Jacob Departs from Laban. 

Genesis 31:1-21

Bible Stories

Genesis 31:1 But afterwards, he heard the words of the sons of Laban, saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and being enlarged by his ability, he has become famous.”

Genesis 31:2 Likewise, he observed that Laban’s face was not the same toward him as it was yesterday and the day before.

Genesis 31:3 Most importantly, the Lord was saying to him, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your generation, and I will be with you.”

Genesis 31:4 He sent and called for Rachel and Leah, in the field where he pastured the flocks,

Genesis 31:5 and he said to them: “I see that your father’s face is not the same toward me as it was yesterday and the day before. But the God of my father has been with me.

Genesis 31:6 And you know that I have served your father with all my strength.

Genesis 31:7 Even so, your father has circumvented me, and he has changed my wages ten times. And yet God has not permitted him to harm me.

Genesis 31:8 Whenever he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ all the sheep gave birth to speckled newborns. Yet truly, when he said the contrary, ‘You will take whatever is white for your wages,’ all the flocks gave birth to white ones.

Genesis 31:9 And it is God who has taken your father’s substance and given it to me.

Genesis 31:10 For after the time had arrived for the ewes to conceive, I lifted up my eyes, and I saw in my sleep that the males climbing on the females were of variegated, and spotted, and diverse colors.

Genesis 31:11 And the Angel of God said to me in my sleep, ‘Jacob.’ And I responded, ‘Here I am.’

Genesis 31:12 And he said: ‘Lift up your eyes, and see that all the males climbing on the females are variegated, spotted, and also speckled. For I have seen all that Laban has done to you.

Genesis 31:13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the stone and made a vow to me. Now therefore arise, and depart from this land, returning to the land of your nativity.’ ”

Genesis 31:14 And Rachel and Leah responded: “Have we anything left behind among the resources and inheritance of our father’s house?

Genesis 31:15 Has he not considered us as foreigners, and sold us, and consumed our price?

Genesis 31:16 But God has taken our father’s riches and handed these to us and to our sons. Therefore, do all that God has instructed you.”

Genesis 31:17 And so Jacob rose up, and having placed the children and his wives upon camels, he went forth.

Genesis 31:18 And he took all his substance and flocks, and whatever he had acquired in Mesopotamia, and he journeyed to his father Isaac, in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 31:19 At that time, Laban had gone to shear the sheep, and so Rachel stole her father’s idols.

Genesis 31:20 And Jacob was not willing to confess to his father-in-law that he was fleeing.

Genesis 31:21 And when he had gone away with all such things that were justly his, and, having crossed the river, was continuing on toward Mount Gilead,