Genesis 31 · Verse 32

Genesis 31:32

With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
Genesis 31:32, King James Version

Genesis 31:32 in other translations

BSBIf 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.
WEBAnyone you find your gods with shall not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it.” For Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had stolen them.
ASVWith whomsoever thou findest thy gods, he shall not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
YLTwith whomsoever thou findest thy gods--he doth not live; before our brethren discern for thyself what is with me, and take to thyself:' and Jacob hath not known that Rachel hath stolen them.
DARBYWith whomsoever thou findest thygods, he shall not live. Before our brethren discern what is thine with me, and take it to thee. But Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
BBEAs for your gods, if anyone of us has them, let him be put to death: make search before us all for what is yours, and take it. For Jacob had no knowledge that Rachel had taken them.
WebsterWith whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee: for Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

What does Genesis 31:32 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 31:31-32

31-32. Jacob said, ... With whomsoever thou findest thy gods let him not live--Conscious of his own innocence and little suspecting the misdeed of his favorite wife, Jacob boldly challenged a search and denounced the heaviest penalty on the culprit. A personal scrutiny was made by Laban, who examined every tent [Ge 31:33]; and having entered Rachel's last, he would have infallibly discovered the stolen images had…

Read the full comment on Genesis 31:31-32 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 32 Let him not live - It appears that anciently theft was punished by death; and we know that the patriarchs had the power of life and death in their hands. But previously to the law, the punishment of death was scarcely ever inflicted but for murder. The rabbins consider that this was an imprecation used by Jacob, as if he had said, Let God take away the life of the person who has stolen them! And that this was answered shortly after in the death of Rachel, Gen 35:16-19.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · 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…

Read the full comment on Genesis 31:22-35 →

Genesis 31:32 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.

עִ֠ם'imwithH5973
אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sher[anyone] whomH834
תִּמְצָ֣אtim.Tza'you will findH4672
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אֱלֹהֶיךָ֮'e.lo.hei.Khagods yourH430
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
יִֽחְיֶה֒yich.Yehhe will liveH2421
נֶ֣גֶדNe.gedbeforeH5048
אַחֵ֧ינוּ'a.Chei.nurelatives ourH251
הַֽכֶּר\־ha.ker-investigateH5234
לְךָ֛le.Khafor <the> yourself
מָ֥הmahwhat?H4100
עִמָּדִ֖י'i.ma.Di[is] with meH5978
וְקַֽח\־ve.kach-and take [it]H3947
לָ֑ךְLakhfor <the> yourself
וְלֹֽא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
יָדַ֣עya.Da'he knewH3045
יַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoJacobH3290
כִּ֥יkithatH3588
רָחֵ֖לra.ChelRachelH7354
גְּנָבָֽתַם\׃ge.na.Va.tamshe had stolen themH1589

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

Cross references for Genesis 31:32

  • Genesis 31:19

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

  • 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.

  • 1 Samuel 12:3-5

    Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand. And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

  • Genesis 44:9-12

    With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen. And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

  • Genesis 31:30

    And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

  • Genesis 19:7

    And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

  • Genesis 30:33

    So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.

  • 1 Samuel 14:24-29

    And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground. And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. …

  • 2 Corinthians 8:20-21

    Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:17-19

    Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

  • Genesis 13:8

    And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
whomsoever.This was rash, and might have produced fatal effects; but Jacob was partial to Rachel, and did not suspect her; and he was indignant at being accused of a crime which he deeply abhorred. Scott.
19,30; 44:9-12
before.
23; 13:8; 19:7; 30:33; 1Sa 12:3-5; 2Co 8:20,21; 12:17-19
For Jacob.
1Sa 14:24-29

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

Context

  • Genesis 31:31

    And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.

  • Genesis 31:32

    With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

  • Genesis 31:33

    And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the two maidservants’ tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.

Read all of Genesis 31

Genesis 31:32 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
En quien hallares tus dioses, no viva: delante de nuestros hermanos reconoce lo que yo tuviere tuyo, y llévatelo. Jacob no sabía que Rachêl los había hurtado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Qu’il ne vive pas, celui auprès de qui tu trouveras tes dieux! Devant nos frères reconnais ce qui est à toi chez moi, et prends-le. Or Jacob ne savait pas que Rachel les avait volés.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Bei wem du deine Götter findest, der soll nicht leben. Erforsche vor unseren Brüdern, was bei mir ist, und nimm es dir. Jakob aber wußte nicht, daß Rahel sie gestohlen hatte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Quod autem furti me arguis: apud quemcumque inveneris deos tuos, necetur coram fratribus nostris: scrutare, quidquid tuorum apud me inveneris, et aufer. Hæc dicens, ignorabat quod Rachel furata esset idola.