Genesis 31:47
Genesis 31:47 in Multiple Translations
Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.
And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
And Laban called it Jegar-saha-dutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
And the name Laban gave it was Jegar-sahadutha: but Jacob gave it the name of Galeed.
Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, while Jacob called it Galeed.
And Laban called it Iegar-sahadutha, and Iaakob called it Galeed.
and Laban calleth it Jegar-Sahadutha; and Jacob hath called it Galeed.
Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.
And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed:
And Laban called it The witness heap: and Jacob, The hillock of testimony: each of them according to the propriety of his language.
Laban gave the heap the Aramaic name Jegar-Sahadutha, which means ‘rock-pile to remind us’, but Jacob gave the rock-pile the Hebrew name Galeed, which has the same meaning.
Laban named that pile of stones Jegar Sahadutha. That name comes from Laban’s language. And Jacob named that pile of stones Gal-Ed. That name comes from Jacob’s language. Both those names mean a pile that shows we agreed with each other.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 31:47
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Genesis 31:47 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יִּקְרָא
ל֣/וֹ
לָבָ֔ן
יְגַ֖ר
שָׂהֲדוּתָ֑א
וְ/יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב
קָ֥רָא
ל֖/וֹ
גַּלְעֵֽד
וַ/יִּקְרָא
qârâʼ
H7121
to call
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
ל֣/וֹ
Prep | Suff
לָבָ֔ן
Lâbân
H3837
Laban
N-proper
יְגַ֖ר
Yᵉgar Sahădûwthâʼ
H3026
Jegar
Adj
שָׂהֲדוּתָ֑א
Yᵉgar Sahădûwthâʼ
H3026
Jegar
Adj
וְ/יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
Jacob
Conj | N-proper
קָ֥רָא
qârâʼ
H7121
to call
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
ל֖/וֹ
Prep | Suff
גַּלְעֵֽד
Galʻêd
H1567
Galeed
N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 31:47
וַ/יִּקְרָא
qârâʼ
H7121
"to call"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to call out to someone or something, often by name. It's used in many situations, like calling for help or reading aloud. In Genesis, God calls out to Adam in the Garden.
Definition: : call_to/invite/entreat 1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound 1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God) 1a3) to proclaim 1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read 1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow 1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to call oneself 1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named 1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen
Usage: Occurs in 689 OT verses. KJV: bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 49:1; Judges 1:26.
ל֣/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
לָבָ֔ן
Lâbân
H3837
"Laban"
N-proper
Refers to Laban, a person in the Bible, or a place in the desert where the Israelites camped.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.24.29; son of: Bethuel (H1328A); brother of: Rebekah (H7259); father of: Rachel (H7354) and Leah (H3812) § Laban = "white" son of Bethuel, brother of Rebekah, and father of Leah and Rachel
Usage: Occurs in 47 OT verses. KJV: Laban. See also: Genesis 24:29; Genesis 30:40; Deuteronomy 1:1.
יְגַ֖ר
Yᵉgar Sahădûwthâʼ
H3026
"Jegar"
Adj
Jegar-Sahadutha is a monument in the Bible, a pile of stones raised by Jacob and Laban as a witness to their agreement. It is called the 'witness heap' and is found in Genesis. The name means 'heap of witness' in Aramaic.
Definition: Aramaic of ra.mot gi.l.ad (רָמֹת "Ramoth" H7433) § Jegar-sahadutha = "witness heap" the mound of stones raised as witness between Jacob and Laban, called by Jacob in Hebrew 'Galeed'
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: Jegar-Sahadutha. See also: Genesis 31:47.
שָׂהֲדוּתָ֑א
Yᵉgar Sahădûwthâʼ
H3026
"Jegar"
Adj
Jegar-Sahadutha is a monument in the Bible, a pile of stones raised by Jacob and Laban as a witness to their agreement. It is called the 'witness heap' and is found in Genesis. The name means 'heap of witness' in Aramaic.
Definition: Aramaic of ra.mot gi.l.ad (רָמֹת "Ramoth" H7433) § Jegar-sahadutha = "witness heap" the mound of stones raised as witness between Jacob and Laban, called by Jacob in Hebrew 'Galeed'
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: Jegar-Sahadutha. See also: Genesis 31:47.
וְ/יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
"Jacob"
Conj | N-proper
This word is the name of a person, Jacob, a key figure in the Bible. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the father of many tribes of Israel. The KJV simply translates it as Jacob.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478) § Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter" son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel
Usage: Occurs in 319 OT verses. KJV: Jacob. See also: Genesis 25:26; Genesis 34:1; Psalms 14:7.
קָ֥רָא
qârâʼ
H7121
"to call"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to call out to someone or something, often by name. It's used in many situations, like calling for help or reading aloud. In Genesis, God calls out to Adam in the Garden.
Definition: : call_to/invite/entreat 1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound 1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God) 1a3) to proclaim 1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read 1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow 1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to call oneself 1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named 1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen
Usage: Occurs in 689 OT verses. KJV: bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 49:1; Judges 1:26.
ל֖/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
גַּלְעֵֽד
Galʻêd
H1567
"Galeed"
N-proper
Galeed, or Galʻêd, refers to a memorial pile of stones, like the one between Jacob and Laban, symbolizing a witness to their covenant. This location is mentioned in Genesis 31:47-48, where Jacob and Laban make a treaty.
Definition: Galeed = "witness heap" the pile of stones heaped up between Jacob and Laban to certify their covenant; located on Mt Gilead Another name of ra.mot gi.l.ad (רָמֹת "Ramoth" H7433)
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: Galeed. See also: Genesis 31:47; Genesis 31:48.
Study Notes — Genesis 31:47
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Genesis 31:47 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Genesis 31:47
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 31:47
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 31:47
- Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 31:47
- Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 31:47
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 31:47
- Cambridge Bible on Genesis 31:47
- Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 31:47
- Sermons on Genesis 31:47
Context — Jacob’s Covenant with Laban
45So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a pillar,
46and he said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and made a mound, and there by the mound they ate.
47Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.
48Then Laban declared, “This mound is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore the place was called Galeed. 49It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hebrews 12:1 | Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. |
Genesis 31:47 Summary
[Genesis 31:47 tells us that Laban and Jacob gave different names to the same place, with Laban calling it Jegar-sahadutha and Jacob calling it Galeed, which both mean 'heap of witness' or 'pile of stones', as a reminder of their agreement. This event shows us the importance of clear communication and mutual understanding in our relationships, as seen in other verses like Genesis 31:48-49. The naming of the place also signifies the establishment of a boundary and a witness to their agreement, which is a significant theme throughout the Bible, including in verses like Deuteronomy 19:15. By remembering this event, we can learn to appreciate the value of witnesses and reminders in our own lives and relationships.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Jegar-sahadutha mean in Genesis 31:47?
The name Jegar-sahadutha is Aramaic for 'heap of witness', which signifies the pile of stones Laban and Jacob built as a witness to their agreement, as seen in Genesis 31:46-47 and Genesis 31:48.
Why did Jacob and Laban give different names to the same place in Genesis 31:47?
Jacob and Laban gave different names to the same place because they spoke different languages, with Laban using Aramaic and Jacob using Hebrew, as referenced in Genesis 31:47.
Is the naming of the place in Genesis 31:47 significant to the overall story of Jacob and Laban?
Yes, the naming of the place in Genesis 31:47 signifies the establishment of a boundary and a witness to the agreement between Jacob and Laban, marking a turning point in their relationship, as seen in Genesis 31:48-49 and supported by the concept of witnesses in Deuteronomy 19:15.
How does the event in Genesis 31:47 relate to the broader biblical theme of covenant and agreement?
The event in Genesis 31:47 relates to the broader biblical theme of covenant and agreement, as seen in other verses such as Genesis 21:27 and Genesis 26:28, where piles of stones or altars are used to witness and solidify agreements between parties.
Reflection Questions
- What can we learn from the example of Jacob and Laban about the importance of clear communication and mutual understanding in our relationships?
- How can we, like Jacob and Laban, use physical reminders or symbols to commemorate significant events or agreements in our lives?
- In what ways can we apply the principle of establishing witnesses or reminders of our commitments, as seen in Genesis 31:47, to our own lives and relationships?
- What role does the concept of witness or testimony play in our own spiritual journeys, and how can we use it to strengthen our faith and relationships?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 31:47
And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha,.... Which in the Syriac and Chaldee languages signifies "an heap of witness"; it being, as after observed, a witness of the covenant between Laban and Jacob: but
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 31:47
And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed. Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha [yªgar] - a heap of stones [ saahªduwtaa' (H3026)], testimony, witness.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 31:47
Both names signify the same thing, a heap of witness; only Laban gives the name in the Syrian language; but Jacob, though he had been long conversant in Syria, and understood that language, yet he chose to give it in Hebrew, which was both a secret renouncing of the Syrian manners and religion, together with their language, and an implicit profession of his conjunction with the Hebrews, as in their tongue, so in their religion.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 31:47
Genesis 31:47 And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed. Ver. 47.
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 31:47
(47) Jegar-sahadutha.—These are two Syriac words of the same meaning as Gal-’eed, Heap of Witness. A Syriac (or Aramaic) dialect was most probably the ordinary language of the people in Mesopotamia, but it seems plain that Laban and his family also spoke Hebrew, not merely from his calling the placo Mizpah, a Hebrew word, but from the names given by his daughters to their children.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 31:47
Verse 47. Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha] יגר שהדותא yegar sahadutha, the heap or round heap of witness; but Jacob called it galed, which signifies the same thing. The first is pure Chaldee, the second pure Hebrew. אגר agar signifies to collect, hence יגר yegar and אוגר ogar, a collection or heap made up of gathered stones; and hence also אגורא egora, an altar, used frequently by the Chaldee paraphrast. See 1Kg 12:33; Judges 6:31; 2Kg 21:3; Jeremiah 17:1. See Castel's Lexicon. From this example we may infer that the Chaldee language was nearly coequal with the Hebrew. A gloss made by St. Jerome, and which was probably only entered by him in his margin as a note, has crept into the text of the Vulgate. It is found in every copy of this version, and is as follows: Uterque juxta proprietatem linguae suae, Each according to the idiom of his own tongue.
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 31:47
47. And Laban called it] This verse, which anticipates and does not agree with Genesis 31:48-49, must be a learned gloss. Laban the Syrian (cf. Genesis 31:20, Genesis 28:5) gives an Aramaic name, Jacob the Hebrew gives a Hebrew name. In the region of Gilead, in later times, both languages were probably spoken1[25]. [25] “Pillars of testimony” occur to-day in groups at many places, especially where the traveller first catches sight of some sacred spot. Thereupon he sets stones one upon the other in the shape of a column, and says, “Oh, so and so (mentioning the name of the saint whose weli he sees), as I by this bear testimony to thee, so do thou bear testimony to me in the day of judgment” (Peters, Early Hebrew Story, p. 111f.).
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 31:47
47. Jegar-sahadutha… Galeed — The Aramaic and Hebrew words, respectively, for heap of witness. éâøyegar, or gar, is a dialectic variation of âì, gal, rendered heap in Genesis 31:46.
Sermons on Genesis 31:47
| Sermon | Description | |
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Distractions Are Dangerous by Warren Wiersbe | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Jesus calling four fishermen, including Peter, to be his disciples. He highlights the significance of Jesus using fishing as a |
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Repent, Repent, Repent by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of preparing for the final judgment. He mentions preaching for three and a half hours on the judgment seat and expresses his |
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Short Excerpt by William Booth | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power of salvation and its ability to deliver and purify the soul. The sermon encourages the listener to find joy in the salvation offer |
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Watchman Nee - a Modern Day Vessel (Testimony by Stephen Kaung) by Watchman Nee | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of breaking bread together as a way to remember the Lord. He shares the story of Lee Lung and his wife, who started breaking br |
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Fasting by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the topic of fasting as a form of worship. He begins by emphasizing the importance of fasting in secret, rather than seeking attention from |
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Hebrews 11 - Part 1 by Leonard Ravenhill | Leonard Ravenhill emphasizes the profound need for faith and the power of prayer in the life of believers, reflecting on the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. He acknowledges the stru |
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2012 – a Year to Consider Jesus by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the decline of Christianity in America and the lack of true discipleship. He criticizes the easy and shallow conversion process in many church |