Genesis 31:19

31:19 While Laban had gone to shear his sheep, ¹  Rachel stole the household idols ²  that belonged to her father.

Genesis 31:30

31:30 Now I understand that ³  you have gone away ⁴  because you longed desperately ⁵  for your father’s house. Yet why did you steal my gods?” ⁶ 

Genesis 31:32

31:32 Whoever has taken your gods will be put to death! ⁷  In the presence of our relatives ⁸  identify whatever is yours and take it.” ⁹  (Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.) ¹⁰ 

Genesis 31:35

31:35 Rachel ¹¹  said to her father, “Don’t be angry, ¹²  my lord. I cannot stand up ¹³  in your presence because I am having my period.” ¹⁴  So he searched thoroughly, ¹⁵  but did not find the idols.

[31:19]  ¹ tn This disjunctive clause (note the pattern conjunction + subject + verb) introduces a new scene. In the English translation it may be subordinated to the following clause.

[31:19]  ² tn Or “household gods.” Some translations merely transliterate the Hebrew term תְּרָפִים (tÿrafim) as “teraphim,” which apparently refers to household idols. Some contend that possession of these idols guaranteed the right of inheritance, but it is more likely that they were viewed simply as protective deities. See M. Greenberg, “Another Look at Rachel’s Theft of the Teraphim,” JBL 81 (1962): 239-48.

[31:30]  ³ tn Heb “and now.” The words “I understand that” have been supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.

[31:30]  ⁴ tn The infinitive absolute appears before the perfect verbal form to emphasize the certainty of the action.

[31:30]  ⁵ tn The infinitive absolute appears before the perfect verbal form to emphasize the degree of emotion involved.

[31:30]  ⁶ sn Yet why did you steal my gods? This last sentence is dropped into the speech rather suddenly. See C. Mabee, “Jacob and Laban: The Structure of Judicial Proceedings,” VT 30 (1980): 192-207, and G. W. Coats, “Self-Abasement and Insult Formulas,” JBL 91 (1972): 90-92.

[31:32]  ⁵ tn Heb “With whomever you find your gods, he will not live.”

[31:32]  ⁶ tn Heb “brothers.”

[31:32]  ⁷ tn Heb “recognize for yourself what is with me and take for yourself.”

[31:32]  ⁸ tn The disjunctive clause (introduced here by a vav [ו] conjunction) provides supplemental material that is important to the story. Since this material is parenthetical in nature, it has been placed in parentheses in the translation.

[31:35]  ⁷ tn Heb “she”; the referent (Rachel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[31:35]  ⁸ tn Heb “let it not be hot in the eyes of my lord.” This idiom refers to anger, in this case as a result of Rachel’s failure to stand in the presence of her father as a sign of respect.

[31:35]  ⁹ tn Heb “I am unable to rise.”

[31:35]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “the way of women is to me.” This idiom refers to a woman’s menstrual period.

[31:35]  ¹¹ tn The word “thoroughly” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied.