Genesis 31:26

31:26 “What have you done?” Laban demanded of Jacob. “You’ve deceived me ¹  and carried away my daughters as if they were captives of war! ² 

Genesis 31:31

31:31 “I left secretly because I was afraid!” ³  Jacob replied to Laban. “I thought ⁴  you might take your daughters away from me by force. ⁵ 

Genesis 31:41

31:41 This was my lot ⁶  for twenty years in your house: I worked like a slave ⁷  for you – fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, but you changed my wages ten times!

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¹ tn Heb “and you have stolen my heart.” This expression apparently means “to deceive” (see v. 20).

² tn Heb “and you have led away my daughters like captives of a sword.”

³ tn Heb “and Jacob answered and said to Laban, ‘Because I was afraid.’” This statement is a not a response to the question about Laban’s household gods that immediately precedes, but to the earlier question about Jacob’s motivation for leaving so quickly and secretly (see v. 27). For this reason the words “I left secretly” are supplied in the translation to indicate the connection to Laban’s earlier question in v. 27. Additionally the order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse have been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.

⁴ tn Heb “for I said.”

⁵ tn Heb “lest you steal your daughters from with me.”

⁶ tn Heb “this to me.”

⁷ tn Heb “served you,” but in this accusatory context the meaning is more “worked like a slave.”