And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.

GENESIS 31:33KJV
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Genesis 31:33 (KJV)

What does Genesis 31:33 mean?

Genesis 31:33 describes Laban searching the family’s tents for his household gods. His search has not succeeded when he reaches Rachel’s tent. The verse brings the reader to the place where the missing objects are hidden, while Laban himself remains unaware of their location.

After Jacob challenges Laban to search in verse 32, the story follows Laban from one tent to another. The separate tents show the arrangement of the family’s camp and make Rachel’s tent the final place named in the search.

Why Genesis 31:33 matters

  • The reader knows something Laban does not: Rachel has taken the household gods, as Genesis 31:19 explains. That knowledge gives the search tension as Laban enters her tent.
  • Jacob’s confidence rests on incomplete knowledge. Genesis 31:32 says that he did not know Rachel had taken the gods, so his invitation to search is not a sign that he is protecting her secret.
  • Laban’s failure to find the objects is part of the scene’s turning point. In Genesis 31:34–35, Rachel remains seated on the place where she has hidden them, and Laban’s search ends without their discovery.

Where else these words appear

“Leah's” Hebrew H3812 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 29:16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
  • Genesis 30:11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.
  • Genesis 31:14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?

“Rachel's” Hebrew H7354 · used in 44 verses

  • Genesis 29:6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
  • Genesis 30:1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
  • Genesis 33:1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.

“Laban” Hebrew H3837 · used in 47 verses

  • Genesis 24:29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
  • Genesis 29:24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
  • Genesis 31:22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.

“maidservants'” Hebrew H519 · used in 49 verses

  • Genesis 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
  • Deuteronomy 5:14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.
  • 1 Samuel 25:41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.