Genesis 31:33-35

31:33 So Laban entered Jacob’s tent, and Leah’s tent, and the tent of the two female servants, but he did not find the idols. Then he left Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s. 31:34 (Now Rachel had taken the idols and put them inside her camel’s saddle and sat on them.) Laban searched the whole tent, but did not find them. 31:35 Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my lord. I cannot stand up in your presence because I am having my period.” So he searched thoroughly, 10  but did not find the idols.


tn No direct object is specified for the verb “find” in the Hebrew text. The words “the idols” have been supplied in the translation for clarification.

tn Heb “and he went out from the tent of Leah and went into the tent of Rachel.”

tn The “camel’s saddle” was probably some sort of basket-saddle, a cushioned saddle with a basket bound on. Cf. NAB “inside a camel cushion.”

tn The disjunctive clause (introduced by a vav [ו] conjunction) provides another parenthetical statement necessary to the storyline.

tn The word “them” has been supplied in the translation for clarification.

tn Heb “she”; the referent (Rachel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

tn Heb “let it not be hot in the eyes of my lord.” This idiom refers to anger, in this case as a result of Rachel’s failure to stand in the presence of her father as a sign of respect.

tn Heb “I am unable to rise.”

tn Heb “the way of women is to me.” This idiom refers to a woman’s menstrual period.

10 tn The word “thoroughly” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied.