Definition and Meaning:
Jegar-sahadutha is an Aramaic term meaning "Heap of Witness." It is the name given by Laban to a heap of stones set up as a witness to a covenant between him and Jacob. The term is significant in the biblical narrative as it marks a pivotal moment of reconciliation and agreement between the two men.

Biblical Reference:
The account of Jegar-sahadutha is found in Genesis 31:47. In this passage, Jacob and Laban, his father-in-law, set up a heap of stones as a witness to their covenant. Laban, who spoke Aramaic, called it Jegar-sahadutha, while Jacob, who spoke Hebrew, called it Galeed, which also means "Heap of Witness."

Context and Background:
The account of Jegar-sahadutha occurs during Jacob's return to Canaan after spending twenty years in Paddan-aram with Laban. Tensions had arisen between Jacob and Laban due to issues of livestock and family, leading to Jacob's secretive departure with his family and possessions. Laban pursued Jacob, and after a confrontation, they agreed to a covenant of peace. The heap of stones served as a boundary marker and a witness to their agreement, symbolizing that neither would cross it to harm the other.

Cultural and Theological Significance:
Jegar-sahadutha is an example of how language and culture intersect in the biblical narrative. The dual naming of the heap—Jegar-sahadutha in Aramaic and Galeed in Hebrew—highlights the cultural and linguistic differences between Laban and Jacob. This event underscores the importance of covenants in the biblical tradition, serving as a tangible reminder of promises made before God and witnesses.

Related Concepts:
· Covenant: The concept of a covenant is central to the biblical narrative, representing a solemn agreement between parties, often ratified by a physical sign or witness. In this case, the heap of stones served as a physical reminder of the covenant between Jacob and Laban.
· Witness: In biblical terms, a witness is often a person or object that testifies to an event or agreement. The heap of stones at Jegar-sahadutha functioned as a witness to the covenant, ensuring accountability and remembrance.

Cross-References:
· Genesis 31:44-54 : This passage details the covenant-making process between Jacob and Laban, including the setting up of the heap of stones and the naming of Jegar-sahadutha/Galeed.
· Joshua 24:27 : Another instance where a stone serves as a witness to a covenant, this time between Joshua and the Israelites, emphasizing the enduring role of physical markers in covenantal agreements.

Historical and Archaeological Insights:
While there is no direct archaeological evidence for Jegar-sahadutha, the practice of setting up stone heaps as boundary markers or witnesses is well-documented in ancient Near Eastern cultures. Such practices were common in treaty-making and served as enduring symbols of agreements.

Interpretation and Application:
For believers, Jegar-sahadutha serves as a reminder of the importance of making and keeping covenants, both with God and with others. It highlights the need for reconciliation and peace in relationships, as well as the role of tangible reminders in maintaining commitments.Jegar-Sahadutha

heap of witness

Jegar-Sahadutha

Heap of witness, a Chaldee name, equivalent to Galeed in Hebrew, both marking the scene of the covenant between Jacob and Laban, Genesis 31:47.

Pile of testimony, the Aramaic or Syriac name which Laban gave to the pile of stones erected as a memorial of the covenant between him and Jacob (Genesis 31:47), who, however, called it in Hebrew by an equivalent name, Galeed (q.v.). JEGAR-SAHA-DUTHA

je-gar-sa-ha-du'-tha (yeghar sahadhutha'; Septuagint Bounos marturei, "(the) mound witnesses"): The name given by the Aramean, Laban, to the "cairn of witness," called by Jacob GALEED (which see) (Genesis 31:47). The rest of the second part of this name appears again in Job 16:19, where sahadhi, should be rendered with the Revised Version (British and American), "he that voucheth for me," i.e. "my witness."

3026. Yegar Sahadutha -- "heap (of stones) of the testimony, " a ...
... the testimony, " a memorial of Jacob and Laban. Transliteration: Yegar Sahadutha
Phonetic Spelling: (yegar' sah-had-oo-thaw') Short Definition: Jegar-sahadutha. ...
/hebrew/3026.htm - 6kJegarsahadutha (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Jegarsahadutha (1 Occurrence). Genesis 31:47 And Laban
called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed. (KJV). ...
/j/jegarsahadutha.htm - 7k

Jegar-sahadutha (1 Occurrence)
... Jegarsahadutha, Jegar-sahadutha. Je'gar-sahadu'tha . Easton's Bible Dictionary ...
Jegarsahadutha, Jegar-sahadutha. Je'gar-sahadu'tha . Reference Bible.
/j/jegar-sahadutha.htm - 7k

Je'gar-sahadu'tha (1 Occurrence)
Je'gar-sahadu'tha. Jegar-sahadutha, Je'gar-sahadu'tha. Jegar-saha-dutha . ... Genesis
31:47 Laban called it JegarSahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. (See RSV ...
/j/je'gar-sahadu'tha.htm - 6k

Jegar (1 Occurrence)
... Jegar (1 Occurrence). Genesis 31:47 Laban called it JegarSahadutha, but Jacob
called it Galeed. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/j/jegar.htm - 6k

Galeed (2 Occurrences)
... This was the name given to the "heap" by Jacob. It is Hebrew, while the name
Jegar-sahadutha, given to it by Laban, is Aramaic (Chaldee or Syriac). ...
/g/galeed.htm - 8k

Ramathmizpeh (1 Occurrence)
... Jordan. This was the Mizpeh where Jacob and Laban made a covenant, "Mizpeh
of Gilead," called also Galeed and Jegar-sahadutha. It ...
/r/ramathmizpeh.htm - 7k

Ramath-mizpeh (1 Occurrence)
... Jordan. This was the Mizpeh where Jacob and Laban made a covenant, "Mizpeh
of Gilead," called also Galeed and Jegar-sahadutha. It ...
/r/ramath-mizpeh.htm - 7k

Sahadutha (1 Occurrence)
... Sahadutha (1 Occurrence). Genesis 31:47 Laban called it JegarSahadutha, but
Jacob called it Galeed. (WEB KJV JPS BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/s/sahadutha.htm - 6k

Calleth (261 Occurrences)
... unto his flock; (YLT). Genesis 31:47 and Laban calleth it Jegar-Sahadutha;
and Jacob hath called it Galeed. (YLT). Genesis 31:54 And ...
/c/calleth.htm - 35k

What is the importance of Mizpah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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