Kejadian 31:35-36

31:35 Rachel ¹  said to her father, “Don’t be angry, ²  my lord. I cannot stand up ³  in your presence because I am having my period.” ⁴  So he searched thoroughly, ⁵  but did not find the idols.

31:36 Jacob became angry ⁶  and argued with Laban. “What did I do wrong?” he demanded of Laban. ⁷  “What sin of mine prompted you to chase after me in hot pursuit? ⁸ 

Kejadian 32:20

32:20 You must also say, ‘In fact your servant Jacob is behind us.’” ⁹  Jacob thought, ¹⁰  “I will first appease him ¹¹  by sending a gift ahead of me. ¹²  After that I will meet him. ¹³  Perhaps he will accept me.” ¹⁴ 

[31:35]  ¹ tn Heb “she”; the referent (Rachel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[31:35]  ² tn Heb “let it not be hot in the eyes of my lord.” This idiom refers to anger, in this case as a result of Rachel’s failure to stand in the presence of her father as a sign of respect.

[31:35]  ³ tn Heb “I am unable to rise.”

[31:35]  ⁴ tn Heb “the way of women is to me.” This idiom refers to a woman’s menstrual period.

[31:35]  ⁵ tn The word “thoroughly” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied.

[31:36]  ⁶ tn Heb “it was hot to Jacob.” This idiom refers to anger.

[31:36]  ⁷ tn Heb “and Jacob answered and said to Laban, ‘What is my sin?’” The proper name “Jacob” has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation and the order of the introductory clause and direct discourse rearranged for stylistic reasons.

[31:36]  ⁸ tn Heb “What is my sin that you have hotly pursued after me.” The Hebrew verb translated “pursue hotly” is used elsewhere of soldiers chasing defeated enemies (1 Sam 17:53).

[32:20]  ⁹ tn Heb “and look, your servant Jacob [is] behind us.”

[32:20]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “for he said.” The referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity. The Hebrew word מַקֵל (maqel), traditionally represents Jacob’s thought or reasoning, and is therefore translated “thought.”

[32:20]  ¹¹ tn Heb “I will appease his face.” The cohortative here expresses Jacob’s resolve. In the Book of Leviticus the Hebrew verb translated “appease” has the idea of removing anger due to sin or guilt, a nuance that fits this passage very well. Jacob wanted to buy Esau off with a gift of more than five hundred and fifty animals.

[32:20]  ¹² tn Heb “with a gift going before me.”

[32:20]  ¹³ tn Heb “I will see his face.”

[32:20]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “Perhaps he will lift up my face.” In this context the idiom refers to acceptance.