Genesis 31:47-48 NKJV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 31:43-55

We have here the compromising of the matter between Laban and Jacob. Laban had nothing to say in reply to Jacob's remonstrance: he could neither justify himself nor condemn Jacob, but was convicted by his own conscience of the wrong he had done him; and therefore desires to hear no more of the matter He is not willing to own himself in a fault, nor to ask Jacob's forgiveness, and make him satisfaction, as he ought to have done. But, I. He turns it off with a profession of kindness for Jacob's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:47

And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha ,.... Which in the Syriac and Chaldee languages signifies "an heap of witness"; it being, as after observed, a witness of the covenant between Laban and Jacob: but Jacob called it Galeed ; which in the Hebrew tongue signifies the same, "an heap of witness"; or "an heap, the witness", for the same reason. Laban was a Syrian, as he sometimes is called, Genesis 25:20 , wherefore he used the Syrian language; Jacob was a descendant of Abraham the Hebrew,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:48

And Laban said, this heap is a witness between me and thee this day. A witness of the covenant now about to be made between them that day, and a witness against them should they break it: therefore was the name of it called Galeed ; by Jacob, as before observed; See Gill on Genesis 31:47 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:47

Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha - שהדותא יגר yegar sahadutha , the heap or round heap of witness; but Jacob called it גלעד galed , which signifies the same thing. The first is pure Chaldee, the second pure Hebrew. אגר agar signifies to collect, hence יגר yegar and אוגר ogar , a collection or heap made up of gathered stones; and hence also אגורא egora , an altar, used frequently by the Chaldee paraphrast . See 1 Kings 12:33 ; Judges 6:31 ; 2 Kings 21:3 ; ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:48-49

I think these two verses are badly divided, and should be read thus: Genesis 31:48 ; - And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Genesis 31:49 ; - Therefore was the name of it called Galeed and Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:47

Verse 47 47.And Laban called it. Each, in his own language, gives a name, of the same signification, to the heap. Whence it appears, that Laban used the Syrian tongue, though born of the race of Heber. But it is not wonderful that he, dwelling among Syrians, should have accustomed himself to the language as well as to the manners of the Syrians. And a little before, he is twice called a Syrian; as if Moses would describe him as degenerate, and alienated from the Hebrews. But this seems by no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 31:45-55

Galeed and Mizpah, or the covenant of peace. I. THE COVENANT MEMORIALS . 1. The pillar of remembrance . The erection of the stone slab appears to have been the act of Jacob alone, and to have been designed to commemorate the important transaction about to be entered into with Laban. It is well to keep note of those engagements we make with our fellow-men in order to their punctual fulfillment; much more of those we make with God. It does not appear that any name was given to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 31:47

And Laban called it Jegar sahadutha :— A Chaldaic term signifying "Heap of testimony," βουνὸς τῆς μαρτυρίας ( LXX .); tumulum testis (Vulgate)— but Jacob called it Galeed —compounded of Gal and ' ed and meaning, like the corresponding Aramaic term used' by Laban, "Heap of witness," βουνὸς μάρτυς ( LXX .); acervum testimonii (Vulgate). "It is scarcely possible to doubt," says Kalisch, "that an important historical fact," relating to the primitive language of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 31:48-50

And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. The historian adding— Therefore was the name of it called (originally by Jacob, and afterwards by the Israelites from this transaction) Galeed ( vide on Genesis 31:21 ). The stony character of the regon may have suggested the designation. And Mizpah ;—watchtower from Tsaphah, to watch. Mizpah afterwards became the site of a town in the district of Gilead ( 10:17 ; 11:11 , 11:19 , 11:34 ); which received... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 31:1-55

- Jacob’s Flight from Haran19. תרפים terāpı̂ym, Teraphim. This word occurs fifteen times in the Old Testament. It appears three times in this chapter, and nowhere else in the Pentateuch. It is always in the plural number. The root does not appear in Biblical Hebrew. It perhaps means “to live well,” intransitively (Gesenius, Roedig.), “to nourish,” transitively (Furst). The teraphim were symbols or representatives of the Deity, as Laban calls them his gods. They seem to have been busts... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 31:43-55

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:47

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:48

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:47

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:48-49

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 31:47

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 31:45-55

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 31:47

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 31:48-50

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 31:1-55

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