Genesis 28

Genesis 28 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Even though Jacob tricked his father in order to receive Esau's blessing, the chapter repeats the blessing, ensuring he inherits the blessings promised to Abraham. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#bless and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#inherit and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#promise)

Special concepts in this chapter
Jacob's dream

Jacob had a dream or received a vision. The purpose of this dream is to show that, despite Jacob's sin, God is giving Abraham's covenant promises to Jacob and his descendants. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#sin and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#covenant and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#promise)

Bethel

This was an important city for Abraham and his descendants. It is possible that there is some theological significance to the city of Bethel.

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Genesis 28:1

You must not take

"Do not take"

Genesis 28:2

Arise, go

"Go right away"

Paddan Aram

This was another name for the region of Mesopotamia, which about the same location as modern Iraq. See how this was translated in Genesis 25:20. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

house of

This refers to a person's descendants or other relatives. Alternate translation: "family" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Bethuel

Bethuel was Rebekah's father. See how you translated this name in Genesis 22:22. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

your mother's father

"your grandfather"

one of the daughters

"from the daughters"

your mother's brother

"your uncle"

Genesis 28:3

General Information:

Isaac continues speaking to Jacob

make you fruitful and multiply you

The word "multiply" explains how God would make Jacob "fruitful." Alternate translation: "give you many children and descendants" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublet)

Genesis 28:4

May he give you the blessing of Abraham, to you, and to your descendants after you

This speaks about blessing someone as if a blessing were an object that a person can give. The abstract noun "the blessing" can be stated as "bless." Alternate translation: "May God bless you and your descendants as he blessed Abraham" or "May God give to you and your descendants what he promised to Abraham" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)

that you may inherit the land

God giving the land of Canaan to Jacob and his descendants is spoken of as if a child were inheriting money or possessions from his father. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

the land where you have been sojourning

"the land where you have been staying"

which God gave to Abraham

"which God promised to Abraham"

Genesis 28:5

Paddan Aram

This was another name for the region of Mesopotamia, which about the same location as modern Iraq. See how this was translated in Genesis 25:20. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Bethuel

Bethuel was Rebekah's father. See how you translated this name in Genesis 22:22. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 28:6

General Information:

The story changes from Jacob to Esau

Now

This word is used here to mark a change from the story to background information about Esau. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)

Paddan Aram

This was another name for the region of Mesopotamia, which about the same location as modern Iraq. See how this was translated in Genesis 25:20. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

to take a wife

"to take a wife for himself"

He also saw that Isaac had blessed him

"Esau also saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob"

You must not take

"Do not take"

women of Canaan

"daughters of Canaan" or "Canaanite women"

Genesis 28:7

General Information:

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Genesis 28:8

General Information:

This continues the background information about Esau.

Esau saw

"Esau realized"

the women of Canaan did not please Isaac his father

"his father Isaac did not approve of the women of Canaan"

women of Canaan

"daughters of Canaan" or "the Canaanite women"

Genesis 28:9

So he went

"Because of that, he went"

besides the wives that he had

"in addition to the wives that he already had"

Mahalath

This is the name of one of Ishmael's daughters. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Nebaioth

This is the name of one of Ishmael's sons. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 28:10

General Information:

The story switches back to Jacob

Genesis 28:11

He came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set

"He came to a certain place and, because the sun had set, he decided to stay for the night"

Genesis 28:12

He dreamed

"Jacob had a dream"

set up on the earth

"with the bottom of it touching the ground"

reached to heaven

This refers to the place where God lives.

Genesis 28:13

Behold

The word "behold" here alerts us to pay attention to the surprising information that follows.

Yahweh stood above it

Possible meanings are 1) "Yahweh was standing at the top of the stairway" or 2) "Yahweh was standing next to Jacob"

Abraham your father

Here "father" means "ancestor." Alternate translation: "Abraham your ancestor" or "Abraham your forefather"

Genesis 28:14

General Information:

God continues to talk to Jacob in a dream.

Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth

God compares Jacob's descendants to the dust of the earth to emphasize their huge number. Alternate translation: "You will have more descendants than you can count" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-simile)

you will spread far out to the west

The word "you" is singular and refers to Jacob. Here Jacob represents his descendants. Alternate translation: "your descendants will spread out to the west" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

you will spread far out

This means the people will extend the borders of their land and occupy more territory.

to the west, to the east, to the north, and to the south

This phrases are used together to mean "all directions." Alternate translation: "in all directions" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)

Through you and through your descendants will all the families of the earth be blessed

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I will bless all families on the earth through you and your descendants" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

Genesis 28:15

Behold, I am

"Pay attention, because what I am about to say is both true and important: I am"

for I will not leave you. I will do all

"for I will not leave you until I have done all"

I will keep you

"I will keep you safe" or "I will protect you"

I will bring you into this land again

"I will bring you back to this land"

Genesis 28:16

awoke out of his sleep

"woke up from his sleep"

Genesis 28:17

the house of God ... the gate of heaven

The phrase "the gate of heaven" explains that this place is the entrance to "the house of God" and "the entrance to where God lives." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublet)

This is the gate of heaven

This speaks about the entrance to the place where God lives as if it were a literal kingdom that had a gate that someone has to open to let people in. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

Genesis 28:18

pillar

This is a memorial pillar, that is, simply a large stone or boulder set up on its end.

poured oil upon the top of it

This action symbolizes that Jacob is dedicating the pillar to God. The full meaning of this statement can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "poured oil on the top of it in order to dedicate the pillar to God" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-symaction and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 28:19

Bethel

Translators may also add a footnote that says "The name Bethel means 'house of God.'"

Luz

This is the name of a city. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 28:20

Connecting Statement:

Jacob begins to make a vow to Yahweh.

vowed a vow

"made a vow" or "solemnly promised God"

If God will ... clothes to wear

Jacob is speaking to God in the third person. This can be stated in the second person. Alternate translation: "If you will ... clothes to wear" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-123person)

on this road on which I am walking

This stands for Jacob's journey to find a wife and to return home. Alternate translation: "on this journey" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

will give me bread to eat

Here "bread" stands for food in general. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)

Genesis 28:21

Connecting Statement:

The vow that began with the words "If God will ... clothes to wear" in verse 20 continues here.

so that I return safely ... then Yahweh will be my God

The vow that began with the words "If God will ... clothes to wear" in verse 20 continues here. Jacob is speaking to God in the third person. This can be stated in the second person. "If you will ... clothes to wear ... so that I return safely ... then you, Yahweh, will be the God that I will worship" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-123person)

to my father's house

Here "house" stands for Jacob's family. Alternate translation: "to my father and the rest of my family" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 28:22

a sacred stone

This means that the stone will mark the place where God appeared to him and it will be a place where people can worship God. Alternate translation: "God's house" or "God's place"