Bible Strands
Genesis 31:46
and he said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and made a mound, and there by the mound they ate.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jacob speaks to his own relatives, commanding them to gather stones after he sets a pillar. This instruction occurs during the negotiation and boundary-setting between Jacob and Laban in the hill country of Gilead.
The words — The Hebrew לִקְטוּ (lik.Tu) issues the command "gather," while אֲבָנִים ('a.va.Nim) specifies the stones used to construct the mound. These terms emphasize a deliberate, physical collection rather than a casual act.
The thread — The deliberate gathering of stones mirrors the balanced timing described in Ecclesiastes 3:5. The same regional and familial dynamics appear in Genesis 31:23, where Laban pursues Jacob, and Genesis 31:32, where the search for household gods is demanded.
Why it lands — The text records how physical markers and communal meals formalize a boundary agreement between two parties. It requires the reader to observe how tangible acts serve as public records of covenant terms.
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 Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
Cross-references
- Ecclesiastes 3:5 a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
- Genesis 31:23 So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.
- Genesis 31:32 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.
- Genesis 31:37 You have searched all my goods! Have you found anything that belongs to you? Put it here before my brothers and yours, that they may judge between the two of us.
- Genesis 31:54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal. And after they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.
- Joshua 4:5 and said to them, “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel,
- Joshua 4:20 And there at Gilgal Joshua set up the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan.
- Joshua 7:26 And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.
- 2 Samuel 18:17 They took Absalom, cast him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled, each to his home.