In verse 19 the reader was told that Rachel stole the gods. Consequently Jacob is innocent, and, from his action now, it is clear that he knows nothing of Rachel’s deceit. Jacob challenges Laban and goes so far as to say that he is ready to put the thief to death. Since the change of topic at this point may again be confusing for readers, it may be necessary in some languages to indicate it in Jacob’s speech by saying “But about your gods, ….” At least one translation also has Jacob express his innocence in this angry response: “We didn’t take your gods—if you find….”

Any one with whom you find your gods shall not live: this may need to be restructured to say, for example, “If you find your gods with anyone here, I will [or you can, or we will have to] kill that person,” or “… that person will die.”

In the presence of our kinsmen is literally “before our brothers.” See verse 25. This expression is sometimes rendered “With our relatives watching what you do” or “Take our kinsmen as witnesses.” In this context the pronoun our must be inclusive in those languages that make a distinction between inclusive and exclusive first person, since Jacob is clearly referring to people who are relatives of the two men. See also the comments on verse 37.

Point out what I have that is yours, and take it: the Hebrew of this sentence is not clear without some additional elements being supplied. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project suggests translating “(If you see) anything [belonging] to you with me, [then] take it.” See Good News Translation “look for anything that belongs to you and take….”

The final sentence of verse 32 is parenthetical. It is to remind the reader what was said in verse 19. It builds tension in the story, because Jacob may be faced with having to put to death his beloved wife Rachel.

Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them: Now translates the common Hebrew connective and is used by Revised Standard Version as a means of introducing this inserted reminder. The thought expressed is that Jacob did not know (at the time he swore to kill the thief) that Rachel had stolen Laban’s gods when they were still in Haran.

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 .