KJV ORIGINAL
If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
If you mistreat my daughters or marry other women in addition to my daughters, remember that even though no one else is here with us, God sees everything and is our witness.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is recording Laban's warning to Jacob that God will hold him accountable for how he treats his daughters, even when no one else is watching.
📚 Historical Context
This is part of Laban's farewell speech to Jacob as they make a covenant before parting ways. Laban is concerned about his daughters Leah and Rachel, who are leaving with Jacob to return to Canaan. In ancient times, polygamy was common, and fathers worried about their daughters' welfare once they moved far away from family protection.
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