It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other.
Parallel translations
- WEB and Mizpah, for he said, “Yahweh watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another.
- KJV And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
- NKJV also Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another.
- NASB and Mizpah, for he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other.
- NLT But it was also called Mizpah (which means “watchtower”), for Laban said, “May the Lord keep watch between us to make sure that we keep this covenant when we are out of each other’s sight.
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
The site is also called Mizpah ('watchpost'), invoking the LORD to watch between the two parties when they are apart. Often quoted as a blessing, it here expresses mutual wariness.
Overview
Mizpah means 'watchtower,' and Laban calls on Yahweh to keep watch over both men when out of each other's sight. Though frequently used today as a tender benediction, in context it reflects distrust, asking God to guard against future wrongdoing. Even so, it rightly affirms that God sees and judges all hidden dealings.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Judg 11:29Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, then through Mizpah of Gilead. And from there he advanced against the Ammonites.
- Judg 10:17Then the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, and the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.
- 1 Sam 7:5–6Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”
- Judg 11:11So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander. And Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.
- 1 Kgs 15:22Then King Asa summoned all the men of Judah, with no exceptions, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials King Asa built up Geba of Benjamin, as well as Mizpah.
- Hos 5:1“Hear this, O priests! Take heed, O house of Israel! Give ear, O royal house! For this judgment is against you because you have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.
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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.
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Original language
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