What Does Genesis 31:24 Mean in the King James?

And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

Genesis 31:24 · 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.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Before Laban speaks to Jacob, God puts the whole range of his words under watch.

THE MEANING

Speech stands under a boundary before it reaches another person: Laban is told to guard himself from speaking to Jacob, whether for good or ill. The command covers the full span named by “good or bad,” leaving no side of that range outside the warning.

THE ROOT

הִשָּׁמֶר

hishamer

GROWS FROM

שׁ־מ־ר

sh-m-r

To guard, keep, or watch over.

The verb rendered “take heed” is a reflexive command: “guard yourself.” The same root forms words for watchmen and guarded charges, so the warning pictures speech as something kept under watch; “good or bad” stretches the boundary across the full range.

ALSO GROWS

shomer: A watchman; one who guards.

שֹׁמֵר

The watchman branch makes the command’s image visible: Laban is to keep watch over what he says to Jacob.

mishmeret: A guard duty, watch, or charge to keep.

מִשְׁמֶרֶת

This branch carries the sense of something entrusted to watch, echoing the boundary placed around Laban’s speech.

THE PATTERN

God’s intervention places a boundary around human action before harm unfolds.

And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

Genesis 20:6 · KJVGod’s warning in a dream restrains Abimelech from an action that would bring harm.

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Psalm 141:3 · KJVThe speaker asks God to place a watch over speech, echoing the boundary set around Laban’s words.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Matthew 2:12 · KJVA warning in a dream redirects the travelers away from a dangerous course.

THE THREAD

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Psalm 141:3 · KJV

Both verses use ⁨שׁמר⁩ (shamar, to guard or keep): Laban is told to guard himself from speaking, while the psalm asks God to keep watch over the speaker’s mouth. The shared root reveals speech as something held under watch.

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