The Meaning of Genesis 31:34 Explained

Genesis 31:34

KJV: Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.

YLT: And Rachel hath taken the teraphim, and putteth them in the furniture of the camel, and sitteth upon them; and Laban feeleth all the tent, and hath not found;

Darby: Now Rachel had taken the teraphim and put them under the camel's saddle; and she sat upon them. And Laban explored all the tent, but found nothing.

ASV: Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, and put them in the camel's saddle, and sat upon them. And Laban felt about all the tent, but found them not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now Rachel  had taken  the images,  and put  them in the camel's  furniture,  and sat  upon them. And Laban  searched  all the tent,  but found  [them] not. 

What does Genesis 31:34 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 31:22-42 - The Dispute Between Laban And Jacob
These chapters afford a remarkable insight into God's forbearance. He knew what was in Jacob's heart, and could see all its weakness and deceit. There was not a thought in his heart or a word on his tongue, but He knew them altogether. Yet God cast the mantle of forgiveness and defense around this most unworthy soul, bidding Laban not to speak to him either good or bad. Indeed, in a later book, we are told, "He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel." Not that the holy God was unaware of the evil traits in His child, but that He refused to dwell on them, or to allow himself to be turned away from His purposes of grace. Rachel secretly carried with her the teraphim, which wrought evil throughout the home in after-years, as we shall see. The "fear of Isaac" was on Jacob's lips, but too little of it in his character and surroundings! [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 31

1  Jacob, displeased with the envy of Laban and his sons, departs secretly
19  Rachel steals her father's household gods
22  Laban pursues after him, and complains of the wrong
34  Rachel's plan to hide the images
36  Jacob's complaint of Laban
43  The covenant of Laban and Jacob at Galeed

What do the individual words in Genesis 31:34 mean?

Now Rachel had taken - the household idols and put them in saddle of the camel and sat on them And searched Laban all about the tent but not did find [them]
וְרָחֵ֞ל לָקְחָ֣ה אֶת־ הַתְּרָפִ֗ים וַתְּשִׂמֵ֛ם בְּכַ֥ר הַגָּמָ֖ל וַתֵּ֣שֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וַיְמַשֵּׁ֥שׁ לָבָ֛ן כָּל־ הָאֹ֖הֶל וְלֹ֥א מָצָֽא

וְרָחֵ֞ל  Now  Rachel 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רָחֵל  
Sense: daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
לָקְחָ֣ה  had  taken 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַתְּרָפִ֗ים  the  household  idols 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: תְּרָפִים  
Sense: idolatry, idols, image(s), teraphim, family idol.
וַתְּשִׂמֵ֛ם  and  put  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
בְּכַ֥ר  in  saddle 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כַּר 
Sense: howdah, palanquin, basket saddle.
הַגָּמָ֖ל  of  the  camel 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גָּמָל  
Sense: camel.
וַתֵּ֣שֶׁב  and  sat 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם  on  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
וַיְמַשֵּׁ֥שׁ  And  searched 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁשׁ  
Sense: to feel, grope.
לָבָ֛ן  Laban 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לָבָן 
Sense: son of Bethuel, brother of Rebekah, and father of Leah and Rachel.
כָּל־  all  about 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הָאֹ֖הֶל  the  tent 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
וְלֹ֥א  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
מָצָֽא  did  find  [them] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 31:34?

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