The Meaning of Genesis 31:46 Explained

Genesis 31:46

KJV: And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.

YLT: and Jacob saith to his brethren, 'Gather stones,' and they take stones, and make a heap; and they eat there on the heap;

Darby: And Jacob said to his brethren, Gather stones. And they took stones, and made a heap, and ate there upon the heap.

ASV: And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made a heap: and they did eat there by the heap.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Jacob  said  unto his brethren,  Gather  stones;  and they took  stones,  and made  an heap:  and they did eat  there upon the heap. 

What does Genesis 31:46 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 31:43-55 - The Covenant Between Jacob And Laban
In our time covenants are engrossed on parchment, so that there may be written documentary evidence accessible, to prove that certain transactions have taken place. The same object was conserved, where the art of writing was confined to the few, by the erection of monuments, whose existence was associated with the agreements into which men had entered with one another. Though these two men were far below the Christian ideal of character, it is evident that they lived in an habitual recognition of God and the eternal sanction of His presence. The Lord was to watch between them. God was to be witness and judge. The third generation looked back on the days of Terah with reverential awe and loyalty, and commemorated their grandfather Terah's God. [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 31:46 mean?

And said Jacob to his brothers Gather stones And they took stones and made a heap and they ate there on the heap
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֤ב לְאֶחָיו֙ לִקְט֣וּ אֲבָנִ֔ים וַיִּקְח֥וּ אֲבָנִ֖ים וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־ גָ֑ל וַיֹּ֥אכְלוּ שָׁ֖ם עַל־ הַגָּֽל

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יַעֲקֹ֤ב  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.
לְאֶחָיו֙  to  his  brothers 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
לִקְט֣וּ  Gather 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: לָקַט  
Sense: to pick up, gather, glean, gather up.
אֲבָנִ֔ים  stones 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
וַיִּקְח֥וּ  And  they  took 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
אֲבָנִ֖ים  stones 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־  and  made 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
גָ֑ל  a  heap 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גַּל 
Sense: heap, spring, wave, billow.
וַיֹּ֥אכְלוּ  and  they  ate 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
הַגָּֽל  the  heap 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גַּל 
Sense: heap, spring, wave, billow.