Genesis 31:47-49
New English Translation
47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha,[a] but Jacob called it Galeed.[b]
48 Laban said, “This pile of stones is a witness of our agreement[c] today.” That is why it was called Galeed. 49 It was also called Mizpah[d] because he said, “May the Lord watch[e] between us[f] when we are out of sight of one another.[g]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 31:47 sn Jegar Sahadutha. Laban the Aramean gave the place an Aramaic name which means “witness pile” or “the pile is a witness.”
- Genesis 31:47 sn Galeed also means “witness pile” or “the pile is a witness,” but this name is Canaanite or Western Semitic and closer to later Hebrew. Jacob, though certainly capable of speaking Aramaic, here prefers to use the western dialect.
- Genesis 31:48 tn Heb “a witness between me and you.”
- Genesis 31:49 tn Heb “and Mizpah.”
- Genesis 31:49 sn The name Mizpah (מִצְפָּה, mitspah), which means “watchpost,” sounds like the verb translated “may he watch” (יִצֶף, yitsef). Neither Laban nor Jacob felt safe with each other, and so they agreed to go their separate ways, trusting the Lord to keep watch at the border. Jacob did not need this treaty, but Laban, perhaps because he had lost his household gods, felt he did.
- Genesis 31:49 tn Heb “between me and you.”
- Genesis 31:49 tn Heb “for we will be hidden, each man from his neighbor.”
Genesis 31:47-49
New International Version
47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.[a](A)
48 Laban said, “This heap(B) is a witness between you and me today.”(C) That is why it was called Galeed. 49 It was also called Mizpah,[b](D) because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.
Footnotes
- Genesis 31:47 The Aramaic Jegar Sahadutha and the Hebrew Galeed both mean witness heap.
- Genesis 31:49 Mizpah means watchtower.
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