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Genesis 31:28

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 31:28 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and didst not suffer me to kiss my sons and my daughters? now hast thou done foolishly.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and didst not suffer me to kiss my sons and my daughters? now hast thou done foolishly.
Genesis 31:28 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 31

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
25And Laban came up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain: and Laban with his brethren encamped in the mountain of Gilead.
26And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters as captives of the sword?
27Wherefore didst thou flee secretly, and steal away from me, and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth and with songs, with tabret and with harp;
28and didst not suffer me to kiss my sons and my daughters? now hast thou done foolishly.
29It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
30And now, [though] thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father`s house, [yet] wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
31And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Lest thou shouldest take thy daughters from me by force.
← Genesis 31:27Genesis 31:29 →
← Full Chapter 31 Genesis Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? etc.] Did not give him an opportunity of taking his farewell, which used to be done with a kiss, as it is with us at this day: by his sons he means his grandsons, and so the Targum of Jonathan, my daughters’ sons; and by his daughters Rachel and Leah, and Dinah his granddaughter: thou hast done foolishly in [so] doing: since, as he would have him believe that he was both a loser by this step he took, and exposed himself to danger, seeing it was in the power of Laban to do him hurt, as in (<013129>Genesis 31:29); but Jacob knew what he did, and that it was the wisest part to follow the direction of God.”
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Related study paths

Read Genesis 31 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification