Literary Devices – Bereshit 31

Tanakh Lab points out that the root “גנב” (steal) comes up eight times in this chapter.¹ This verb is used in several different contexts, describing both Yaakov’s experience of injustice in Lavan’s house as well as Yaakov’s deceit of Lavan and Rachel’s stealing of Lavan’s household idols.  The repeated usage of this root emphasizes the web of deceit, suspicion, and mistrust that characterizes the relationship of Lavan and Yaakov, and that surfaces in numerous ways in this chapter. 

Hashem is referred to by a number of names in this chapter: Hashem, Elokim, El Beit El, Pachad Yitzchak, and in reference to others as "the God of so and so".  Many of these names highlight the unique narrative context of the chapter, in which there is a confrontation between Yaakov and Lavan and their vastly different religious beliefs. 

• Elokim – Elokim, the general name for Hashem, appears to be the default name in this chapter.²
• Hashem –The proper name of Hashem appears in verse 3, in which Hashem reveals Himself directly to Yaakov, and again in the context of Lavan and Yaakov’s oath in verse 49. In the former it is expected, being a personal revelation, but it is somewhat surprising that Lavan³ invokes this name.⁴
• El Beit El – This name appears in 31:13 and only one other time in Tanakh, in Bereshit 35:7.  Targum OnkelosBereshit 31:13About Targum Onkelos explains that it means “I am the God Who revealed Myself to you in Beit El”, summoning to Yaakov’s mind Hashem’s revelation in Chapter 28.  R. Naftali Herz WesselyBereshit 35:7About R. Naftali Herz Wessely,⁵ MalbimBereshit 35:7About R. Meir Leibush Weiser⁶ and others suggest that this name for Hashem is used to encourage Yaakov and his family to return to Israel by reminding them of the revelation, protection, and promise of Hashem at Beit El.
• The God of your father / my father / Avraham – These names are used by Lavan and Yaakov respectively (verses 29 and 42), reflecting that this chapter concerns a confrontation between two people with vastly different beliefs about God. The contrast is most stark in verse 53, where each party swears in the name of his own God,⁷ Yaakov in the name of "אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם" and Lavan in the name of "אלֹהֵי נָחוֹר".‎⁸
• Pachad Yitzchak – This appellation appears only in our chapter (in both verses 42 and 53). OnkelosBereshit 31:42Bereshit 35:7About Targum Onkelos, RashiBereshit 31:42About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki and others⁹ understand it to refer to Hashem, meaning "the God whom Yitzchak feared".¹⁰ Others, though, do not think it refers to God at all, but to a quality associated with Yitzchak.¹¹  Either way, the reference to Yitzchak’s service of God¹² in this verse highlights that Yaakov is emphasizing that he clings to the beliefs of his forefathers and not to the beliefs of Lavan.