What does Genesis 31:47 mean?
Jacob fled from Laban, along with his wives and family, in response to some twenty years of cheating and abuse at the hands of his father-in-law. Laban caught up with Jacob and accused him of abducting his daughters—Jacob's wives—and of stealing Laban's household idols. When a search for the idols came up empty, Jacob clearly described Laban's dishonesty and greed as his reasons for leaving. Laban disagrees, but has been warned directly by God not to interfere with Jacob (Genesis 31:24). The two men make a pact to establish their separation.The covenant between Jacob and Laban, and their respective clans, has been marked by both a pillar and a pile of stones, as well as a ceremonial meal eaten together. Now the covenant is marked by naming the location. Laban has been referred to as an Aramean, and his name for the place is Aramaic: Jegar-sahadutha. Jacob calls it Galeed, in Hebrew. Both names mean "cairn of stones" or "cairn of witness."