Genesis 31:22
ESV
When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled,
NIV
On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled.
NASB
When Laban was informed on the third day that Jacob had fled,
CSB
On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled.
NLT
Three days later, Laban was told that Jacob had fled.
KJV
And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
NKJV
And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.
What does Genesis 31:22 mean?
We're not told exactly what Jacob did to deceive Laban about his departure (Genesis 31:20). The deception, most likely, refers to Jacob's leaving without warning, and only when Laban had left the area to shear his sheep (Genesis 31:19). Whatever it was, three days passed before Laban realized Jacob and all he owned were gone. This time delay makes sense—Laban had ordered his sons to take livestock three days away from Jacob (Genesis 30:35–36), specifically as an attempt to further cheat his son-in-law (Genesis 30:31–34). If someone left to tell Laban about Jacob's departure, three days marks the approximate time it would have taken the news to arrive.Specifically, this verse describes Jacob as having "fled." He was running away—knowing that Laban would not have peaceably let him go. Even Laban's daughters had agreed that their father was no longer worthy of loyalty (Genesis 31:14–16), so the family simply left and began to journey back to Jacob's family in Canaan. As one would expect, however, Laban would come after them.
Genesis 31:22–42 recounts Laban's pursuit of Jacob and his large company, after learning his son-in-law has left for Canaan without telling him. It takes a week, but Laban catches up. Warned by God in a dream not to say anything to Jacob ''either good or bad,'' Laban instead expresses his hurt to Jacob and accuses him of stealing Laban's house idols. When a search for the idols—cleverly hidden by Rachel without Jacob's knowledge—turns up nothing, Jacob finally expresses all of his complaints about Laban's unfair treatment of him in spite of twenty years of faithful service.
Genesis 31 describes Jacob's difficult separation from Laban, his father-in-law, as well as his boss for twenty years. During that time, Jacob was routinely mistreated and cheated by his master. Commanded by God to return to the land of Canaan, Jacob packs up his wives, children, and all of his possessions and leaves without telling Laban. Laban soon catches up with the large company. Laban and Jacob confront each other bitterly. Eventually, though, they make a covenant of separation and peace.
