Genesis 31:37
in Genesis 31You have searched all my goods! Have you found anything that belongs to you? Put it here before my brothers and yours, that they may judge between the two of us.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Whereas thou hast felt about all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? Set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us two.
KJV
Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.
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This verse in Genesis 31
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
Then Jacob became incensed and challenged Laban
on Genesis 31:36-37
Jacob becomes incensed, and what follows is his longest speech in Genesis. He turns the empty search into his own evidence, and asks Laban to set whatever was found before both households and let them judge. Clarke notes that Jacob stands here on the one charge he knows nothing about.
This site's exposition
that they may judge between the two of us
Judge between is yakach, to settle a case by argument. Jacob uses it again in verse 42, where God has already rendered judgment the night before. A form of the verb names the mediator Job longs for at Job 9:33.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff,....
His chiding with Laban, though it may admit of some excuse, was not justifiable, nor is it written for our imitation. Grievous words stir up anger, and commonly do but make bad worse. It is a very great affront to one that bears an honest mind to be charged with dishonesty, and yet even this we must learn to bear with patience, committing our cause to God.
The words behind it
18 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| מִשַּׁ֣שְׁתָּ | mishashta | you have searched | H4959 → | 9 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| כֵּלַ֗י | kelai | things my | H3627 → | 325 times |
| מַה־ | mah- | what? | H4100 → | 752 times |
| מָּצָ֙אתָ֙ | matzata | did you find | H4672 → | 455 times |
| מִכֹּ֣ל | mikol | of all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| כְּלֵי־ | kelei- | [the] things of | H3627 → | 325 times |
| בֵיתֶ֔ךָ | veitekha | household your | H1004 → | 2046 times |
| שִׂ֣ים | sim | put [it] | H7760 → | 584 times |
| כֹּ֔ה | koh | thus | H3541 → | 577 times |
| נֶ֥גֶד | neged | before | H5048 → | 151 times |
| אַחַ֖י | ʾachai | relatives my | H251 → | 630 times |
| וְאַחֶ֑יךָ | veacheikha | and relatives your | H251 → | 630 times |
| וְיוֹכִ֖יחוּ | veyokhichu | so they may decide | H3198 → | 59 times |
| בֵּ֥ין | bein | between | H996 → | 407 times |
| שְׁנֵֽינוּ׃ | sheneinu | [the] two of us | H8147 → | 768 times |
כִּֽי־that
ki-H3588 →4482 times
מִשַּׁ֣שְׁתָּyou have searched
mishashtaH4959 →9 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
כֵּלַ֗יthings my
kelaiH3627 →325 times
מַה־what?
mah-H4100 →752 times
מָּצָ֙אתָ֙did you find
matzataH4672 →455 times
מִכֹּ֣לof all
mikolH3605 →5413 times
כְּלֵי־[the] things of
kelei-H3627 →325 times
בֵיתֶ֔ךָhousehold your
veitekhaH1004 →2046 times
שִׂ֣יםput [it]
simH7760 →584 times
כֹּ֔הthus
kohH3541 →577 times
נֶ֥גֶדbefore
negedH5048 →151 times
אַחַ֖יrelatives my
ʾachaiH251 →630 times
וְאַחֶ֑יךָand relatives your
veacheikhaH251 →630 times
וְיוֹכִ֖יחוּso they may decide
veyokhichuH3198 →59 times
בֵּ֥יןbetween
beinH996 →407 times
שְׁנֵֽינוּ׃[the] two of us
sheneinuH8147 →768 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 2:12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
it leads to
- Titus 2:7–8
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Peter 3:16
keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
- Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
- Philippians 2:15–16
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
- 2 Corinthians 8:21
For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
- Titus 2:7–8
Through
Hebrews 13:18Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:25
Brothers, pray for us as well.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:25
Through
1 Thessalonians 2:10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 1:5
because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake.
- 1 Peter 5:3
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:5
Where this verse is studied
About Genesis
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.