Genesis 31:43
New International Version
Laban answered Jacob, “The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne?

New Living Translation
Then Laban replied to Jacob, “These women are my daughters, these children are my grandchildren, and these flocks are my flocks—in fact, everything you see is mine. But what can I do now about my daughters and their children?

English Standard Version
Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day for these my daughters or for their children whom they have borne?

Berean Standard Bible
But Laban answered Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, these sons are my sons, and these flocks are my flocks! Everything you see is mine! Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine or the children they have borne?

King James Bible
And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?

New King James Version
And Laban answered and said to Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne?

New American Standard Bible
Then Laban replied to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my grandchildren, the flocks are my flocks, and everything that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these daughters of mine or to their children to whom they have given birth?

NASB 1995
Then Laban replied to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne?

NASB 1977
Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne?

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these daughters of mine or to their children whom they have borne?

Amplified Bible
Laban answered Jacob, “These women [that you married] are my daughters, these children are my grandchildren, these flocks are [from] my flocks, and all that you see [here] is mine. But what can I do today to these my daughters or to their children to whom they have given birth?

Christian Standard Bible
Then Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters; the children, my children; and the flocks, my flocks! Everything you see is mine! But what can I do today for these daughters of mine or for the children they have borne?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters; the sons, my sons; and the flocks, my flocks! Everything you see is mine! But what can I do today for these daughters of mine or for the children they have borne?

American Standard Version
And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children whom they have borne?

Contemporary English Version
Laban said to Jacob, "Leah and Rachel are my daughters, and their children belong to me. All these sheep you are taking are really mine too. In fact, everything you have belongs to me. But there is nothing I can do to keep my daughters and their children.

English Revised Version
And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have borne?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Laban answered Jacob, "These are my daughters, my grandchildren, and my flocks. Everything you see is mine! Yet, what can I do today for my daughters or for their children?

Good News Translation
Laban answered Jacob, "These young women are my daughters; their children belong to me, and these flocks are mine. In fact, everything you see here belongs to me. But since I can do nothing to keep my daughters and their children,

International Standard Version
But Laban answered Jacob, "These women are my daughters. These children are my children. The flocks are mine. In fact, everything that you see belongs to me. But what would I do today to my daughters and the children they have borne?

Majority Standard Bible
But Laban answered Jacob, ?These daughters are my daughters, these sons are my sons, and these flocks are my flocks! Everything you see is mine! Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine or the children they have borne?

NET Bible
Laban replied to Jacob, "These women are my daughters, these children are my grandchildren, and these flocks are my flocks. All that you see belongs to me. But how can I harm these daughters of mine today or the children to whom they have given birth?

New Heart English Bible
Laban answered Jacob, "The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine: and what can I do this day to these my daughters, or to their children whom they have borne?

Webster's Bible Translation
And Laban answered, and said to Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine; and what can I do this day to these my daughters, or to their children which they have borne?

World English Bible
Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine! What can I do today to these my daughters, or to their children whom they have borne?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Laban answers and says to Jacob, “The daughters [are] my daughters, and the sons my sons, and the flock my flock, and all that you are seeing [is] mine; and to my daughters—what do I to these today, or to their sons whom they have born?

Young's Literal Translation
And Laban answereth and saith unto Jacob, 'The daughters are my daughters, and the sons my sons, and the flock my flock, and all that thou art seeing is mine; and to my daughters -- what do I to these to-day, or to their sons whom they have born?

Smith's Literal Translation
And Laban will answer and say to Jacob, The daughters, my daughters, and the sons, my sons, and the sheep, my sheep, and all which thou sawest, this to me, and to my daughters: what shall I do to these this day, or to their sons which they brought forth?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Laban answered him: The daughters are mine and the children, and thy flocks, and all things that thou seest are mine: what can I do to my children, and grandchildren?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Laban answered him: “My daughters and sons, and your flocks, and all that you discern are mine. What can I do to my sons and grandchildren?

New American Bible
Laban replied to Jacob: “The daughters are mine, their children are mine, and the flocks are mine; everything you see belongs to me. What can I do now for my own daughters and for the children they have borne?

New Revised Standard Version
Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about their children whom they have borne?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. and all that you see is mine; and what can I do this day for these my daughters, or for their children whom they have borne?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Laban answered and said to Yaquuv, “The daughters of my daughters, and the sons of my sons, and the flocks of my flocks, and everything that you see is mine. What shall I do for these my daughters today, or for their sons whom they have borne?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Laban answered and said unto Jacob: 'The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that thou seest is mine; and what can I do this day for these my daughters, or for their children whom they have borne?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Laban answered and said to Jacob, The daughters are my daughters, and the sons my sons, and the cattle are my cattle, and all things which thou seest are mine, and the property of my daughters; what shall I do to them to-day, or their children which they bore?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob's Covenant with Laban
43But Laban answered Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, these sons are my sons, and these flocks are my flocks! Everything you see is mine! Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine or the children they have borne? 44Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between you and me.”…

Cross References
Genesis 31:14-16
And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house? / Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? Not only has he sold us, but he has certainly squandered what was paid for us. / Surely 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.”

Genesis 29:15-30
Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.” / Now Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel. / Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful. ...

Genesis 30:25-43
Now after Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way so I can return to my homeland. / Give me my wives and children for whom I have served you, that I may go on my way. You know how hard I have worked for you.” / But Laban replied, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.” ...

Genesis 24:35
“The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys.

Genesis 27:36
So Esau declared, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice. He took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

Genesis 30:31-34
“What can I give you?” Laban asked. “You do not need to give me anything,” Jacob replied. “If you do this one thing for me, I will keep on shepherding and keeping your flocks. / Let me go through all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb, and every spotted or speckled goat. These will be my wages. / So my honesty will testify for me when you come to check on my wages in the future. If I have any goats that are not speckled or spotted, or any lambs that are not dark-colored, they will be considered stolen.” ...

Genesis 21:25-30
But when Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized, / Abimelech replied, “I do not know who has done this. You did not tell me, so I have not heard about it until today.” / So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. ...

Genesis 26:14-16
He owned so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. / So the Philistines took dirt and stopped up all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham. / Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Depart from us, for you are much too powerful for us.”

Genesis 28:2
“Go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel, and take a wife from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.

Genesis 29:18-20
Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” / Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.” / So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.

Genesis 30:27
But Laban replied, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.”

Genesis 31:7-9
And although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me. / If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore speckled offspring. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore streaked offspring. / Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.

Genesis 31:38-42
I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock. / I did not bring you anything torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for what was stolen by day or night. / As it was, the heat consumed me by day and the frost by night, and sleep fled from my eyes. ...

Genesis 32:10
I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. Indeed, with only my staff I came across the Jordan, but now I have become two camps.

Genesis 33:11
Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.


Treasury of Scripture

And Laban answered and said to Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that you see is mine: and what can I do this day to these my daughters, or to their children which they have born?

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Genesis 31
1. Jacob, displeased with the envy of Laban and his sons, departs secretly.
19. Rachel steals her father's household gods.
22. Laban pursues after him, and complains of the wrong.
34. Rachel's plan to hide the images.
36. Jacob's complaint of Laban.
43. The covenant of Laban and Jacob at Galeed.














But Laban answered Jacob
The phrase begins with Laban's response, indicating a confrontation. The Hebrew root for "answered" (עָנָה, 'anah) often implies a reply or a defense, suggesting Laban's attempt to assert his position. Historically, this reflects the patriarchal society where family heads like Laban wielded significant authority. Laban's response is defensive, highlighting the tension between him and Jacob, who has been blessed by God despite Laban's attempts to control him.

These daughters are my daughters
Laban's claim over his daughters, Leah and Rachel, underscores the cultural norms of the time, where daughters were often seen as property of their fathers until marriage. The possessive nature of Laban's statement reveals his reluctance to release control, even as his daughters have become integral to Jacob's household. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty overriding human claims and control.

these children are my children
Here, Laban extends his claim to his grandchildren, emphasizing his perceived rights over his family lineage. The Hebrew culture placed great importance on family and descendants, and Laban's assertion is an attempt to maintain influence over his progeny. This highlights the tension between human claims and divine providence, as God had promised to bless Jacob's descendants.

and this flocks are my flocks
Laban's claim over the flocks is significant, as livestock represented wealth and prosperity in ancient times. The Hebrew word for "flocks" (צֹאן, tson) indicates not just physical wealth but also God's blessing, as Jacob's prosperity was a direct result of divine favor. Laban's inability to recognize God's hand in Jacob's success reflects a spiritual blindness that contrasts with Jacob's growing faith.

Everything you see is mine
Laban's sweeping claim of ownership reveals his materialistic mindset. The phrase "everything you see" suggests a focus on the temporal and visible, contrasting with the biblical emphasis on faith and unseen spiritual realities. This statement serves as a reminder of the futility of human greed in the face of God's ultimate ownership and provision.

Yet what can I do today
Laban's rhetorical question acknowledges his powerlessness in the situation. The word "today" (הַיּוֹם, hayom) emphasizes the immediacy and inevitability of the change occurring. Despite his earlier attempts to manipulate circumstances, Laban is confronted with the reality that God's plans for Jacob cannot be thwarted.

about these daughters of mine or about the children they have borne?
Laban's final acknowledgment of his daughters and their children signifies a reluctant acceptance of the new family dynamics. The phrase "the children they have borne" highlights the continuation of God's promise to Abraham through Jacob's lineage. This serves as a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant, despite human opposition and familial strife.

(43) Laban answered . . . --Laban does not attempt any reply to Jacob's angry invectives, but answers affectionately. Why should he wish to injure Jacob, and send him away empty? All that he had was still Laban's in the best of senses; for were not Rachel and Leah his daughters? And were not their children his grandsons? How was it possible that he could wish to rob them? He proposes, therefore, that they should make a covenant, by which Jacob should bind himself to deal kindly with his daughters, and to take no other wife; while he promises for himself that he would do Jacob no wrong. Jacob therefore sets up a large stone, as a pillar and memorial; and Laban subsequently does the same; while, probably between the two hills on which they had severally encamped (Genesis 31:25), they collect a large mass of other stones, on which they feast together, in token of friendship (Genesis 26:30).

Verses 43, 44. - And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, - neither receiving Jacob's torrent of invective with affected meekness (Candlish), nor proving himself to be completely reformed by the angry recriminations of his "callous and hardened son-in-law (Kalisch); but perhaps simply owning the truth of Jacob's wants, and recognizing that he had no just ground of complaint (Calvin), as well as touched in his paternal affections by the sight of his daughters, from whom he felt that he was about to part for ever. These daughters - literally, the daughters (there) - are my daughters, and these (literally, the) children are my children, and these (literally, the) cattle are my cattle; and all that thou seest is mine. Not as reminding Jacob that he had still a legal claim to his (Jacob's) wives and possessions (Candlish), or at least possessions (Kalisch), though prepared to waive it, but rather as acknowledging that in doing injury to Jacob he would only be proceeding against his own flesh and blood (Calvin, Rosenmüller, Gerlach, Alford). And what can I do this day unto these my daughters, - literally, and as for (or to) my daughters, what can I do to these this day? The LXX., connecting "and to my daughters" with what precedes, reads, καὶ πάντα ὅσα σὺ ὁρᾷς ἐμά ἐσι καὶ τῶν θυγατέρων μου ( <ΒΤΤ·Ξομμενταρψ Ωορδ>or unto their children which they have born? - i.e. why should I do anything unto them An ego in viscera mea saervirem (Calvin). Now therefore literally, and now, νῦν ο΅υν (LXX.) - come thou, - לְכָה, imperf., of יָלַך- age, go to, come now (cf. Genesis 19:32) - let us make a covenant, - literally, let us cut a covenant, an expression which, according to partitionists (Tuch, Stahelin, Delitzsch, et alii), is not used by the Elohist until after Exodus 14:8; and yet by all such authorities the present verse is assigned to the Elohist (cf. Keil's 'Introduction,' part 1. § 2, div. 1. § 27) - I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.

CHAPTER 31:45-55

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Laban
לָבָ֜ן (lā·ḇān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3837: Laban -- father-in-law of Jacob

answered
וַיַּ֨עַן (way·ya·‘an)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

Jacob,
יַעֲקֹ֗ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

“[These] daughters
הַבָּנ֨וֹת (hab·bā·nō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1323: A daughter

are my daughters,
בְּנֹתַ֜י (bə·nō·ṯay)
Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

[these] sons
וְהַבָּנִ֤ים (wə·hab·bā·nîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

[are] my sons,
בָּנַי֙ (bā·nay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

and [these] flocks
וְהַצֹּ֣אן (wə·haṣ·ṣōn)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

[are] my flocks!
צֹאנִ֔י (ṣō·nî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

Everything
וְכֹ֛ל (wə·ḵōl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

you
אַתָּ֥ה (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

see is mine!
רֹאֶ֖ה (rō·’eh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

Yet what
מָֽה־ (māh-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

can I do
אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֤ה (’e·‘ĕ·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

today
הַיּ֔וֹם (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

about these
לָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (lā·’êl·leh)
Preposition-l | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

daughters
וְלִבְנֹתַ֞י (wə·liḇ·nō·ṯay)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

of mine or
א֥וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

the children
לִבְנֵיהֶ֖ן (liḇ·nê·hen)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

they have borne?
יָלָֽדוּ׃ (yā·lā·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage


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OT Law: Genesis 31:43 Laban answered Jacob The daughters are my (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 31:42
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