The Meaning of Genesis 31:27 Explained

Genesis 31:27

KJV: Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

YLT: Why hast thou hidden thyself to flee, and deceivest me, and hast not declared to me, and I send thee away with joy and with songs, with tabret and with harp,

Darby: Why didst thou flee away covertly, and steal away from me, and didst not tell me, that I might have conducted thee with mirth and with songs, with tambour and with harp;

ASV: Wherefore didst thou flee secretly, and steal away from me, and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth and with songs, with tabret and with harp;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Wherefore didst thou flee away  secretly,  and steal away  from me; and didst not tell  me, that I might have sent thee away  with mirth,  and with songs,  with tabret,  and with harp? 

What does Genesis 31:27 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 31:27 mean?

why did you flee away secretly and steal away from me and not tell me for I might have sent you away with joy and singing with tambourines and harps
לָ֤מָּה נַחְבֵּ֙אתָ֙ לִבְרֹ֔חַ וַתִּגְנֹ֖ב אֹתִ֑י וְלֹא־ הִגַּ֣דְתָּ לִּ֔י וָֽאֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָ֛ בְּשִׂמְחָ֥ה וּבְשִׁרִ֖ים בְּתֹ֥ף ؟ וּבְכִנּֽוֹר

לָ֤מָּה  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
נַחְבֵּ֙אתָ֙  did  you  flee  away 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָבָא  
Sense: to withdraw, hide.
לִבְרֹ֔חַ  secretly 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בָּרַח 
Sense: to go through, flee, run away, chase, drive away, put to flight, reach, shoot (extend), hurry away.
וַתִּגְנֹ֖ב  and  steal  away  from 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: גָּנַב  
Sense: to steal, steal away, carry away.
אֹתִ֑י  me 
Parse: Direct object marker, first person common singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
וְלֹא־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הִגַּ֣דְתָּ  tell 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
לִּ֔י  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
וָֽאֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָ֛  for  I  might  have  sent  you  away 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive imperfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
בְּשִׂמְחָ֥ה  with  joy 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שִׂמְחָה  
Sense: joy, mirth, gladness.
וּבְשִׁרִ֖ים  and  singing 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שִׁיר 
Sense: song.
בְּתֹ֥ף  with  tambourines 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּתֹף 
Sense: timbrel, tambourine.
؟ וּבְכִנּֽוֹר  and  harps 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כִּנּׄור  
Sense: lyre, harp.