Genesis 31:50

If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wiues beside my daughters, no man is with vs; See, God is witnesse betwixt mee and thee. Genesis 31:50 (KJV)

Genesis 31:50 belongs to the narrative of Jacob and Laban. After many years of service to his uncle, Jacob had married Laban’s daughters Leah and Rachel and faced numerous difficulties, including Laban’s deceitful dealings. When God directed Jacob to return to his own land, Jacob departed without informing Laban, taking his family and possessions.

Laban discovered Jacob’s departure, pursued him, and met him in the mountains of Gilead. There he accused Jacob of stealing his household gods, a charge Jacob did not understand because Rachel had taken the idols unbeknownst to him.

Following this confrontation the two men agreed to a covenant of peace. They erected a heap of stones as a visible boundary and as a witness to the terms of their agreement, ensuring that neither would harm the other.

In the verse itself Laban warns Jacob not to afflict his daughters or to take other wives besides them, and he declares that God is the ultimate witness between them. Although the surrounding narrative emphasizes the stone heap as a physical testimony, the wording of the verse makes clear Laban’s concern for the well‑being of his daughters and his desire that Jacob honor the marital covenant.

The cultural background of the time permitted multiple wives, yet Laban’s appeal to God as witness underscores the seriousness of the covenant and the accountability that divine observation brings. By invoking God, Laban stresses that any breach of the agreement would be known to the Almighty.

This passage teaches the importance of treating family members with respect and fairness. It calls believers to consider the feelings and welfare of spouses, children, and extended relatives, and to honor commitments made in relationships, recognizing that God observes and judges our actions.