Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Genesis 31:36 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 36. 36And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Because the search finds nothing, Jacob becomes angry and challenges Laban to name the offense that justified such an aggressive pursuit. His anger follows apparent vindication, but the reader knows his confidence is incomplete.
Read It With
- Genesis 31:22–42
Read verses 32–37. Jacob permits the search, Rachel keeps the objects hidden, and the failed inspection produces Jacob's protest. Without those verses, his anger can be mistaken for proof that no theft occurred.
Why This Verse Appears Here
Apparent vindication releases Jacob's long-suppressed anger, turning defense into counter-accusation.
Read Genesis 31:36–37 together
Why these verses belong together: The failed search produces Jacob's anger and demand that the kin judge the property accusation.
Verse 36. 36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
Verse 37. 37 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.
What Remains True
A person may have a justified grievance and still lack complete knowledge about everyone on their side.
How It Can Shape Life
- State legitimate complaints with evidence while remaining open to facts you do not yet know.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Genesis 31:22–42 — Laban Pursues and Searches Jacob's CampSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? very strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Displayed wording, unit boundary, pursuit, warning, accusations, search, labor defense, later narrative, shepherd-liability, and menstrual-purity comparisons.
Exact location: Genesis 31:22–42 in the pinned eng-kjv2006 source; compared with Genesis 28:10–22; 29:15–30; 30:25–43; 31:1–21, 43–55; 35:1–20; Exodus 22:10–13; and Leviticus 15:19–23
Open source ↗hebrew text morphology and lemma data
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible — Genesis
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project
Open Scriptures, Version 2.2 released 2021; repository inspected 2026
Supports: Hebrew idioms, knowledge states, search language, physical labor terms, divine title, and final divine-action wording.
Exact location: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible, wlc/Gen.xml, Genesis 31:22–42; morphology and wording for pursued, good or bad, power of my hand, longed, take by force, let him not live, camel equipment, way of women, chode, judge, torn, heat, cold, Fear of Isaac, affliction, labor, and rebuked
Open source ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Genesis with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, Digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Pursuit chronology, Gilead, good-to-bad idiom, family and farewell rhetoric, longing, force, death oath, tent order, camel saddle, menstruation, labor conditions, Fear of Isaac, and rebuke translation details.
Exact location: NET Bible, Genesis 31:22–42 and translator notes, especially notes on 31:23–35 and 31:38–42
Open NET Genesis 31 ↗