complete verse (Genesis 31:30)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 31:30:

  • Newari: “Even though I understand that you have come out like this because you are eager to go to your father’s house, why have you stolen the idols of my house?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “I knew that you (sing.) really longed-for your-(place), so you (sing.) (would)-want to-go-home now. But why did- you (sing.) -steal my little-gods?'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Now, I know you have left because you long to go back home. But why did you steal my wooden idols?'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 31:30

And now you have gone away: Laban has just confessed that God has spoken in favor of Jacob. So Laban’s admission of his dream has the effect of softening his verbal attack on Jacob. We see, in effect, Laban almost excusing Jacob for having fled from Haran. In some languages it may be necessary to show this change of tone in the translation. For example, it may be possible to say “When Laban spoke again he said softly…” or “Laban thought to himself; then he said, ‘Well, I understand how you wanted to leave and get home to your father’s place.’ ” Note Good News Translation.

But why did you steal my gods?: it seems that at the thought of the household gods Laban adopts his angry attitude again. Perhaps the best approach to the contrast in this verse is to see Laban speaking in the first instance of an action that he regards as excusable, and in the second case of an action that is not excusable.

The normal word for introducing a contrast is but in English and its equivalents in other languages; however, it may not be quite strong enough by itself to express the change of tone at this point. Therefore it may be necessary to say something like “but that isn’t all … Why…?” or “but I am angry with you for something else: Why…?”

Gods translates the Hebrew ʾelohim and not terafim, as used in verse 19. Terafim is used by the narrator, but here both Laban and Jacob (verse 32) use ʾelohim to refer to these images. For translation see verse 19.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .