And Jacob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it was not friendly toward him as it had been before.
Parallel translations
- WEB Jacob saw the expression on Laban’s face, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
- KJV And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
- BSB And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.
- NKJV And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before.
- NLT And Jacob began to notice a change in Laban’s attitude toward him.
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
Jacob notices that Laban's attitude toward him has soured. The friendly relationship has clearly changed.
Overview
Jacob perceives a shift in Laban's countenance, sensing the growing tension and envy. This relational breakdown, together with his sons' complaints, makes Jacob's continued stay untenable. God uses these outward circumstances, alongside his direct word, to move Jacob toward the land of promise.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Dan 3:19Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his appearance was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
- Gen 4:5but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.
- 1 Sam 18:9–11Saul watched David from that day and forward.
- Gen 30:27Laban said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, stay here, for I have divined that Yahweh has blessed me for your sake.”
- 1 Sam 19:7Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as before.
- Deut 28:54The man who is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye will be evil toward his brother, toward the wife whom he loves, and toward the remnant of his children whom he has remaining;
- Deut 19:4This is the case of the man slayer who shall flee there and live. Whoever kills his neighbor unawares, and didn’t hate him in time past;
- Exod 4:10Moses said to Yahweh, “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”
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 31:2 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
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