What Does Genesis 31:22 Mean in the King James?

And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.

Genesis 31:22 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The Hebrew makes the report a bringing-before: Jacob’s unseen departure becomes the thing Laban now has to face.

THE MEANING

A departure can be real before anyone around you knows it; when the report arrives, what was hidden is brought before the person it affects. The verse holds leaving and discovery in separate moments: Jacob is already gone when Laban hears.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that being unseen means your movement has not happened or cannot reach the people you leave behind.

THE ROOT

וַיֻּגַּד

vayuggad

GROWS FROM

נ־ג־ד

n-g-d

Declare, make known; bring something into view.

English “told” can sound like information simply passing between people, but this Hebrew word comes from a root for making something known, from a family that also carries the sense of what is in front. The report brings Jacob’s hidden flight before Laban: his escape is now the fact Laban has to face.

ALSO GROWS

neged: In front of; opposite.

נֶגֶד

The report brings the unseen departure into Laban’s view.

nagid: Leader; prince.

נָגִיד

This related word names one who stands in front, echoing the root’s image of what is brought forward.

בָּרַח

baraḥ

GROWS FROM

ב־ר־ח

b-r-ḥ

Flee, escape; in a causative form, drive away or cause to flee.

“fled” in this verse is baraḥ. English presents flight as movement away, but the same root can also describe driving someone away. The word opens both sides of departure, escaping and being made to flee, without saying which pressure, if any, caused Jacob’s flight here.

ALSO GROWS

hivriaḥ: Drive away; cause to flee.

הִבְרִיחַ

The causative form shows that the root can name not only someone fleeing but also the force that sends someone away.

beriaḥ: Bar; bolt.

בְּרִיחַ

This related noun extends the root family to a bar or bolt across a passage, setting a boundary beside the image of escape.

THE PATTERN

A hidden departure becomes a force in the open when knowledge of it reaches the people affected by it.

And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

Exodus 14:5 · KJVThe report-and-flight pairing appears again: Pharaoh hears that Israel has fled, and his response turns toward pursuit.

So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.

1 Samuel 19:12 · KJVDavid’s departure becomes an escape from the threat waiting for him, showing flight as a movement out of another’s reach.

They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

Acts 14:6 · KJVHere awareness of danger comes first and flight follows, reversing the order in Genesis while linking knowledge and escape.

THE THREAD

And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

Exodus 14:5 · KJV

Exodus repeats the same Hebrew pair: the king is told (⁨נגד⁩, nagad) that the people have fled (⁨ברח⁩, baraḥ). The parallel lets Jacob’s escape echo Israel’s departure, as news of release reaches the power left behind.

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