Genesis 31 · Verse 22

Genesis 31:22

And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
Genesis 31:22, King James Version

Genesis 31:22 in other translations

BSBOn the third day Laban was informed that Jacob had fled.
WEBLaban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.
ASVAnd it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
YLTAnd it is told to Laban on the third day that Jacob hath fled,
DARBYAnd it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled.
BBEAnd on the third day Laban had news of Jacob's flight.
WebsterAnd it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled.

What does Genesis 31:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 31:22-24

Ge 31:22-55. Laban Pursues Jacob--Their Covenant at Gilead.

22-24. it was told Laban on the third day--No sooner did the news reach Laban than he set out in pursuit, and he being not encumbered, advanced rapidly; whereas Jacob, with a young family and numerous flocks, had to march slowly, so that he overtook the fugitives after seven days' journey as they lay encamped on the brow of mount Gilead, an extensive range of hills forming the eastern boundary of Canaan. Being accompanied by a number of his people, he might have used violence had he not been divinely warned in a dream to give no interruption to his nephew's journey. How striking and sudden a change! For several days he had been full of rage, and was now in eager anticipation that his vengeance would be fully wreaked, when lo! his hands are tied by invisible power (Psa 76:10). He did not dare to touch Jacob, but there was a war of words.

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

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 31:22-35
God can put a bridle in the mouth of wicked men, to restrain their malice, though he do not change their hearts. Though they have no love to God's people, they will pretend to it, and try to make a merit of necessity. Foolish Laban! to call those things his gods which could be stolen! Enemies may steal our goods, but not our God. Here Laban lays to Jacob's charge things that he knew not. Those who commit their cause to God, are not forbidden to plead it themselves with meekness and fear. When we read of Rachel's stealing her father's images, what a scene of iniquity opens! The family of Nahor, who left the idolatrous Chaldees; is this family itself become idolatrous? It is even so. The truth seems to be, that they were like some in after-times, who sware by the Lord and by Malcham, Zep 1:5; and like others in our times, who wish to serve both God and mammon. Great numbers will acknowledge the true God in words, but their hearts and houses are the abodes of spiritual idolatry. When a man gives himself up to covetousness, like Laban, the world is his god; and he has only to reside among gross idolaters in order to become one, or at least a favourer of their abominations.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Genesis 31:22 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.

וַיֻּגַּ֥דvai.yu.Gadand it was toldH5046
לְלָבָ֖ןle.la.Vanto LabanH3837
בַּיּ֣וֹםbai.Yomon the dayH3117
הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑יha.she.li.Shi<the> thirdH7992
כִּ֥יkithatH3588
בָרַ֖חva.Rachhe had fledH1272
יַעֲקֹֽב\׃ya.'a.KoJacobH3290

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

Cross references for Genesis 31:22

  • Exodus 14:5-31

    And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. …

  • Genesis 30:36

    And he set three days’ journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.

  • Job 5:12-13

    He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
30:36; Ex 14:5-31; Job 5:12,13

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Genesis 31:22

    And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.

  • Genesis 31:23

    And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.

Read all of Genesis 31

Genesis 31:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y fué dicho á Labán al tercero día como Jacob se había huído.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le troisième jour on rapporta à Laban que Jacob s’était enfui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und am dritten Tage wurde dem Laban berichtet, daß Jakob geflohen wäre.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		nuntiatum est Laban die tertio quod fugeret Jacob.