If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Laban includes a surprising stipulation: Jacob can't take other wives besides his daughters. This reveals Laban's shift from exploiting Jacob to protecting his own lineage, highlighting how familial pride and legacy can emerge even in strained relationships. He's not just worried about Jacob's potential mistreatment of his daughters, but also about the inheritance being diluted by other potential offspring.
If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a tense confrontation where Laban accuses Jacob of theft and secretly fleeing with his daughters, they agree to make a covenant to ensure peace between them. This verse is spoken by Laban as part of that agreement, laying out specific conditions and invoking God as a witness to ensure Jacob does not mistreat his daughters or take additional wives after they part ways.
Laban, a man known for his harshness, makes a solemn declaration about his daughters. What does this reveal about his heart, and the value God places on family?
In Genesis 31:50, Laban specifically calls out the protection of his daughters as a key concern in his covenant with Jacob. He says, "If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters..."
A Father's Plea
This isn't just about legal terms; it's deeply personal. Laban, despite his past exploitative behavior towards Jacob, now speaks with a father's urgency. He's concerned about his daughters' well-being and future security. This highlights a fundamental truth: family bonds, even within complex and strained relationships, hold significant weight.
God's Perspective on Family
While Laban's motives might be mixed (partly genuine concern, partly self-interest), his words echo a divine value. God cares deeply about the welfare of families and the sanctity of marriage. The prohibition against taking additional wives 'besides' his daughters underscores the protection promised to the existing family structure and the potential harm caused by actions that destabilize it.
In a moment of potential conflict and separation, Laban invokes a powerful, unseen presence. Who is this witness, and why is invoking God crucial in sealing their agreement?
Laban declares, '...see, God is witness between you and me.' This statement is pivotal in the covenant being made between Jacob and Laban.
The Sovereign Judge
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This wasn't just a casual appeal. Laban and Jacob were establishing boundaries and promises for the future. In a time and culture where legal recourse could be distant or ineffective, invoking God as a witness carried immense weight. God is the ultimate judge, the one who sees all actions, intentions, and breaches of contract. His presence ensures accountability beyond human observation.
A Basis for Trust
By calling God as witness, they create a sacred agreement. This assurance means that even when they are physically separated ('no man is with us' to see), God is present. This sacred vow provides a framework for trust, holding both parties accountable to their word before the divine eye. It underscores that true covenants are made not just between people, but also under the gaze of God.
Understand the original words
anah · Hebrew Verb
To afflict, maltreat, or deal harshly with someone; often used in a legal or social context to describe the exploitation of the vulnerable.
Elohim · Hebrew Proper Noun
The Creator and Sustainer of the universe, the Supreme Judge to whom all humans are accountable, especially regarding oaths and moral behavior.
This verse is spoken during the covenant-making ceremony between Jacob and Laban. It highlights the importance of protecting daughters within the patriarchal marriage system and invokes God as the ultimate arbiter and witness to their agreement, especially as Jacob and Laban part ways.
c. 1700s BC
Jacob Serves Laban for Wives
Jacob works for his uncle Laban for fourteen years to marry his daughters, Leah and Rachel. He then serves another six years for livestock.
c. 1700s BC
Jacob's Wealth Grows Significantly
Through divine guidance and shrewdness, Jacob's flocks multiply greatly, leading to Laban's sons becoming envious and Laban's attitude toward Jacob souring.
c. 1700s BC
Jacob Flees Laban
Sensing danger from his increasingly hostile father-in-law and brothers-in-law, Jacob secretly flees with his family and possessions.
c. 1700s BC
Laban Pursues Jacob
Laban gathers his kinsmen and pursues Jacob for seven days, eventually catching up to him in the hills of Gilead.
c. 1700s BC
Divine Warning to Laban
God appears to Laban in a dream, warning him not to harm Jacob, effectively halting his pursuit and preventing violence.
c. 1700s BC— this verse
Covenant at Mizpah
Instead of fighting, Jacob and Laban make a covenant, symbolized by a heap of stones, with God as witness to their agreement and mutual separation.
This passage speaks to God's deep concern for the vulnerable, particularly widows and orphans, which resonates with Jacob's plea to Laban to not oppress his daughters. It highlights God's role as a witness and avenger for those who are mistreated.
Deuteronomy 24:1-4This law addresses the complexities of marriage and divorce, particularly the prohibition against a man taking back a divorced wife if she has been married to another. It touches on the sensitive issue of relationships and potential harm, similar to Laban's concern about Jacob taking other wives, which could lead to the 'affliction' of his daughters.
Ruth 1:16-17Ruth's powerful declaration of loyalty to Naomi, a mother-in-law, echoes the protective and familial bonds Jacob is trying to secure for his daughters. It shows a deep commitment that transcends simple relationships, highlighting the significance of family ties that Laban, despite his flaws, appeals to.
1 Samuel 20:42Jonathan and David’s covenant, sealed with an oath and the invocation of God as witness, directly parallels the solemn agreement Jacob and Laban make. It underscores the serious nature of covenants and the role of God in guaranteeing their faithfulness.
Proverbs 19:11This proverb speaks to the wisdom of overlooking an offense, which is a key theme in the reconciliation between Jacob and Laban. Laban, in essence, chooses to overlook Jacob's 'departure' and focuses on securing a peaceful future, reflecting this principle of understanding and forbearance.
clarkeGenesis 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."
No man is with us - Though all were present at the sacrifice offered, yet it appears that in making the contract Jacob and Laban withdrew, and transacted the business in private, calling on God to witness it. Jacob had already four wives; but Laban feared that he might take others, whose children would naturally come in for a sha…
calvinGenesis 31:1-55: "And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory."
Si ita dicebat, Punctis parvis respersa erunt merces tua: pariebant omnes pecudes punctis parvis respersa: et si ita dicebat, Lineis distincta erunt merces tua: tunc pariebant omnes pecudes lineis distincta.
Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
Et abstulit Deus pecus p…
Laban includes a surprising stipulation: Jacob can't take other wives besides his daughters. This reveals Laban's shift from exploiting Jacob to protecting his own lineage, highlighting how familial pride and legacy can emerge even in strained relationships. He's not just worried about Jacob's potential mistreatment of his daughters, but also about the inheritance being diluted by other potential offspring.
After a tense confrontation where Laban accuses Jacob of theft and secretly fleeing with his daughters, they agree to make a covenant to ensure peace between them. This verse is spoken by Laban as part of that agreement, laying out specific conditions and invoking God as a witness to ensure Jacob does not mistreat his daughters or take additional wives after they part ways.
After a tense confrontation where Laban accuses Jacob of theft and secretly fleeing with his daughters, they agree to make a covenant to ensure peace between them. This verse is spoken by Laban as part of that agreement, laying out specific conditions and invoking God as a witness to ensure Jacob does not mistreat his daughters or take additional wives after they part ways.
"If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.”" — Laban includes a surprising stipulation: Jacob can't take other wives besides his daughters. This reveals Laban's shift from exploiting Jacob to protecting his own lineage, highlighting how familia…
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Last reviewed October 2026