Genesis 31:24

31:24 But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and warned him, ¹  “Be careful ²  that you neither bless nor curse Jacob.” ³ 

Genesis 31:29

31:29 I have ⁴  the power to do you harm, but the God of your father told me last night, ‘Be careful ⁵  that you neither bless nor curse Jacob.’ ⁶ 

Genesis 45:6

45:6 For these past two years there has been famine in ⁷  the land and for five more years there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

---

¹ tn Heb “said to him.”

² tn Heb “watch yourself,” which is a warning to be on guard against doing something that is inappropriate.

³ 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.

⁴ tn Heb “there is to my hand.”

⁵ tn Heb “watch yourself,” which is a warning to be on guard against doing something that is inappropriate.

⁶ tn Heb “from speaking with Jacob from good to evil.” The precise meaning of the expression, which occurs only here and in v. 24, is uncertain. See the note on the same phrase in v. 24.

⁷ tn Heb “the famine [has been] in the midst of.”