Génesis 31:31

31 —Me apresuré a irme porque tuve miedo —contestó Jacob—. Pensé que me quitarías a tus hijas por la fuerza.

Génesis 31:31 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 31:31

And Jacob answered and said to Laban, because I was afraid,
&c.] That he would have done all he could to have hindered him from going away himself; and not only so, but would have prevented his taking his daughters with him; and especially would have detained his cattle; but of this last Jacob makes no mention, only of the former: for I said;
either within himself, or to his wives; peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me;
which of right belonged to him; for though they were Laban's daughters, they were Jacob's wives; and being given in marriage to him, he had a right unto them, and to take them with him; nor had Laban any right to detain them, which Jacob feared he would have attempted to have done, had he known his design; and this must have been done by force if done at all; for neither Jacob nor his wives would have agreed that they should stay with Laban upon his departure: what Laban charges Jacob with, in going away with his wives, he himself would have done, namely, using force to them. Laban's charge was false, but there was much reason for Jacob's suspicion.

Génesis 31:31 In-Context

29 Yo podría destruirte, pero el Dios de tu padre se me apareció anoche y me advirtió: «¡Deja en paz a Jacob!».

30 Puedo entender que sientas que debes irte y anhelas intensamente la casa de tu padre, pero ¿por qué robaste mis dioses?

31 —Me apresuré a irme porque tuve miedo —contestó Jacob—. Pensé que me quitarías a tus hijas por la fuerza.

32 Ahora, en cuanto a tus dioses, si puedes encontrarlos, ¡que muera la persona que los haya tomado! Si encuentras alguna otra cosa que te pertenezca, identifícala delante de estos parientes nuestros, y yo te la devolveré.
Pero Jacob no sabía que Raquel había robado los ídolos de familia.

33 Labán fue a buscar primero en la carpa de Jacob, luego entró en la de Lea y después buscó en las carpas de las dos esposas esclavas, pero no encontró nada. Por último fue a la carpa de Raquel,