The Meaning of Genesis 31:55 Explained

Genesis 31:55

KJV: And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.

YLT: and Laban riseth early in the morning, and kisseth his sons and his daughters, and blesseth them; and Laban goeth on, and turneth back to his place.

Darby: And Laban rose early in the morning, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them; and Laban went and returned to his place.

ASV: And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed and returned unto his place.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And early  in the morning  Laban  rose up,  and kissed  his sons  and his daughters,  and blessed  them: and Laban  departed,  and returned  unto his place. 

What does Genesis 31:55 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 31:55 mean?

And arose early Laban in the morning and kissed his sons and daughters and blessed them and departed and returned to his place
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם לָבָ֜ן בַּבֹּ֗קֶר וַיְנַשֵּׁ֧ק לְבָנָ֛יו וְלִבְנוֹתָ֖יו וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֶתְהֶ֑ם וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ וַיָּ֥שָׁב לִמְקֹמֽוֹ

וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם  And  arose  early 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַם  
Sense: to rise or start early.
לָבָ֜ן  Laban 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לָבָן 
Sense: son of Bethuel, brother of Rebekah, and father of Leah and Rachel.
בַּבֹּ֗קֶר  in  the  morning 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
וַיְנַשֵּׁ֧ק  and  kissed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשַׁק 
Sense: to put together, kiss.
לְבָנָ֛יו  his  sons 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
וְלִבְנוֹתָ֖יו  and  daughters 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ  and  blessed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ  and  departed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
וַיָּ֥שָׁב  and  returned 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
לִמְקֹמֽוֹ  to  his  place 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.