Genesis 31:22
Genesis 31:22 in Multiple Translations
On the third day Laban was informed that Jacob had fled.
And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
And on the third day Laban had news of Jacob's flight.
Three days later Laban found out that Jacob had run away.
And the third day after was it told Laban, that Iaakob fled.
And it is told to Laban on the third day that Jacob hath fled,
Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.
And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled.
It was told Laban on the third day that Jacob fled.
On the third day after they left, someone told Laban that Jacob and his family had left.
2 days later, somebody told Laban, “Jacob ran away.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 31:22
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Genesis 31:22 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יֻּגַּ֥ד
לְ/לָבָ֖ן
בַּ/יּ֣וֹם
הַ/שְּׁלִישִׁ֑י
כִּ֥י
בָרַ֖ח
יַעֲקֹֽב
וַ/יֻּגַּ֥ד
nâgad
H5046
to tell
Conj | V-Hophal-ConsecImperf-3ms
לְ/לָבָ֖ן
Lâbân
H3837
Laban
Prep | N-proper
בַּ/יּ֣וֹם
yôwm
H3117
day
Prep | N-ms
הַ/שְּׁלִישִׁ֑י
shᵉlîyshîy
H7992
third
Art | Adj
כִּ֥י
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
בָרַ֖ח
bârach
H1272
to flee
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
יַעֲקֹֽב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
Jacob
N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 31:22
וַ/יֻּגַּ֥ד
nâgad
H5046
"to tell"
Conj | V-Hophal-ConsecImperf-3ms
To tell or declare something openly, as in Genesis 3:11 where God asks Adam to tell the truth. It means to stand boldly and announce something to someone present. In Exodus 32:27, Moses tells the Levites to declare their actions to the people.
Definition: 1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known 1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare 1a1) to tell, announce, report 1a2) to declare, make known, expound 1a3) to inform of 1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim 1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess 1a5a) messenger (participle) 1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported
Usage: Occurs in 344 OT verses. KJV: bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter. See also: Genesis 3:11; 1 Samuel 14:33; 2 Kings 9:15.
לְ/לָבָ֖ן
Lâbân
H3837
"Laban"
Prep | N-proper
Refers to Laban, a person in the Bible, or a place in the desert where the Israelites camped.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.24.29; son of: Bethuel (H1328A); brother of: Rebekah (H7259); father of: Rachel (H7354) and Leah (H3812) § Laban = "white" son of Bethuel, brother of Rebekah, and father of Leah and Rachel
Usage: Occurs in 47 OT verses. KJV: Laban. See also: Genesis 24:29; Genesis 30:40; Deuteronomy 1:1.
בַּ/יּ֣וֹם
yôwm
H3117
"day"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
הַ/שְּׁלִישִׁ֑י
shᵉlîyshîy
H7992
"third"
Art | Adj
This Hebrew word means third in a sequence, like a third day or year. It is used in the Bible to describe time, rank, or quantity, such as the third day of creation in Genesis.
Definition: 1) third, one third, third part, third time 1a) ordinal number
Usage: Occurs in 94 OT verses. KJV: third (part, rank, time), three (years old). See also: Genesis 1:13; 1 Kings 22:2; Isaiah 15:5.
כִּ֥י
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
בָרַ֖ח
bârach
H1272
"to flee"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
To flee means to run away quickly, as seen in the Bible when people escaped from danger or pursued others, like in the story of David and Absalom.
Definition: 1) to go through, flee, run away, chase, drive away, put to flight, reach, shoot (extend), hurry away 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go, pass through 1a2) to flee 1a3) to hasten, come quickly 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to pass through 1b2) to cause to flee, put to flight 1b3) to drive away
Usage: Occurs in 64 OT verses. KJV: chase (away); drive away, fain, flee (away), put to flight, make haste, reach, run away, shoot. See also: Genesis 16:6; 1 Kings 11:17; Psalms 3:1.
יַעֲקֹֽב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
"Jacob"
N-proper
This word is the name of a person, Jacob, a key figure in the Bible. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the father of many tribes of Israel. The KJV simply translates it as Jacob.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478) § Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter" son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel
Usage: Occurs in 319 OT verses. KJV: Jacob. See also: Genesis 25:26; Genesis 34:1; Psalms 14:7.
Study Notes — Genesis 31:22
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Genesis 31:22 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Genesis 31:22
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 31:22
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 31:22
- Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 31:22
- Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 31:22
- Sermons on Genesis 31:22
Context — Laban Pursues Jacob
20Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away.
21So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
22On the third day Laban was informed that Jacob had fled.
23So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead. 24But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 5:12–13 | He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success. He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning. |
| 2 | Genesis 30:36 | Then he put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob, while Jacob was shepherding the rest of Laban’s flocks. |
| 3 | Exodus 14:5–31 | When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.” So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him. He took 600 of the best chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out defiantly. The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified and cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. Then I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army and chariots and horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I am honored through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them, so that it came between the camps of Egypt and Israel. The cloud was there in the darkness, but it lit up the night. So all night long neither camp went near the other. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left. And the Egyptians chased after them—all Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen—and followed them into the sea. At morning watch, however, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw their camp into confusion. He caused their chariot wheels to wobble, so that they had difficulty driving. “Let us flee from the Israelites,” said the Egyptians, “for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal state. As the Egyptians were retreating, the LORD swept them into the sea. The waters flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had chased the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left. That day the LORD saved Israel from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the shore. When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised over the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and believed in Him and in His servant Moses. |
Genesis 31:22 Summary
This verse tells us that it took three days for Laban to find out that Jacob had run away. This shows that Jacob was able to get a head start and travel quickly, but it also means that Laban was able to pursue him and try to catch up. Just like Jacob, we often try to escape from difficult situations or people, but God is always in control and can use those situations to teach us and grow us, as we see in Romans 8:28. As we read this verse, we can remember that God is sovereign over all things, and we can trust Him to work everything out for our good, even when things seem uncertain or difficult, just like He did for Jacob in Genesis 31:22.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did it take three days for Laban to find out that Jacob had fled?
The Bible doesn't give us a specific reason, but it's possible that Jacob had a head start and was able to travel quickly, or that Laban was busy with other things and didn't notice Jacob's departure right away, similar to how God can delay or hasten things according to His will, as seen in Genesis 8:10-12.
What can we learn from Jacob's decision to flee from Laban?
Jacob's decision to flee shows that he was trying to escape the difficult circumstances of his life, but it also led to more problems, as we see in the following verses, reminding us that our actions have consequences, as warned in Galatians 6:7-8.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the story of Jacob and Laban?
This verse is a turning point in the story, as it marks the beginning of Laban's pursuit of Jacob and the events that will unfold in the following chapters, ultimately leading to Jacob's encounter with God in Genesis 32:22-33 and his transformation into Israel.
What does this verse teach us about God's sovereignty?
Although God is not explicitly mentioned in this verse, we can see His sovereign hand at work in the background, as He allows Laban to discover Jacob's departure and sets the stage for the events that will follow, demonstrating His control over all things, as stated in Psalm 103:19.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I try to escape from difficult circumstances in my own life, and how can I trust God to work things out for my good?
- How do I respond when I find out that someone has wronged me or taken advantage of me, and what can I learn from Laban's reaction to Jacob's departure?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to trust God's sovereignty and timing, rather than trying to take matters into my own hands?
- How can I apply the principle of Galatians 6:7-8 to my own life, recognizing that my actions have consequences and that I will reap what I sow?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 31:22
And it was told Laban on the third day, that Jacob was fled. Three days after Jacob was gone he had the report of it, by some means or another; by some of his neighbours, or servants left at home,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 31:22
And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. It was told Laban on the third day.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 31:22
That he heard of it no sooner must be ascribed to the great distance which Laban had put between his and Jacob’ s flocks, , and to the care and art which Jacob used to prevent a sooner discovery.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 31:22
Genesis 31:22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.Ver. 22. That Jacob was fled.] Here was verified that saying of Eliphaz, Job 5:12-13.
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 31:22
LABAN’S PURSUIT, AND WITH JACOB, Genesis 31:22-55. 22. It was told Laban — Such a movement as Jacob’s, whose family and herds made a large caravan, could not long be kept a secret.
Sermons on Genesis 31:22
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Matthew 2:12-15. the Heavenly Warnings. by Favell Lee Mortimer | Favell Lee Mortimer preaches about God's divine protection over His faithful servants, showcasing how God can thwart the plans of the wicked through dreams, prayers, and discernmen |
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The Fiery Furnace by Charles E. Cowman | Charles E. Cowman preaches about how God brings about His greatest victories out of apparent defeats. Despite the enemy seemingly triumphing for a little while, God ultimately upse |
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(Genesis) Genesis 30:31-39 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Jacob and his encounter with his uncle Laban. Jacob, known for his trickery, meets his match in Laban, who is an even better tri |