Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword?
Parallel translations
- KJV And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?
- BSB Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war!
- ESV And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword?
- NKJV And Laban said to Jacob: “What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword?
- NASB Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword?
- NLT “What do you mean by deceiving me like this?” Laban demanded. “How dare you drag my daughters away like prisoners of war?
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Laban accuses Jacob of deceiving him and carrying off his daughters like captives. He frames Jacob as the wrongdoer.
Overview
Laban's complaint, though self-serving, contains a grain of truth about Jacob's secret flight. Yet his pose as a wronged father ignores his own years of deceit and exploitation. The exchange reveals two flawed men, with God overruling to bring about a peaceful resolution despite their mutual distrust.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 1 Sam 30:2and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They didn’t kill any, but carried them off, and went their way.
- 1 Sam 17:29David said, “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”
- 1 Sam 14:43Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done!” Jonathan told him, and said, “I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and behold, I must die.”
- Gen 34:29and all their wealth. They took captive all their little ones and their wives, and took as plunder everything that was in the house.
- Gen 20:9–10Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!”
- Gen 2:24Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.
- Gen 12:18Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife?
- Gen 26:10Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us!”
- Gen 31:16For all the riches which God has taken away from our father, that is ours and our children’s. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”
- Gen 4:10Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.
- Gen 31:36Jacob was angry, and argued with Laban. Jacob answered Laban, “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me?
- Gen 3:13Yahweh God said to the woman, “What have you done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
- Josh 7:19Joshua said to Achan, “My son, please give glory to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and make confession to him. Tell me now what you have done! Don’t hide it from me!”
- John 18:35Pilate answered, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered you to me. What have you done?”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 31:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.