The Meaning of Genesis 31:24 Explained

Genesis 31:24

KJV: And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

YLT: And God cometh in unto Laban the Aramaean in a dream of the night, and saith to him, 'Take heed to thyself lest thou speak with Jacob from good unto evil.'

Darby: And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, Take care thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

ASV: And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said unto him, Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And God  came  to Laban  the Syrian  in a dream  by night,  and said  unto him, Take heed  that thou speak  not to  Jacob  either good  or  bad. 

What does Genesis 31:24 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 31:24 mean?

But had come God to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night and said to him take heed to it lest you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad
וַיָּבֹ֧א אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶל־ לָבָ֥ן הָאֲרַמִּ֖י בַּחֲלֹ֣ם הַלָּ֑יְלָה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ הִשָּׁ֧מֶר לְךָ֛ פֶּן־ תְּדַבֵּ֥ר עִֽם־ יַעֲקֹ֖ב מִטּ֥וֹב עַד־ רָֽע

וַיָּבֹ֧א  But  had  come 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֱלֹהִ֛ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
לָבָ֥ן  Laban 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לָבָן 
Sense: son of Bethuel, brother of Rebekah, and father of Leah and Rachel.
הָאֲרַמִּ֖י  the  Syrian 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲרַמִּי 
Sense: a thing or a person from Syria or Aram.
בַּחֲלֹ֣ם  in  a  dream 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֲלֹום  
Sense: dream.
הַלָּ֑יְלָה  by  night 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
ל֗וֹ  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
הִשָּׁ֧מֶר  take  heed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
לְךָ֛  to  it 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
פֶּן־  lest 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: פֶּן  
Sense: lest, not, beware lest adv.
תְּדַבֵּ֥ר  you  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
יַעֲקֹ֖ב  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
מִטּ֥וֹב  neither  good 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
עַד־  nor 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
רָֽע  bad 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.