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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 31:19 Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father's household idols.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/31-19.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/12/01_Gen_31_19.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 31:19 - Jacob Flees from Laban" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father's household idols." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/31-19.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/31-19.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/31.htm">Chapter 31</a> > Verse 19</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad19.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/31-18.htm" title="Genesis 31:18">◄</a> Genesis 31:19 <a href="/genesis/31-20.htm" title="Genesis 31:20">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/31.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/31.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father&#8217s household gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/31.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />At the time they left, Laban was some distance away, shearing his sheep. Rachel stole her father’s household idols and took them with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/31.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/31.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/31.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that <i>were</i> her father's.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/31.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the household idols that were her father’s.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/31.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Laban had gone to shear his flock, and Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/31.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />When Laban had gone to shear his flock, then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father&#8217s.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/31.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />When Laban had gone to shear his flock, then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/31.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now Laban had gone to shear his flock. Then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/31.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel [went inside the house and] stole her father’s household gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/31.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/31.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father&#8217s household idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/31.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Now Laban was gone to shear his sheep: and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father's.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/31.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Before Rachel left, she stole the household idols while Laban was out shearing his sheep. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/31.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Now Laban was gone to shear his sheep: and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father's.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/31.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />When Laban went to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father's idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/31.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and during his absence Rachel stole the household gods that belonged to her father. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/31.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Meanwhile, Laban had been out shearing his sheep. While he was away, Rachel stole her father's personal idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/31.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father?s household idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/31.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />While Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole the household idols that belonged to her father.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/31.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole the idols that belonged to her father.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/31.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Laban went to shear his sheep; and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/31.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep; and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father’s. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/31.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Laban has gone to shear his flock, and Rachel steals the teraphim which her father has;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/31.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Laban hath gone to shear his flock, and Rachel stealeth the teraphim which her father hath;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/31.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Laban went to shear his sheep; and Rachel will steal the family gods which were to her father.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/31.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />At that time Laban was gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole away her father's idols. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/31.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />At that time, Laban had gone to shear the sheep, and so Rachel stole her father’s idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/31.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Now Laban was away shearing his sheep, and Rachel had stolen her father’s household images.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/31.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/31.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Now Laban went to shear his sheep; and Rachel stole the images that belonged to her father.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/31.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Laban went to shear his flock and Rakhyl stole the images of her father.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/31.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Now Laban was gone to shear his sheep. And Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father's.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/31.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Laban went to shear his sheep; and Rachel stole her father's images.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/31-19.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=7696" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/31.htm">Jacob Flees from Laban</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">18</span>and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan. <span class="reftext">19</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3837.htm" title="3837: wə·lā·ḇān (Conj-w:: N-proper-ms) -- Laban -- father-in-law of Jacob. The same as laban; Laban, a Mesopotamian; also a place in the Desert.">Now while Laban</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: hā·laḵ (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">was out</a> <a href="/hebrew/1494.htm" title="1494: liḡ·zōz (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To shear. A primitive root; to cut off; specifically to shear a flock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an enemy.">shearing</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6629.htm" title="6629: ṣō·nōw (N-fsc:: 3ms) -- Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock. Or tsaown; from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock; also figuratively.">his sheep,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7354.htm" title="7354: rā·ḥêl (N-proper-fs) -- A wife of Jacob. The same as rachel; Rachel, a wife of Jacob.">Rachel</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1589.htm" title="1589: wat·tiḡ·nōḇ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To steal. A primitive root; to thieve; by implication, to deceive.">stole</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: lə·’ā·ḇî·hā (Prep-l:: N-msc:: 3fs) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">her father’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/8655.htm" title="8655: hat·tə·rā·p̄îm (Art:: N-mp) -- (a kind of idol) perhaps household idol. Plural from rapha'; a healer; Teraphim a family idol.">household idols.</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> </span><span class="reftext">20</span>Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/35-2.htm">Genesis 35:2-4</a></span><br />So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments. / Then let us arise and go to Bethel. I will build an altar there to God, who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.” / So they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and all their earrings, and Jacob buried them under the oak near Shechem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/24-2.htm">Joshua 24:2</a></span><br />And Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your fathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates and worshiped other gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/24-14.htm">Joshua 24:14-15</a></span><br />Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. / But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/17-5.htm">Judges 17:5</a></span><br />Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household idols, and ordained one of his sons as his priest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/18-14.htm">Judges 18:14-20</a></span><br />Then the five men who had gone to spy out the land of Laish said to their brothers, “Did you know that one of these houses has an ephod, household gods, a graven image, and a molten idol? Now think about what you should do.” / So they turned aside there and went to the home of the young Levite, the house of Micah, and greeted him. / The six hundred Danites stood at the entrance of the gate, armed with their weapons of war. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/19-13.htm">1 Samuel 19:13</a></span><br />Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/11-5.htm">1 Kings 11:5</a></span><br />Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/11-33.htm">1 Kings 11:33</a></span><br />For they have forsaken Me to worship Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites. They have not walked in My ways, nor done what is right in My eyes, nor kept My statutes and judgments, as Solomon’s father David did.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/23-24.htm">2 Kings 23:24</a></span><br />Furthermore, Josiah removed the mediums and spiritists, the household gods and idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. He did this to carry out the words of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/3-4.htm">Hosea 3:4</a></span><br />For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-12.htm">Hosea 4:12</a></span><br />My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/10-2.htm">Zechariah 10:2</a></span><br />For idols speak deceit and diviners see illusions; they tell false dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-29.htm">Acts 17:29</a></span><br />Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-23.htm">Romans 1:23</a></span><br />and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-19.htm">1 Corinthians 10:19-20</a></span><br />Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.</p><p class="hdg">images.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/31-30.htm">Genesis 31:30,32</a></b></br> And now, <i>though</i> thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, <i>yet</i> wherefore hast thou stolen my gods? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/35-2.htm">Genesis 35:2</a></b></br> Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that <i>were</i> with him, Put away the strange gods that <i>are</i> among you, and be clean, and change your garments:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/24-2.htm">Joshua 24:2</a></b></br> And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, <i>even</i> Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/31-1.htm">Belonged</a> <a href="/genesis/30-37.htm">Cutting</a> <a href="/genesis/31-14.htm">Father's</a> <a href="/genesis/31-12.htm">Flock</a> <a href="/genesis/3-5.htm">Gods</a> <a href="/genesis/31-14.htm">House</a> <a href="/genesis/30-30.htm">Household</a> <a href="/revelation/22-15.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/revelation/22-15.htm">Images</a> <a href="/genesis/30-35.htm">Laban</a> <a href="/genesis/31-14.htm">Rachel</a> <a href="/jude/1-4.htm">Secretly</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-4.htm">Shear</a> <a href="/genesis/30-42.htm">Sheep</a> <a href="/zechariah/5-3.htm">Stealeth</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-28.htm">Stole</a> <a href="/genesis/30-33.htm">Stolen</a> <a href="/zechariah/10-2.htm">Teraphim</a> <a href="/revelation/1-14.htm">Wool</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/27-24.htm">Belonged</a> <a href="/genesis/38-12.htm">Cutting</a> <a href="/genesis/31-30.htm">Father's</a> <a href="/genesis/31-38.htm">Flock</a> <a href="/genesis/31-30.htm">Gods</a> <a href="/genesis/31-30.htm">House</a> <a href="/genesis/31-34.htm">Household</a> <a href="/genesis/31-34.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/genesis/31-34.htm">Images</a> <a href="/genesis/31-20.htm">Laban</a> <a href="/genesis/31-32.htm">Rachel</a> <a href="/genesis/31-20.htm">Secretly</a> <a href="/genesis/38-13.htm">Shear</a> <a href="/genesis/31-38.htm">Sheep</a> <a href="/exodus/21-16.htm">Stealeth</a> <a href="/genesis/31-20.htm">Stole</a> <a href="/genesis/31-26.htm">Stolen</a> <a href="/genesis/31-34.htm">Teraphim</a> <a href="/leviticus/13-47.htm">Wool</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 31</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/31-1.htm">Jacob, displeased with the envy of Laban and his sons, departs secretly.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/31-19.htm">Rachel steals her father's household gods.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/31-22.htm">Laban pursues after him, and complains of the wrong.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">34. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/31-34.htm">Rachel's plan to hide the images.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">36. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/31-36.htm">Jacob's complaint of Laban.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">43. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/31-43.htm">The covenant of Laban and Jacob at Galeed.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/31.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/31.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep</b><br>Sheep shearing was a significant event in ancient Near Eastern culture, often associated with festivity and celebration. It was a time when shepherds gathered to shear the wool, and it provided an opportunity for social gatherings and business transactions. This context suggests that Laban was likely preoccupied, providing Rachel with the opportunity to act without immediate detection. The timing of this event is crucial, as it indicates a moment of vulnerability for Laban, who was distracted by the demands of the shearing process.<p><b>Rachel stole her father’s household idols</b><br>Household idols, or "teraphim," were small figurines used in domestic worship and were believed to bring prosperity and protection to the household. In the cultural context of the ancient Near East, these idols held significant religious and familial importance. Rachel's act of stealing them could indicate a desire to retain a connection to her family’s spiritual heritage or to secure a claim to her father's inheritance, as possession of the teraphim might have been associated with legal rights to family property. This action also highlights the tension between the worship of Yahweh and the idolatrous practices that were prevalent in the region. The narrative foreshadows the ongoing struggle against idolatry that Israel would face, as seen in later scriptures such as the warnings against idol worship in the Ten Commandments (<a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3-4</a>). Rachel's theft can also be seen as a reflection of human frailty and the complexities of faith, as she navigates her loyalty to her husband Jacob and her ties to her father's household.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/l/laban.htm">Laban</a></b><br>Rachel's father, a man known for his deceitful behavior, who was away shearing his sheep during this event.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/r/rachel.htm">Rachel</a></b><br>The wife of Jacob, who took her father's household idols, indicating a complex relationship with her family and their beliefs.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/h/household_idols.htm">Household Idols (Teraphim)</a></b><br>Small idols used in ancient Near Eastern households, often associated with inheritance rights and family gods.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/s/sheep_shearing.htm">Sheep Shearing</a></b><br>A significant event in ancient times, often involving a festive atmosphere, which provided Rachel the opportunity to steal the idols.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/p/paddan-aram.htm">Paddan-aram</a></b><br>The region where Laban lived and where this event took place, highlighting the cultural and religious practices of the area.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_idolatry.htm">Understanding Idolatry</a></b><br>Recognize that idolatry is not just about physical idols but anything that takes the place of God in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/family_influence.htm">Family Influence</a></b><br>Acknowledge the powerful influence of family traditions and beliefs, and the need for discernment in following God's ways.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/courage_to_change.htm">Courage to Change</a></b><br>Be willing to confront and change inherited practices that do not align with biblical teachings.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Trust in God's plan and timing, even when circumstances seem to be driven by human deceit or manipulation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_cleansing.htm">Spiritual Cleansing</a></b><br>Regularly examine our lives for any 'idols' that may have crept in, and commit to spiritual purity and devotion to God alone.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_31.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 31</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/genesis_31_19__evidence_of_teraphim's_role.htm">In Genesis 31:19, what historical evidence supports the existence or importance of household gods (teraphim), and how does it reconcile with monotheism? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_god_speak_to_idolater_laban.htm">In Genesis 31:24, why would God communicate with Laban if Laban worshipped other gods, and how does this align with other biblical passages about idolatry? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_the_bible's_family_idols.htm">What are the family idols mentioned in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_of_private_shrines_like_micah's.htm">Are there historical or archaeological indications that support—or contradict—the existence of a private shrine and idol-based worship like Micah’s described in Judges 17?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/31.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(19) <span class= "bld">Laban went to shear his sheep.</span>--The sheep-shearing was a joyous time, when the hard toil of the shearers was relieved by feasting ( <a href="/1_samuel/25-8.htm" title="Ask your young men, and they will show you. Why let the young men find favor in your eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray you, whatever comes to your hand to your servants, and to your son David.">1Samuel 25:8</a> ). Laban's flocks, apparently, were also at some distance from Haran, and his sons and men-servants would all be with him, busily occupied in the work. Apparently, too, Laban's wealth was not seriously diminished, though it had not of late increased; and his repeated change of the hire proves that he was quite able to take care of himself. But why was not Jacob present, as he had chief charge of Laban's flocks? Possibly, he was expected there, and was missed; but, more probably, as the result of the growing estrangement between them, caused by the too rapid increase of Jacob's riches, Laban and his sons had gradually taken the management of their flocks into their own hands.<p><span class= "bld">Images.</span>--Heb., <span class= "ital">teraphim, </span>called Laban's gods in <a href="/genesis/31-30.htm" title="And now, though you would needs be gone, because you sore longed after your father's house, yet why have you stolen my gods?">Genesis 31:30</a>, and we find that their worship continued throughout the Old Testament history. Micah sets up teraphim, as well as a molten and a graven image, and an ephod (<a href="/judges/18-17.htm" title="And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.">Judges 18:17</a>). Though in <a href="/1_samuel/15-23.htm" title="For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.">1Samuel 15:23</a>, where the Authorised Version has <span class= "ital">idolatry, </span>teraphim are spoken of in strong terms of condemnation, yet Michal possessed them, and placed them in David's bed. We gather from this that they had a head shaped like that of a man, but, probably, a dwarf trunk, as she seems to have put more than one in the bed to represent David's body (<a href="/1_samuel/19-13.htm" title="And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.">1Samuel 19:13</a>). So, too, here Rachel hides them under the camel's furniture (<a href="/genesis/31-34.htm" title="Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat on them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.">Genesis 31:34</a>), which proves that they, in this case, were of no great size. In the history of the thorough reformation carried out by King Josiah we find the mention of teraphim among the things put away (<a href="/2_kings/23-24.htm" title="Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.">2Kings 23:24</a>). We learn, nevertheless, from <a href="/zechariah/10-2.htm" title="For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.">Zechariah 10:2</a>, that they were still used for divination; and from <a href="/hosea/3-4.htm" title="For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:">Hosea 3:4</a> that both pillars and teraphim had long been objects of ordinary superstition among the ten tribes. As Nebuchadnezzar divines by them (<a href="/ezekiel/21-21.htm" title="For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.">Ezekiel 21:21</a>) they were possibly of Chaldean origin; and, probably, were not so much worshipped as used for consultation. Women seem to have been most given to their service, and probably regarded them as charms, and told fortunes by them; and here Rachel stole them upon the supposition that they would bring prosperity to her and her husband. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/31.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 19.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And Laban went</span> - or, Now Laban had gone, probably to the other station, which was three days journey from Jacob's flocks (<span class="accented">vide</span> <a href="/genesis/30-36.htm">Genesis 30:36</a>; and cf. <a href="/genesis/31-22.htm">Genesis 31:22</a>) - <span class="cmt_word">to shear his sheep</span>. In this work he would probably be detained several days, the time of shearing being commonly regarded as a festal season (cf. <a href="/genesis/38-12.htm">Genesis 38:12</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/25-4.htm">1 Samuel 25:4</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/13-23.htm">2 Samuel 13:23</a>), at which friendly entertainments were given. Whether Jacob's absence from the festivities is to be explained by the dissension existing between him and Laban, which either caused him to be uninvited or led him to decline the invitation (Kurtz), or by the supposition that he had first gone and subsequently left the banquet (Lange), the fact that Laban was so engaged afforded Jacob the opportunity he desired for making his escape. <span class="cmt_word">And Rachel had stolen</span> (or, "<span class="accented">and</span> Rachel <span class="accented">stole</span>," availing herself likewise of the opportunity presented by her father's absence) <span class="cmt_word">the images that were her father's.</span> The teraphim, from an unused root, <span class="accented">taraph</span>, signifying to live comfortably, like the Sanscrit <span class="accented">trip</span>, Greek <span class="greek">τρέφειν</span>, Arabic tarafa (Gesenius, Furst, <span class="accented">sub voces</span>), appear to have been small human figures (cf. <a href="/genesis/31-34.htm">Genesis 31:34</a>), though the image in <a href="/1_samuel/19-13.htm">1 Samuel 19:13</a> must have been nearly life-size, or at least a full-sized bust, sometimes made of silver (<a href="/judges/17-4.htm">Judges 17:4</a>), though commonly constructed of wood (<a href="/1_samuel/19-13.htm">1 Samuel 19:13-16</a>); they were worshipped as gods (<span class="greek">εἰδωλα</span>, LXX.; <span class="accented">vide</span>, Vulgate, cf. <a href="/genesis/31-30.htm">Genesis 31:30</a>), consulted for oracles (<a href="/ezekiel/21-26.htm">Ezekiel 21:26</a>; <a href="/zechariah/10-2.htm">Zechariah 10:2</a>), and believed to be the custodians and promoters of human happiness (<a href="/judges/18-24.htm">Judges 18:24</a>). Probably derived from the Aramaeans (Furst, Kurtz), or the Chaldeans (<a href="/ezekiel/21-21.htm">Ezekiel 21:21</a>, Kalisch, Wordsworth), the worship of teraphim was subsequently denounced as idolatrous (<a href="/1_samuel/15-23.htm">1 Samuel 15:23</a>; <a href="/2_kings/13-24.htm">2 Kings 13:24</a>). Cf. with Rachel's act that ascribed to AEneas: - <p><span class="accented">"Effigies sacrae divum, Phrygiique Penates,<br />Quos mecum a Troja, mediisque ex ignibus urbis,"<br />Extuleram"</span><br /><br />(<span class="note_acc">Virg., 'AEn.,' 3. 148-150</span>). Rachel's motive for abstracting her father's teraphim has been variously ascribed to a desire to prevent her father from discovering, by inquiring at his gods, the direction of their flight (Aben Ezra, Rosenmüller), to protect herself, in case, of being overtaken, by an appeal to her father s gods (Josephus), to draw her father from the practice of idolatry (Bazil, Gregory, Nazisnzen, Theodoret), to obtain children for herself through their assistance (Lengerke, Gerlach), to preserve a memorial of her ancestors, whose pictures these teraphim were (Lightfoot); but was probably due to avarice, if the images were made of precious metals (Pererius), or to a taint of superstition which still adhered to her otherwise religious nature (Chrysostom, Calvin, 'Speaker's Commentary ), causing her to look to these idols for protection (Kalisch, Murphy) or consultation (Wordsworth) on her journey. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/31-19.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Now while Laban</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלָבָ֣ן</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lā·ḇān)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3837.htm">Strong's 3837: </a> </span><span class="str2">Laban -- father-in-law of Jacob</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was out</span><br /><span class="heb">הָלַ֔ךְ</span> <span class="translit">(hā·laḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, come, walk</span><br /><br /><span class="word">shearing</span><br /><span class="heb">לִגְזֹ֖ז</span> <span class="translit">(liḡ·zōz)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1494.htm">Strong's 1494: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cut off, to shear a, flock, shave the hair, to destroy an enemy</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his sheep,</span><br /><span class="heb">צֹאנ֑וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(ṣō·nōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6629.htm">Strong's 6629: </a> </span><span class="str2">Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Rachel</span><br /><span class="heb">רָחֵ֔ל</span> <span class="translit">(rā·ḥêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7354.htm">Strong's 7354: </a> </span><span class="str2">Rachel -- a wife of Jacob</span><br /><br /><span class="word">stole</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתִּגְנֹ֣ב</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tiḡ·nōḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1589.htm">Strong's 1589: </a> </span><span class="str2">To thieve, to deceive</span><br /><br /><span class="word">her father’s</span><br /><span class="heb">לְאָבִֽיהָ׃</span> <span class="translit">(lə·’ā·ḇî·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> </span><span class="str2">Father</span><br /><br /><span class="word">household idols.</span><br /><span class="heb">הַתְּרָפִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(hat·tə·rā·p̄îm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8655.htm">Strong's 8655: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a kind of idol) perhaps household idol</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/31-19.htm">Genesis 31:19 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/31-19.htm">Genesis 31:19 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/31-19.htm">Genesis 31:19 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/31-19.htm">Genesis 31:19 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/31-19.htm">Genesis 31:19 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/31-19.htm">Genesis 31:19 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/31-19.htm">Genesis 31:19 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/31-19.htm">Genesis 31:19 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/31-19.htm">Genesis 31:19 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/31-19.htm">Genesis 31:19 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/31-19.htm">OT Law: Genesis 31:19 Now Laban had gone to shear his (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/31-18.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 31:18"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 31:18" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/31-20.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 31:20"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 31:20" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>