his glorious wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored and promoted him over the other officials and servants.
- Job 31:24 If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,
- Job 31:31 if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—
- 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.
- Psalms 49:16 Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases.
- Psalms 57:4 My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts—with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
- Psalms 64:3 who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,