He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days of one month were expired,
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ לָבָ֔ן אַ֛ךְ עַצְמִ֥י וּבְשָׂרִ֖י אָ֑תָּה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב עִמּ֖וֹ חֹ֥דֶשׁ יָמִֽים׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Laban, after gaining complete understanding from Jacob, remarked, "You are my bone and my flesh." He acknowledged Jacob as his sister's son, emphasizing that they were indeed of the same flesh and that Jacob was his brother. It is noted that Jacob resided with him for an entire month, living in comfort and security, much like one would in their own home.
And Laban quickly recognized Jacob, welcoming him into his home and showing affection towards his sister's son. He regarded Jacob as one of his closest relatives, declaring, "You are my bone and my flesh." This illustrates that the Israelites, representing the initial sprout of the divine lineage, have connections to the Gentiles, as Laban indicates he accepted Jacob despite his idolatrous background, acknowledging him as part of his own kin through Rebekah.
The patriarch Abraham, known for his faith, was called while still uncircumcised, having been raised in the idolatrous land of the Chaldeans. It is said that he received “the seal of righteousness through faith which he had in uncircumcision,” as noted in scripture (Rom. 4:11). Thus, the original Israel shares a bond with those from the Gentiles, although the laws create distinctions. Yet in Christ, “He that made of both one.” He has abolished “the barrier that stood in the midst ..., the law of commandments” which had separated them (Eph. 2:14-15). We are transformed into “one new man” (Eph. 2:15), and the Gentiles are united as one body and one spirit with the Israelites, ultimately merging into a shared identity through spiritual communion.
Jesus once spoke to the Heavenly Father, expressing, “I desire ... that they may be one, as We are one .... and that they also may be one in Us” (John 17:24, 22, 21). “For He is our peace, who hath made of both one, and hath broken down the barrier that stood in the midst” (Eph. 2:14), as previously mentioned, removing the divisions between us and uniting us as one through the Spirit. The clear sign of the unity in faith and spirit between the two nations is seen in Laban's embrace of Jacob, recognizing him as bone and flesh. This leads us to further discussions rooted in the scriptures.
You are indeed my bone and my flesh. Thus, you are genuinely my relative; for this reason, I shall embrace you and look after you.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS