The Meaning of Genesis 31:53 Explained

Genesis 31:53

KJV: The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.

YLT: the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, doth judge between us -- the God of their father,' and Jacob sweareth by the Fear of his father Isaac.

Darby: The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us! And Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac.

ASV: The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the Fear of his father Isaac.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The God  of Abraham,  and the God  of Nahor,  the God  of their father,  judge  betwixt us. And Jacob  sware  by the fear  of his father  Isaac. 

What does Genesis 31:53 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 31:53 mean?

The God of Abraham and the gods of Nahor may they judge between us of their father And swore Jacob by the Fear of his father Isaac
אֱלֹהֵ֨י אַבְרָהָ֜ם וֵֽאלֹהֵ֤י נָחוֹר֙ יִשְׁפְּט֣וּ בֵינֵ֔ינוּ אֲבִיהֶ֑ם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּפַ֖חַד אָבִ֥יו יִצְחָֽק

אֱלֹהֵ֨י  The  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אַבְרָהָ֜ם  of  Abraham 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָהָם  
Sense: friend of God and founder of Hebrew nation via God’s elective covenant.
וֵֽאלֹהֵ֤י  and  the  gods 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
נָחוֹר֙  of  Nahor 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָחֹור  
Sense: son of Serug, father of Terah, and grandfather of Abraham.
יִשְׁפְּט֣וּ  may  they  judge 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
בֵינֵ֔ינוּ  between  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
אֲבִיהֶ֑ם  of  their  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע  And  swore 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
יַעֲקֹ֔ב  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.
בְּפַ֖חַד  by  the  Fear 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פַּחַד  
Sense: terror, dread.
אָבִ֥יו  of  his  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
יִצְחָֽק  Isaac 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִצְחָק  
Sense: son of Abraham by Sarah his wife and father of Jacob and Esau.