Bible Strands
Genesis 31:25
Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there as well.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative places Jacob camping in the hill country of Gilead at the moment Laban and his relatives arrive to confront him, following God’s dream warning to Laban.
The words — The verb וַיַּשְּׂגֶה (va.ya.Seg) literally means “he overtook,” describing Laban’s pursuit, while תָּקַע (ta.Ka') means “he pitched,” detailing Jacob’s temporary encampment.
The thread — This motif of camping in elevated terrain echoes Abram’s settlement east of Bethel (Genesis 12:8) and Jacob’s later arrival at Shechem (Genesis 33:18), while Hebrews 11:9 catalogs Jacob as a tent-dweller in the promised land.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that physical displacement and pursuit occur under explicit divine limits, requiring readers to track how geographic movement marks covenantal progression rather than random flight.
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
Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
Cross-references
- Genesis 12:8 From there Abram moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD, and he called on the name of the LORD.
- Genesis 33:18 After Jacob had come from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped just outside the city.
- Hebrews 11:9 By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.