And Laban said to Jacob: in verse 25 we were told that the two groups camped in the same mountains; and now in verse 26 they suddenly begin speaking to each other. In some languages a transition will be required to bring these two men together. Accordingly Laban said to Jacob may need to be adjusted to say, for example, “When they met each other Laban asked Jacob,” or “[The next day] Laban went to Jacob and said.”

What have you done, that you have cheated me…? Revised Standard Version follows the literal form of the Hebrew question. In many languages this will need to be restructured to say, for example, “Why have you cheated me?” The tone of Laban’s voice is angry and accusing, and the form of the question should reflect that.

Laban’s question refers to Jacob’s departure with his daughters, and so the full question is “Why have you cheated me and taken away my daughters?” In some languages it will be more natural to express this as a rhetorical question; for example, “Am I someone to deceive so you can steal my daughters?”

Cheated me is literally “stole my heart,” as discussed in verse 20. Carried away translates a form of the verb meaning to “take” or “lead away.”

Like captives of the sword: sword here represents a battle or war. The full expression refers to enemies who are captured and carried off as captives by the victor in a battle. Laban condemns Jacob for sneaking away secretly from Haran. In normal practice the departure of Leah and Rachel would be the occasion for a farewell feast with blessings in songs and poetry. Note the case of Abraham’s servant departing with Rebekah in 24.54-61.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .