^31:34(Now Rachel had taken the idols and put them inside her camel’s saddle⁶⁹ and sat on them.)⁷⁰ Laban searched the whole tent, but did not find them.⁷¹^31:35Rachel⁷² said to her father, “Don’t be angry,⁷³ my lord. I cannot stand up⁷⁴ in your presence because I am having my period.”⁷⁵ So he searched thoroughly,⁷⁶ but did not find the idols.

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Footnotes

69 The “camel’s saddle” was probably some sort of basket-saddle, a cushioned saddle with a basket bound on. Cf. “inside a camel cushion.”
70 The disjunctive clause (introduced by a vav [ו] conjunction) provides another parenthetical statement necessary to the storyline.
71 The word “them” has been supplied in the translation for clarification.
72 Heb “she”; the referent (Rachel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
73 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.
74 Heb “I am unable to rise.”
75 Heb “the way of women is to me.” This idiom refers to a woman’s menstrual period.
76 The word “thoroughly” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel’s saddle and sat on them. Laban felt all about the tent, but did not find them. And she said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household gods.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them inside her camel’s saddle and was sitting on them. Laban searched through everything in the tent but found nothing.

Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence; I’m having my period.” So he searched but could not find the household gods.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Now Rachel had taken Laban’s household idols, put them in the saddlebag of the camel, and sat on them. Laban searched the whole tent but found nothing.

She said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence; I am having my period.” So Laban searched, but could not find the household idols.

NLTNew Living Translation

But Rachel had taken the household idols and hidden them in her camel saddle, and now she was sitting on them. When Laban had thoroughly searched her tent without finding them, she said to her father, “Please, sir, forgive me if I don’t get up for you. I’m having my monthly period.” So Laban continued his search, but he could not find the household idols.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Now Rachel had taken the idols and put them in the saddle bag of the camel and sat on them. And Laban searched the whole tent thoroughly but did not find them. And she said to her father, “Let there not be anger in the eyes of my lord, for I am not able to rise before you, for the way of women is with me. And he searched carefully and did not find the idols.

KJV 1900King James Version

Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not. And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.

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