The Meaning of Genesis 31:52 Explained

Genesis 31:52

KJV: This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.

YLT: this heap is witness, and the standing pillar is witness, that I do not pass over this heap unto thee, and that thou dost not pass over this heap and this standing pillar unto me -- for evil;

Darby: let this heap be witness, and the pillar a witness, that neither I pass this heap to go to thee, nor thou pass this heap and this pillar to come to me, for harm.

ASV: This heap be witness, and the pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

This heap  [be] witness,  and [this] pillar  [be] witness,  that I will not pass over  this heap  to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over  this heap  and this pillar  unto me, for harm. 

What does Genesis 31:52 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 31:43-55 - The Covenant Between Jacob And Laban
In our time covenants are engrossed on parchment, so that there may be written documentary evidence accessible, to prove that certain transactions have taken place. The same object was conserved, where the art of writing was confined to the few, by the erection of monuments, whose existence was associated with the agreements into which men had entered with one another. Though these two men were far below the Christian ideal of character, it is evident that they lived in an habitual recognition of God and the eternal sanction of His presence. The Lord was to watch between them. God was to be witness and judge. The third generation looked back on the days of Terah with reverential awe and loyalty, and commemorated their grandfather Terah's God. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 31

1  Jacob, displeased with the envy of Laban and his sons, departs secretly
19  Rachel steals her father's household gods
22  Laban pursues after him, and complains of the wrong
34  Rachel's plan to hide the images
36  Jacob's complaint of Laban
43  The covenant of Laban and Jacob at Galeed

What do the individual words in Genesis 31:52 mean?

A witness mound this [is] and a witness [this] pillar [is] that I not will pass beyond to you - this and you not will pass beyond to me this and pillar this for harm
עֵ֚ד הַגַּ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה וְעֵדָ֖ה הַמַּצֵּבָ֑ה אִם־ אָ֗נִי לֹֽא־ אֶֽעֱבֹ֤ר אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶת־ הַזֶּ֔ה וְאִם־ אַ֠תָּה לֹא־ תַעֲבֹ֨ר אֵלַ֜י הַזֶּ֛ה וְאֶת־ הַמַּצֵּבָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את לְרָעָֽה

עֵ֚ד  A  witness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵד  
Sense: witness.
הַגַּ֣ל  mound 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גַּל 
Sense: heap, spring, wave, billow.
הַזֶּ֔ה  this  [is] 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
וְעֵדָ֖ה  and  a  witness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: testimony, witness.
הַמַּצֵּבָ֑ה  [this]  pillar  [is] 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַצֵּבָה  
Sense: pillar, mastaba, stump.
אִם־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
אֶֽעֱבֹ֤ר  will  pass  beyond 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַזֶּ֔ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
תַעֲבֹ֨ר  will  pass  beyond 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
אֵלַ֜י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הַזֶּ֛ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
הַמַּצֵּבָ֥ה  pillar 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַצֵּבָה  
Sense: pillar, mastaba, stump.
הַזֹּ֖את  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
לְרָעָֽה  for  harm 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 31:52?

Loading Information...