Genesis 31:22-24

31:22 Three days later Laban discovered Jacob had left. ¹  31:23 So he took his relatives ²  with him and pursued Jacob ³  for seven days. ⁴  He caught up with ⁵  him in the hill country of Gilead. 31:24 But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and warned him, ⁶  “Be careful ⁷  that you neither bless nor curse Jacob.” ⁸ 

[31:22]  ¹ tn Heb “and it was told to Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled.”

[31:23]  ² tn Heb “his brothers.”

[31:23]  ³ tn Heb “him”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[31:23]  ⁴ tn Heb “and he pursued after him a journey of seven days.”

[31:23]  ⁵ tn Heb “drew close to.”

[31:24]  ³ tn Heb “said to him.”

[31:24]  ⁴ tn Heb “watch yourself,” which is a warning to be on guard against doing something that is inappropriate.

[31:24]  ⁵ tn Heb “lest you speak with Jacob from good to evil.” The precise meaning of the expression, which occurs only here and in v. 29, is uncertain. Since Laban proceeded to speak to Jacob at length, it cannot mean to maintain silence. Nor does it seem to be a prohibition against criticism (see vv. 26-30). Most likely it refers to a formal pronouncement, whether it be a blessing or a curse. Laban was to avoid saying anything to Jacob that would be intended to enhance him or to harm him.