Genesis 31:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods.

NIV: When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father's household gods.

NASB: Laban had gone to shear his flock, and Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s.

CSB: When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father's household idols.

NLT: At the time they left, Laban was some distance away, shearing his sheep. Rachel stole her father’s household idols and took them with her.

KJV: And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.

NKJV: Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the household idols that were her father’s.

The previous verses describe Jacob loading his family on camels and driving all of his possessions away from Laban's estate. The family is heading in the direction of Jacob's father Isaac in the land of Canaan (Genesis 31:3). This verse steps back to let us know that, before they pulled out, Rachel went to her father's house while he was out, and stole his "household gods." These household gods were, apparently, a collection of small, commonly used idols; these are referred to in the original Hebrew using the word teraphiym. Similar objects are referred to in Judges 17:5 and 2 Kings 23:24.

This raises a question: why would Rachel steal them? Several possibilities are suggested by scholars. Perhaps Rachel's reasons were spiritual; she might have thought these gods provided protection or fertility and didn't want to lose that by leaving them behind. We know that Rachel worshiped the God of Jacob, at least at times, but it's likely that she and others in her family also worshiped other gods, as well, hoping to be blessed by all of them.

It's also possible that Rachel was emotionally attached to these household idols, as familiar items from her childhood. She perhaps thought that having them would comfort her in leaving behind her homeland. A few scholars even suggest that possessing these idols would allow a family member to claim an inheritance when the time came.

Most simply, and probably most likely, Rachel took these items simply as one last act of rebellion and revenge against her father.

Whatever her reason, stealing them will soon endanger her life.

Genesis 31:1–21 describes the events that propel Jacob to sneak away from Laban and head toward his homeland of Canaan. First, he learns that Laban and his sons are dangerously unhappy with him for taking so many of Laban's profits. Then God commands Jacob to go, promising to be with him. After securing the support of his wives, Jacob packs up his large family and property and sneaks away toward Gilead and then home.

Genesis 31 describes Jacob's difficult separation from Laban, his father-in-law, as well as his boss for twenty years. During that time, Jacob was routinely mistreated and cheated by his master. Commanded by God to return to the land of Canaan, Jacob packs up his wives, children, and all of his possessions and leaves without telling Laban. Laban soon catches up with the large company. Laban and Jacob confront each other bitterly. Eventually, though, they make a covenant of separation and peace.

Genesis 30 described the dramatic expansion of Jacob's family and property. Now, after twenty years of working for Laban, the time comes for Jacob to return to his own people. He attempts to sneak away without telling Laban, but Laban soon catches up with him. After bitter confrontations, father and son-in-law make a covenant of separation and peace. Jacob is finally free to begin the next chapter of his life in the Promised Land. First, though, he will need to deal with his brother Esau, whose rage was the main reason Jacob fled in the first place. That encounter is described over the following two chapters.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.