Bible Strands
Genesis 31:44
Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between you and me.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Laban addresses Jacob after asserting his claim over Jacob’s wives, children, and livestock, proposing a formal agreement before Jacob prepares to set up a stone pillar.
The words — The Hebrew בְּרִית (berit, "covenant") and עֵד ('ed, "witness") anchor the proposal, while נִכְרְתָה (nikh'tah, "let us make/cut") specifies the binding action.
The thread — This covenantal language runs parallel to Joshua 24:25, where Joshua establishes a statute and ordinance, and Genesis 15:18, where God formally cuts a covenant with Abram.
Why it lands — The text demands a tangible, mutually acknowledged boundary that prevents future conflict, requiring the reader to recognize how formal agreements function as public records of peace.
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
Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
Cross-references
- Joshua 24:25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he established for them a statute and ordinance.
- 1 Samuel 20:14 And as long as I live, treat me with the LORD’s loving devotion, that I may not die,
- Genesis 15:18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—
- Genesis 21:22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do.
- Genesis 26:28 “We can plainly see that the LORD has been with you,” they replied. “We recommend that there should now be an oath between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you
- Genesis 31:48 Then Laban declared, “This mound is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore the place was called Galeed.
- Genesis 31:52 This mound is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this mound to harm you, and you will not go past this mound and pillar to harm me.
- Deuteronomy 31:19 Now therefore, write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites; have them recite it, so that it may be a witness for Me against them.
- Deuteronomy 31:21 And when many troubles and afflictions have come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants. For I know their inclination, even before I bring them into the land that I swore to give them.”
- Deuteronomy 31:26 “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you.