Both Laban’s Aramaic name and Jacob’s Hebrew name for the place present the same message: this location is a powerful reminder of their covenant in God’s presence.
Now Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. (v.47) This verse occurs during a pivotal moment in Jacob’s journey when he and Laban, his father-in-law, set up a memorial in the hill country of Gilead to mark the terms of their peaceful separation. Laban, who lived during the early 2nd millennium BC and was from the region of Haran located in Mesopotamia, chose to name this heap of stones in Aramaic, calling it “Jegar-sahadutha,” meaning “heap of witness.” Jacob, whose own historical context places him as the grandson of Abraham around the same time period, used the Hebrew form “Galeed,” which similarly translates to “heap of witness.” Both names highlight their shared agreement that this mound served as a testimony of their covenant before God (Genesis 31:44-46 only).
Now Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. (v.47) emphasizes how significant it was in ancient times to give geographic landmarks names that testified to important events or covenants. By naming the site in languages that each party understood—Aramaic for Laban and Hebrew for Jacob—both men ensured that the meaning behind the covenant would endure as generations recounted the story. Located east of the Jordan River, the region of Gilead was known for its rugged hills and fertile valleys, and it served as a natural boundary between northern and southern tribes in later biblical accounts (Judges 20:1 only). Here, it symbolized God’s watchful presence over Jacob and Laban’s agreement.
Now Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. (v.47) also underscores how both men recognized the importance of a physical reminder that God was their witness. The separate expressions in Aramaic and Hebrew convey a sense of dual identity within a single covenant, foreshadowing future moments in Israel’s history when faith and promises crossed linguistic and cultural boundaries (Galatians 3:28 only). Their decision to honor God for overseeing the agreement would serve as a model of seeking divine accountability for peace and faithfulness in relationships.
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Genesis 31:47 meaning
Now Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. (v.47) This verse occurs during a pivotal moment in Jacob’s journey when he and Laban, his father-in-law, set up a memorial in the hill country of Gilead to mark the terms of their peaceful separation. Laban, who lived during the early 2nd millennium BC and was from the region of Haran located in Mesopotamia, chose to name this heap of stones in Aramaic, calling it “Jegar-sahadutha,” meaning “heap of witness.” Jacob, whose own historical context places him as the grandson of Abraham around the same time period, used the Hebrew form “Galeed,” which similarly translates to “heap of witness.” Both names highlight their shared agreement that this mound served as a testimony of their covenant before God (Genesis 31:44-46 only).
Now Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. (v.47) emphasizes how significant it was in ancient times to give geographic landmarks names that testified to important events or covenants. By naming the site in languages that each party understood—Aramaic for Laban and Hebrew for Jacob—both men ensured that the meaning behind the covenant would endure as generations recounted the story. Located east of the Jordan River, the region of Gilead was known for its rugged hills and fertile valleys, and it served as a natural boundary between northern and southern tribes in later biblical accounts (Judges 20:1 only). Here, it symbolized God’s watchful presence over Jacob and Laban’s agreement.
Now Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. (v.47) also underscores how both men recognized the importance of a physical reminder that God was their witness. The separate expressions in Aramaic and Hebrew convey a sense of dual identity within a single covenant, foreshadowing future moments in Israel’s history when faith and promises crossed linguistic and cultural boundaries (Galatians 3:28 only). Their decision to honor God for overseeing the agreement would serve as a model of seeking divine accountability for peace and faithfulness in relationships.