Genesis 31 · Verse 20

Genesis 31:20

And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
Genesis 31:20, King James Version

Genesis 31:20 in other translations

BSBMoreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away.
WEBJacob deceived Laban the Syrian, in that he didn’t tell him that he was running away.
ASVAnd Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
YLTand Jacob deceiveth the heart of Laban the Aramaean, because he hath not declared to him that he is fleeing;
DARBYAnd Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he fled.
BBEAnd Jacob went away secretly, without giving news of his flight to Laban the Aramaean.
WebsterAnd Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he was about to depart.

What does Genesis 31:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. Jacob stole away--The result showed the prudence and necessity of departing secretly; otherwise, Laban might have detained him by violence or artifice.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 31:1-21

The affairs of these families are related very minutely, while (what are called) the great events of states and kingdoms at that period, are not mentioned. The Bible teaches people the common duties of life, how to serve God, how to enjoy the blessings he bestows, and to do good in the various stations and duties of life. Selfish men consider themselves robbed of all that goes past them, and covetousness will even…

Read the full comment on Genesis 31:1-21 →

Genesis 31:20 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּגְנֹ֣בvai.yig.Noand he stoleH1589
יַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoJacobH3290
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
לֵ֥בlev[the] heart ofH3820
לָבָ֖ןla.VanLabanH3837
הָאֲרַמִּ֑יha.'a.ra.Mithe ArameanH761
עַל\־'al-onH5921
בְּלִי֙be.LinotH1097
הִגִּ֣ידhi.Gidhe toldH5046
ל֔וֹloto <the> him
כִּ֥יkithatH3588
בֹרֵ֖חַvo.Re.ach[was] fleeingH1272
הֽוּא\׃Hu'heH1931

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
unawares to Laban. Heb. the heart of Laban. See referenceson ver. 27.
20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 31:19

    And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s.

  • Genesis 31:20

    And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

  • Genesis 31:21

    So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.

Read all of Genesis 31

Genesis 31:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y recató Jacob el corazón de Labán Arameo, en no hacerle saber que se huía.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Jacob trompa Laban, l’Araméen, car il ne lui apprit pas qu’il s’enfuyait.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Jakob hinterging Laban, den Aramäer, indem er ihm nicht kundtat, daß er fliehe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Noluitque Jacob confiteri socero suo quod fugeret.