The Meaning of Genesis 31:30 Explained

Genesis 31:30

KJV: And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

YLT: 'And now, thou hast certainly gone, because thou hast been very desirous for the house of thy father; why hast thou stolen my gods?'

Darby: And now that thou must needs be gone, because thou greatly longedst after thy father's house, why hast thou stolen my gods?

ASV: And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And now, [though] thou wouldest needs  be gone,  because thou sore  longedst  after thy father's  house,  [yet] wherefore hast thou stolen  my gods? 

What does Genesis 31:30 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 31:30 mean?

Now surely you have gone because greatly you long for house of your father [but] why did you steal - my gods
וְעַתָּה֙ הָלֹ֣ךְ הָלַ֔כְתָּ כִּֽי־ נִכְסֹ֥ף נִכְסַ֖פְתָּה לְבֵ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ לָ֥מָּה גָנַ֖בְתָּ אֶת־ ؟ אֱלֹהָֽי

וְעַתָּה֙  Now 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
הָלֹ֣ךְ  surely 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
הָלַ֔כְתָּ  you  have  gone 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
כִּֽי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
נִכְסֹ֥ף  greatly 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Infinitive absolute
Root: כָּסַף  
Sense: to long for, yearn for, long after.
נִכְסַ֖פְתָּה  you  long 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: כָּסַף  
Sense: to long for, yearn for, long after.
לְבֵ֣ית  for  house 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אָבִ֑יךָ  of  your  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
לָ֥מָּה  [but]  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
גָנַ֖בְתָּ  did  you  steal 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: גָּנַב  
Sense: to steal, steal away, carry 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.
؟ אֱלֹהָֽי  my  gods 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).