New International VersionThen God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
New Living TranslationBut the previous night God had appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream and told him, “I’m warning you—leave Jacob alone!”
English Standard VersionBut God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
Berean Standard BibleBut that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
King James BibleAnd God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
New King James VersionBut God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.”
New American Standard BibleHowever, God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.”
NASB 1995God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.”
NASB 1977And God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.”
Legacy Standard BibleAnd God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Beware lest you speak to Jacob either good or bad.”
Amplified BibleGod came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob, either good or bad.”
Christian Standard BibleBut God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night. “Watch yourself! ” God warned him. “Don’t say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
Holman Christian Standard BibleBut God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night. “Watch yourself!” God warned him. “Don’t say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
American Standard VersionAnd God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said unto him, Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
Contemporary English VersionBut God appeared to Laban in a dream that night and warned, "Don't say a word to Jacob. Don't make a threat or a promise."
English Revised VersionAnd God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said unto him, Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationGod came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, "Be careful not to say anything at all to Jacob."
Good News TranslationIn a dream that night God came to Laban and said to him, "Be careful not to threaten Jacob in any way."
International Standard VersionThat night, God appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, "Be careful what you say to Jacob, whether it's one word good or bad."
NET BibleBut God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and warned him, "Be careful that you neither bless nor curse Jacob."
New Heart English BibleGod came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night, and said to him, "Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad."
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd God came to Laban, the Syrian, in a dream by night, and said to him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
World English BibleGod came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd God comes to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and says to him, “Take heed to yourself lest you speak with Jacob from good to evil.”
Young's Literal Translation And God cometh in unto Laban the Aramaean in a dream of the night, and saith to him, 'Take heed to thyself lest thou speak with Jacob from good unto evil.'
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd God will come to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night and will say to him, Watch to thyself, lest thou shalt speak with Jacob from good to evil. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he saw in a dream God saying to him: Take heed thou speak not any thing harshly against Jacob.
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd he saw in a dream, God saying to him, “Beware that you not speak anything harsh against Jacob.”
New American BibleBut that night God appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream and said to him: Take care not to say anything to Jacob.
New Revised Standard VersionBut God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night, and said to him, “Take heed that you say not a word to Jacob, either good or bad.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd God came to Laban, the Aramean, in a dream by night, and said to him, Take heed that you speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd God came upon Laban the Aramaean in a dream of the night and he said to him, “Beware that you do not speak with Yaquuv of good or for evil.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night, and said unto him: 'Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.'
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd God came to Laban the Syrian in sleep by night, and said to him, Take heed to thyself that thou speak not at any time to Jacob evil things.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Laban Pursues Jacob… 23So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead. 24But that nightGodcametoLabanthe Arameanin a dreamand warnedhim,“Be carefulnotto sayanything toJacob,either goodorbad.”25Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there as well.…
Cross References Genesis 20:3One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
Genesis 15:1After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
Genesis 46:2And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” He said. “Here I am,” replied Jacob.
Job 33:15-16In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds, / He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings
Numbers 22:9-12Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?” / And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: / ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’” ...
Matthew 1:20But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
Acts 16:9-10During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” / As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Matthew 2:12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.
Matthew 2:13When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
Acts 10:3-6One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” / Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God. / Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter. ...
1 Kings 3:5One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”
Daniel 2:19During the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he blessed the God of heaven
Daniel 4:5I had a dream, and it frightened me; while I was in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me.
Acts 18:9-10One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent. / For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”
Job 4:12-16Now a word came to me secretly; my ears caught a whisper of it. / In disquieting visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on men, / fear and trembling came over me and made all my bones shudder. ...
Treasury of Scripture And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, Take heed that you speak not to Jacob either good or bad. the Syrian. Genesis 28:5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. Deuteronomy 26:5 And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perishwas my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous: Hosea 12:12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he keptsheep. dream. Genesis 31:10,29 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattlewere ringstraked, speckled, and grisled… Genesis 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thouart but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for sheis a man's wife. Genesis 40:5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, whichwere bound in the prison. Take heed. Genesis 31:42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebukedthee yesternight. Genesis 24:50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. Numbers 24:13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to doeither good or bad of mine own mind;but what the LORD saith, that will I speak? either good or bad. Jump to Previous AramaeanArameanBadCareCarefulDreamEitherEvilGoodHeedJacobLabanNightSpeakSyrianThyselfWordJump to Next AramaeanArameanBadCareCarefulDreamEitherEvilGoodHeedJacobLabanNightSpeakSyrianThyselfWordGenesis 31 1.Jacob, displeased with the envy of Laban and his sons, departs secretly.19.Rachel steals her father's household gods.22.Laban pursues after him, and complains of the wrong.34.Rachel's plan to hide the images.36.Jacob's complaint of Laban.43.The covenant of Laban and Jacob at Galeed.But that nightThis phrase indicates a specific time when God intervened. The timing is significant as it follows Jacob's departure from Laban's household. In biblical narratives, nighttime often symbolizes a period of divine revelation or intervention, as seen in other instances like God's covenant with Abram ( Genesis 15:12-17). God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream
Dreams were a common means of divine communication in the ancient Near East. Laban, identified as an Aramean, highlights his cultural and ethnic background, distinct from Jacob's lineage. This divine encounter underscores God's sovereignty and ability to communicate with non-Israelites, similar to His interactions with Pharaoh (Genesis 41) and Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2). and warned him
The warning signifies God's protective hand over Jacob. It reflects God's covenant faithfulness to Abraham's descendants, ensuring their safety and fulfilling His promises. This divine warning parallels other biblical instances where God protects His chosen people, such as His instructions to Abimelech regarding Sarah (Genesis 20:3-7). “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
This command emphasizes neutrality, preventing Laban from influencing Jacob's journey. It reflects God's direct intervention to ensure His plans for Jacob are not thwarted. The phrase "good or bad" suggests a comprehensive prohibition, ensuring Laban neither blesses nor curses Jacob, reminiscent of God's promise to bless those who bless Abraham's descendants and curse those who curse them (Genesis 12:3). Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe sovereign deity who intervenes in human affairs, demonstrating His protective nature over Jacob. 2. Laban the ArameanJacob's father-in-law, who pursued Jacob after he fled with his family and possessions. 3. JacobThe grandson of Abraham, who left Laban's household to return to his homeland. 4. DreamA divine communication method used by God to convey His will and warnings. 5. AramThe region associated with Laban, highlighting his cultural and geographical background. Teaching Points Divine ProtectionGod actively protects His people, even when they are unaware of the dangers around them. God's SovereigntyGod's intervention in Laban's dream demonstrates His control over all situations and people, regardless of their intentions. Communication through DreamsGod can use dreams as a means to communicate His will and warnings, emphasizing the importance of being attentive to His messages. Respecting God's WarningsLaban's obedience to God's warning shows the importance of heeding divine instructions, even when they challenge personal desires or plans. Trust in God's PlanJacob's journey, though fraught with challenges, is under God's guidance, encouraging believers to trust in God's plan for their lives. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 31
Will the Lord watch between you and me?
In Genesis 31:24, why would God communicate with Laban if Laban worshipped other gods, and how does this align with other biblical passages about idolatry?
In Genesis 31:10-12, how could Jacob's dream and the striped rods realistically influence the genetics of the flocks?
Who was Laban in the Bible?(24) Either good or bad.--Heb., from good to bad:a proverbial expression, rightly translated in the Authorised Version, but conveying the idea of a more absolute prohibition than the phrase used in Genesis 24:50. Verses 24, 25. - And God - Elohim is here employed, neither because the section belongs to the fundamental document (Tuch, Bleek, Colenso, et alii), nor because, though Laban had an outward acquaintance with Jehovah ( vide ver. 49), his real religious knowledge did not extend beyond Elohim (Hengstenberg), but simply because the historian wished to characterize the interposition which arrested Laban in his wrath as supernatural (Quarry) - came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, - (cf. Genesis 20:3; Job 33:15; Matthew 1:20). This celestial visitation occurred the night before the fugitives were overtaken ( vide ver. 29). Its intention was to guard Jacob, according to the promise of Genesis 28:15, against Laban's resentment - and (accordingly God) said unto him, Take heed - literally, take heed for thyself, the verb being followed by an ethical dative, as in Genesis 12:1; Genesis 21:16, q.v. - that thouspeak not to Jacob - literally, lest the, speak with Jacob; μή ποτε λαλήσυς μετὰ Ἰακὼβ (LXX.) either good or bad. Literally, from good to bad, meaning that on meeting with Jacob he should not pass from peaceful greetings to bitter reproaches (Bush, Lunge), or say anything emphatic and decisive for the purpose of reversing what had occurred (Keil); or, perhaps more simply, say anything acrimonious or violent against Jacob (Rosenmüller, Murphy), the expression being a proverbial phrase for opposition or interference (Kalisch). (Cf. Genesis 14:50; 2 Samuel 13:23). Then (literally, and) Laban overtook Jacob. Now (literally, and) Jacob had pitched his tent - this was done by means of pins driven into the ground, the verb תָּקַע signifying to fasten, or fix anything by driving (cf. Judges 4:21; Isaiah 22:23, 25) - in the mount ( vide supra, ver. 21): and Laban with his brethren (kinsmen, ut supra) pitched - his tent; not ἔστησε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς (LXX.) - in the mount of Gilead ( vide supra, ver. 21).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew But that nightהַלָּ֑יְלָה(hal·lā·yə·lāh)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915:A twist, night, adversityGodאֱלֹהִ֛ים(’ĕ·lō·hîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativecameוַיָּבֹ֧א(way·yā·ḇō)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935:To come in, come, go in, gotoאֶל־(’el-)Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, toLabanלָבָ֥ן(lā·ḇān)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3837:Laban -- father-in-law of Jacobthe Arameanהָאֲרַמִּ֖י(hā·’ă·ram·mî)Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 761:Aramean -- an inhabitant of Aram (Syria)in a dreamבַּחֲלֹ֣ם(ba·ḥă·lōm)Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2472:A dreamand warnedוַיֹּ֣אמֶר(way·yō·mer)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559:To utter, sayhim,ל֗וֹ(lōw)Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew“Be carefulהִשָּׁ֧מֶר(hiš·šā·mer)Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 8104:To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend tonotפֶּן־(pen-)Conjunction
Strong's 6435:Removal, lestto sayתְּדַבֵּ֥ר(tə·ḏab·bêr)Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1696:To arrange, to speak, to subdueanything toעִֽם־(‘im-)Preposition
Strong's 5973:With, equally withJacob,יַעֲקֹ֖ב(ya·‘ă·qōḇ)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290:Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desceither goodמִטּ֥וֹב(miṭ·ṭō·wḇ)Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2896:Pleasant, agreeable, goodorעַד־(‘aḏ-)Preposition
Strong's 5704:As far as, even to, up to, until, whilebad.”רָֽע׃(rā‘)Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451:Bad, evil
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OT Law: Genesis 31:24 God came to Laban the Syrian (Gen. Ge Gn) |
