Genesis 31:19

While Laban had gone to shear his sheep, ¹  Rachel stole the household idols ²  that belonged to her father.

When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household gods.

When Laban had gone to shear his flock, then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s.

At the time they left, Laban was some distance away, shearing his sheep. Rachel stole her father’s household gods and took them with her.

Laban was off shearing sheep. Rachel stole her father's household gods.

Now Laban had gone to see to the cutting of the wool of his sheep; so Rachel secretly took the images of the gods of her father’s house.

Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods.

Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the household idols that were her father’s.

While Laban had gone to shear his sheep, ¹  Rachel stole the household idols ²  that belonged to her father.

¹ tn This disjunctive clause (note the pattern conjunction + subject + verb) introduces a new scene. In the English translation it may be subordinated to the following clause.

² tn Or “household gods.” Some translations merely transliterate the Hebrew term תְּרָפִים (tÿrafim) as “teraphim,” which apparently refers to household idols. Some contend that possession of these idols guaranteed the right of inheritance, but it is more likely that they were viewed simply as protective deities. See M. Greenberg, “Another Look at Rachel’s Theft of the Teraphim,” JBL 81 (1962): 239-48.