Book of Genesis - Chapter 31 - Verse 35

In this verse, a daughter is explaining to her father why she is unable to rise before him. She mentions that the "custom of women" is upon her, referring to her menstrual cycle. Menstruation was seen as a period of impurity in many ancient cultures, including the Israelites. During this time, women were considered ritually unclean and were required to observe certain regulations, such as avoiding contact with men and refraining from rituals that required ritual purity. The daughter's explanation here shows her respect for her father and her desire to uphold the customs and traditions of their society. Additionally, the father's search for images that he does not find could indicate a parallel concern with ritual purity, as certain images or idols were considered impure in the eyes of God. Overall, this verse provides valuable insights into the social and religious customs of the time, shedding light on the practices and beliefs of the ancient Israelites.

In this verse, a theological interpretation can offer insight into the cultural and religious practices of the time. The phrase "the custom of women is upon me" refers to a woman's menstrual cycle, which was considered unclean according to Mosaic law. This period of impurity required a woman to separate herself from others and observe certain rituals. The fact that the father in the verse 'searched, but found not the images' suggests that he was looking for idols or objects associated with idol worship, which were forbidden by God. The absence of these images may indicate that the father was a worshipper of the one true God, despite the prevalence of idolatry in that era. This verse serves as a reminder of the importance of following God's commandments and staying true to His ways, even in the midst of cultural practices and societal norms that may conflict with biblical principles.