Gen 31:30 | NETfull | STEP | Now I understand that you have gone away because you longed desperately for your father’s house. Yet why did you steal my gods?”

Genesis 31:30

30 Now I understand that ^{▼▼ Heb “and now.” The words “I understand that” have been supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.} you have gone away ^{▼▼ The infinitive absolute appears before the perfect verbal form to emphasize the certainty of the action.} because you longed desperately ^{▼▼ The infinitive absolute appears before the perfect verbal form to emphasize the degree of emotion involved.} for your father’s house. Yet why did you steal my gods?” ^{▼▼ Yet why did you steal my gods? This last sentence is dropped into the speech rather suddenly. See C. Mabee, “Jacob and Laban: The Structure of Judicial Proceedings,” VT 30 (1980): 192-207, and G. W. Coats, “Self-Abasement and Insult Formulas,” JBL 91 (1972): 90-92.}