Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war!
Parallel translations
- WEB Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword?
- 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?
- 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 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 30:2They had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way.
- 1 Sam 17:29“What have I done now?” said David. “Was it not just a question?”
- 1 Sam 14:43“Tell me what you have done,” Saul commanded him. So Jonathan told him, “I only tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. And now I must die?”
- Gen 34:29They carried off all their possessions and women and children, and they plundered everything in their houses.
- Gen 20:9–10Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”
- Gen 2:24For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
- Gen 12:18So Pharaoh summoned Abram and asked, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?
- Gen 26:10“What is this you have done to us?” asked Abimelech. “One of the people could easily have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.”
- Gen 31:16Surely all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has told you.”
- Gen 4:10“What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
- Gen 31:36Then Jacob became incensed and challenged Laban. “What is my crime?” he said. “For what sin of mine have you so hotly pursued me?
- Gen 3:13Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied, “and I ate.”
- Josh 7:19So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make a confession to Him. I urge you to tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
- John 18:35“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over 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.