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Book of Genesis - Chapter 31 - Verse 35

31:35
And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.

Meaning

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.

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