Genesis 28

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.

house of

"family"

Bethuel

Bethuel was Rebekah's father. See how you translated this name in Genesis 22:22.

your mother's father

"your grandfather"

your mother's brother

"your uncle"

Genesis 28:3

make you fruitful and multiply you

"give you many children and descendants"

Genesis 28:4

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

"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"

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.

the land where you have been sojourning

"the land where you have been staying"

Genesis 28:6

Now

This word is used here to mark a change from the story to background information about Esau.

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"

women of Canaan

"daughters of Canaan" or "Canaanite women"

Genesis 28:8

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"

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.

Nebaioth

This is the name of one of Ishmael's sons.

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

"Abraham your ancestor" or "Abraham your forefather"

Genesis 28:14

Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth

"You will have more descendants than you can count"

you will spread far out to the west

"your descendants will spread out to the west"

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

"in all directions"

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

"I will bless all families on the earth through you and your descendants"

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 28:17

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."

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

"poured oil on the top of it in order to dedicate the pillar to God"

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.

Genesis 28:20

vowed a vow

"made a vow" or "solemnly promised God"

on this road on which I am walking

"on this journey"

will give me bread to eat

Here "bread" stands for food in general

Genesis 28:21

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

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"

to my father's house

"to my father and the rest of my family"

Genesis 28:22

a sacred stone

"God's house" or "God's place"