What does Genesis 31:32 mean?
Jacob does not know that his wife Rachel stole the house idols from her father, Laban, before the family left town (Genesis 31:19). Why did Rachel do it? We're not told exactly. It may be that, in addition to worshiping Jacob's God, Rachel still felt the need to rely on the gods she grew up with for protection and provision. It may be that she felt possessing the idols would give her a stake in the family inheritance. Or maybe she was just angry at her father (Genesis 31:14–16) and took them as an act of petty revenge.In any case, Jacob is incensed by Laban's unexpected accusation about stealing the gods. The implication is that Jacob was in on the theft; to counter that assumption, Jacob rashly declares the death penalty upon anyone in his company who may be found with the stolen idols. He calls on the gathered relatives of Laban to serve as witnesses to a search by Laban for anything that belongs to him among the company's possessions.
Jacob has shown nothing but slavish devotion to Rachel (Genesis 29:18–20). This declaration all but proves that he knew nothing of her crime. Nevertheless, it appears Rachel is about to be in huge trouble.