Genesis 31:46 kjv
And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
Genesis 31:46 nkjv
Then Jacob said to his brethren, "Gather stones." And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there on the heap.
Genesis 31:46 niv
He said to his relatives, "Gather some stones." So they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap.
Genesis 31:46 esv
And Jacob said to his kinsmen, "Gather stones." And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap.
Genesis 31:46 nlt
Then he told his family members, "Gather some stones." So they gathered stones and piled them in a heap. Then Jacob and Laban sat down beside the pile of stones to eat a covenant meal.
Genesis 31 46 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 28:18 | And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. | Stone as memorial for God's promise. |
| Gen 35:14 | And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. | Pillar as a sacred memorial. |
| Josh 4:6-7 | That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off... | Stones as a memorial to God's actions. |
| Josh 4:21-22 | And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? Then ye shall let your children know... | Stones teaching future generations. |
| Josh 22:26-28 | Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: But that it may be a witness between us and you... | Altar (heap) as a witness of faithfulness. |
| 1 Sam 7:12 | Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. | Stone of help, memorializing God's aid. |
| Isa 19:19-20 | In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts... | Monument as a sign and witness to God. |
| Exod 24:11 | And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone... Also they ate and drank. | Eating and drinking in a covenant presence. |
| Deut 27:7 | And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God. | Eating a covenant meal, rejoicing. |
| Psa 23:5 | Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. | God's provision and peace amidst hostility. |
| Mal 1:7 | Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. | The significance of communal table/food. |
| 1 Cor 10:16-17 | The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. | Communal meal (Lord's Supper) symbolizing unity in covenant. |
| Gen 31:48 | And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed; | Direct naming of the heap as a witness. |
| Gen 31:49 | And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another. | The additional naming related to the witness. |
| Gen 31:50 | If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee. | God as witness of the covenant's terms. |
| Judg 11:10 | And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head? | Lord as witness in oath-taking. |
| Prov 22:28 | Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. | Respecting established boundaries. |
| Rom 12:18 | If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. | Striving for peace, echoing the covenant. |
| Heb 12:14 | Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: | Pursuit of peace as a divine directive. |
| Eccl 4:9-10 | Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth... | Value of cooperation in building and fellowship. |
Genesis 31 verses
Genesis 31 46 Meaning
This verse details Jacob's directive for his company to gather stones and form a heap, followed by a communal meal shared upon this newly erected pile. This action served to formalize and solidify the non-aggression pact and covenant that Jacob had just made with Laban, establishing a visible and physical witness to their agreement and symbolizing peace and fellowship after a period of conflict.
Genesis 31 46 Context
Genesis chapter 31 describes Jacob's departure from Laban after twenty years of service. Fearing Laban's anger and covetousness, Jacob secretly takes his family and possessions. Laban pursues them, driven by a mixture of concern for his daughters and suspicion over his missing household gods (teraphim). After a tense confrontation where God intervenes to warn Laban against harming Jacob, Jacob and Laban agree to make a covenant of non-aggression. Verse 46 marks the immediate next step in establishing this covenant, following Jacob setting up a single stone pillar (v. 45). The building of the stone heap and the shared meal solidify the truce, establishing clear boundaries and a mutual witness, before their final parting.
Genesis 31 46 Word analysis
- And Jacob: Represents the leader initiating the action to establish the covenant. Jacob, whose name means "heel-grabber" or "supplanter," now asserts leadership in this transitional phase of his life, moving from Laban's influence.
- said to his brethren: Not biological brothers of Jacob (like Esau), but referring to the men accompanying him – his household members, servants, and kinsmen who traveled with him. This command shows Jacob’s authority over his people, directing a collective effort.
- Gather stones: This is an active command for communal participation. Gathering stones signifies preparing the foundation for a physical marker or witness to their agreement. Stones are natural, permanent elements, often used in ancient cultures to commemorate significant events.
- and they took stones: Shows immediate obedience and unified action from Jacob’s men. This collective effort reinforces the community’s shared involvement and acknowledgment of the covenant being established.
- and made an heap: The Hebrew word for "heap" is gal (גַּל), which specifically refers to a pile of stones, often a memorial or witness pile. This gal is what later gives rise to the name "Galeed" (heap of witness) in verse 47. Building a physical landmark emphasizes the tangible and lasting nature of the agreement, accessible to all involved and future generations.
- and they did eat there upon the heap: This act of sharing a meal together, especially at the site of the new covenant marker, is profoundly significant in ancient Near Eastern culture. It represents reconciliation, fellowship, and the binding nature of the agreement. Eating together implied a shared life and commitment, turning adversaries into covenant partners, even if for limited terms. It symbolized peace and the intention to uphold the oath.
Words-group by words-group analysis data
- Jacob said to his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: This sequence highlights Jacob's leadership in orchestrating the physical creation of the covenant monument. It shows the community's immediate and collective participation in a solemn act, turning a directive into a shared physical reality. The act of gathering and building signifies effort, investment, and a collective witnessing of the event.
- and they did eat there upon the heap: The shared meal upon the very structure that served as a witness. This final step is crucial. It’s not just a physical boundary or memorial; it’s a moment of breaking bread, symbolizing the ratification of peace and the forging of a bond, albeit one under divine watch rather than complete trust. The communal feast confirms the new state of affairs and establishes it as a shared experience.
Genesis 31 46 Bonus section
The "heap" (gal) is distinguished from the "pillar" (matsebah) Jacob had set up alone in verse 45. The matsebah (pillar) typically served as a personal memorial or a sacred marker (like at Bethel). The gal (heap) signifies a collective endeavor and serves specifically as a witness (ed) to an agreement made between two parties. The dual nature of the monuments (pillar and heap) underscores different aspects of the covenant. The shared meal ritual resonates with broader biblical themes of covenant, where breaking bread together often seals solemn promises, reflecting God's own covenant-making with His people, sometimes involving sacrificial meals. The subsequent naming of the site as Galeed (Heap of Witness) and Mizpah (Watchtower), in the verses that follow, explicitly articulates the purpose of this physical marker, underscoring the role of God as the ultimate witness between the estranged relatives.
Genesis 31 46 Commentary
Genesis 31:46 serves as a critical juncture, visibly marking the end of the fraught relationship between Jacob and Laban and the beginning of a peaceful, though temporary, separation. The construction of the "heap" of stones, referred to by its Hebrew term gal, followed by a communal meal, was a universally recognized method in the ancient world for solemnizing an agreement. Jacob's initiative in instructing his companions ("his brethren," meaning his retinue) to gather the stones demonstrates his leadership in forging this lasting peace. The physical monument served as an enduring witness, beyond mere verbal pledges, to their covenant. The subsequent act of sharing a meal on the heap elevated the agreement from a legal transaction to a social bond, signifying reconciliation and the acceptance of each other's terms. This verse powerfully illustrates how ancient people used tangible acts and shared rituals to bind covenants, invoking not only mutual understanding but also divine oversight as the ultimate enforcer of the sworn terms.