Genesis 35

Genesis 35:1

go up to Bethel

The phrase "go up" is used because Bethel is higher in elevation than Shechem.

Build an altar there to God

"Build an altar there to me, your God"

Genesis 35:2

said to his household

"said to his family"

Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you

"Throw away your idols" or "Get rid of your false gods"

purify yourselves, and change your clothes

This was the custom of cleansing oneself morally and physically before going to worship God.

change your clothes

Putting on a new clothes was a sign that they had made themselves clean before approaching God.

Genesis 35:4

that were in their hand

"that were in their possession" or "that they had"

the rings that were in their ears

"their earrings." Possible meanings are 1) the gold in the earrings could have been used to make more idols or 2) they took these earrings from the city of Shechem after they attacked it and killed all the people. The earrings would have reminded them of their sin.

Genesis 35:5

God made panic to fall on the cities

"God made the people in the surrounding cities afraid of Jacob and those with him"

on the cities

Here "cities" stands for the people who live in the cities.

the sons of Jacob

"Jacob's family" or "Jacob's household"

Genesis 35:6

Luz

This is the name of a city. See how you translated this in Genesis 28:19.

Genesis 35:7

El Bethel

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

Genesis 35:8

Deborah

This is the name of a woman.

Rebekah's nurse

A nurse is a woman who takes care of another woman's child. The nurse was highly honored and important to the family.

Allon Bakuth

Translators may add a footnote that says: "The name Allon Bakuth means 'Oak tree where there is weeping.'"

Genesis 35:9

When Jacob came from Paddan Aram

"After Jacob left Paddan Aram, and while he was in Bethel"

blessed

Here "bless" means to pronounce a formal blessing on someone and to cause good things to happen to that person.

Genesis 35:10

but your name will no longer be called Jacob

"but your name will no longer be Jacob"

Genesis 35:11

God said to him

"God said to Jacob"

Be fruitful and multiply

God told Jacob to produce children so that there would be many of them. The word "multiply" explains how he was to be "fruitful."

A nation and a company of nations will come from you

Here "nation" and "nations" refer to Jacob's descendants who will establish these nations.

Genesis 35:13

God went up from him

"God left him"

Genesis 35:14

pillar

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

He poured out a drink offering over it and poured oil on it

This is a sign that he is dedicating the pillar to God.

Genesis 35:15

Bethel

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

Genesis 35:16

Ephrath

This is another name for the town of Bethlehem.

She had hard labor

"She was having a very difficult time giving birth to the child"

Genesis 35:17

While she was in hardest labor

"When the labor pain was at its worst"

midwife

a person who helps a woman when she is giving birth to a child

Genesis 35:18

As she was dying, with her dying breath

"Just before she died, as she was taking her last breath"

Ben-Oni

Translator may add a footnote that says "The name Ben-Oni means 'son of my sorrow.'"

Benjamin

Translator may add a footnote that says "The name Benjamin means 'son of the right hand.'" The phrase "right hand" indicates a place of special favor.

Genesis 35:19

was buried

"they buried her"

on the way

"alongside the road"

Genesis 35:20

It is the marker of Rachel's grave to this day

"It marks Rachel's grave to the time that the author was writing this"

Genesis 35:21

the watchtower of the flock

Some English translations understand this phrase as a proper name, either "Migdal Eder" or "the tower of Eder."

Genesis 35:22

lay with

"had sexual relations with"

Now Jacob had twelve sons

This sentence begins a new paragraph, which continues into the following verses.

Genesis 35:26

Zilpah

This is the name of Leah's female servant. See how you translated this name in Genesis 29:24.

who were born to him in Paddan Aram

"who were born to him in Paddan Aram, except Benjamin who was born in the land of Canaan"

Genesis 35:27

Jacob came to Isaac

Here "came" can be stated as "went."

Mamre

This was another name for the city of Hebron. It may have been named after Mamre, the friend of Abraham who lived there.

Kiriath Arba

This is the name of a city. See how you translated this in Genesis 23:2.

Genesis 35:29

was gathered to his ancestors

"he joined his family members who had already died"

an old man full of days

"after he had lived a very long time and was very old"