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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Laban speaks to Jacob at their parting boundary, designating the erected mound and pillar as mutual markers. He establishes these physical objects as guarantees that neither man will cross the line to cause harm.

The words — The text emphasizes גַּל (Gal, heap) and מַצְבָּה (matzevah, pillar) as the visible markers, paired with עֵד ('ed, witness) to define their purpose. Laban structures the prohibition with אִם (im, if) and לֹא (lo, not) to explicitly forbid either party from passing the boundary.

The thread — The designation of the mound as a witness directly fulfills Laban’s earlier statement in Genesis 31:48 and mirrors the covenant proposal in Genesis 31:44. The mutual restriction aligns with the surrounding context where divine judgment and sworn oaths secure the agreement in Genesis 31:51 and 31:53.

Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to note a legally symmetrical boundary that binds both parties equally. It presents peace as dependent on respecting a fixed, physical limit rather than on abstract promises or unilateral power.

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

This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.

Cross-references

Genesis 31:48 Then Laban declared, “This mound is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore the place was called Galeed.
Genesis 31:44 Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between you and me.”