SEV Biblia, Chapter 31:24
Y vino Dios a Labán, el arameo, en sueños aquella noche, y le dijo: Guárdate que no digas a Jacob bueno ni malo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Genesis 31:24
Verse 24. And God came to Laban] God's caution to Laban was of high importance to Jacob-Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad; or rather, as is the literal meaning of the Hebrew, [r d[ bwfm mittob ad ra, from good to evil; for had he neither spoken good nor evil to Jacob, they could have had no intercourse at all. The original is, therefore, peculiarly appropriate; for when people meet, the language at first is the language of friendship; the command therefore implies, ""Do not begin with Peace be unto thee, and then proceed to injurious language and acts of violence."" If this Divine direction were attended to, how many of those affairs of honour, so termed, which commence with, ""I hope you are well""-""I am infinitely glad to see you""-""I am happy to see you well,"" &c., and end with small swords and pistol bullets, would be prevented! Where God and true religion act, all is fair, kind, honest, and upright; but where these are not consulted, all is hollow, deceitful, or malicious. Beware of unmeaning compliments, and particularly of saying what thy heart feels not. God hates a hypocrite and a deceiver.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 22-35 - God can put a bridle in the mouth of wicked men, to restrain their malice, though he do not change their hearts. Though they have no love to God's people, they will pretend to it, and try to make a merit of necessity. Foolish Laban! to call those things his gods which could be stolen! Enemies may steal our goods, but not our God. Here Laban lay to Jacob's charge things that he knew not. Those who commit their caus to God, are not forbidden to plead it themselves with meekness an fear. When we read of Rachel's stealing her father's images, what scene of iniquity opens! The family of Nahor, who left the idolatrou Chaldees; is this family itself become idolatrous? It is even so. The truth seems to be, that they were like some in after-times, who swar by the Lord and by Malcham, Zep 1:5; and like others in our times, wh wish to serve both God and mammon. Great numbers will acknowledge the true God in words, but their hearts and houses are the abodes of spiritual idolatry. When a man gives himself up to covetousness, lik Laban, the world is his god; and he has only to reside among gros idolaters in order to become one, or at least a favourer of their abominations.
Original Hebrew
ויבא 935 אלהים 430 אל 413 לבן 3837 הארמי 761 בחלם 2472 הלילה 3915 ויאמר 559 לו השׁמר 8104 לך פן 6435 תדבר 1696 עם 5973 יעקב 3290 מטוב 2896 עד 5704 רע׃ 7451
