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Genesis 28

World English Bible

WEB

1Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father. Take a wife from there from the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother. 3May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a company of peoples, 4and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your offspring with you, that you may inherit the land where you travel, which God gave to Abraham.” 5Isaac sent Jacob away. He went to Paddan Aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother. 6Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a command, saying, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;” 7and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan Aram. 8Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn’t please Isaac, his father. 9So Esau went to Ishmael, and took, in addition to the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife. 10Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11He came to a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12He dreamed and saw a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13Behold, Yahweh stood above it, and said, “I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. I will give the land you lie on to you and to your offspring. 14Your offspring will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your offspring, all the families of the earth will be blessed. 15Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken of to you.” 16Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, “Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I didn’t know it.” 17He was afraid, and said, “How awesome this place is! This is none other than God’s house, and this is the gate of heaven.” 18Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on its top. 19He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20Jacob vowed a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, 21so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and Yahweh will be my God, 22then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God’s house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give a tenth to you.”

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Genesis Chapter 28 recounts a pivotal moment in the life of Jacob, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. As Jacob prepares to leave his home to escape the wrath of his brother Esau, Isaac blesses him and instructs him not to marry a Canaanite woman, but to go to Paddan-aram to find a wife from his mother's family. This blessing reaffirms the covenant promises made to Abraham, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the lineage of faith. Jacob's journey symbolizes a transition, as he steps into the role of the patriarch of the Israelite nation, carrying the weight of God's promises on his shoulders. #Jacob #Isaac #Abraham #Covenant #Blessing
As Jacob travels, he stops for the night at a certain place, using a stone for a pillow. During his sleep, he dreams of a ladder set up on the earth, reaching to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. This dream signifies God's connection to humanity and His active involvement in the world. In the dream, God speaks to Jacob, reaffirming the covenant made with Abraham and Isaac, promising him land, numerous descendants, and blessings. God assures Jacob of His presence and protection, stating, "I am with you and will keep you wherever you go" (Genesis 28:15). Upon waking, Jacob recognizes the holiness of the place, exclaiming, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it" (Genesis 28:16). He then sets up the stone as a pillar and anoints it, naming the place Bethel, meaning "House of God." This chapter highlights God's faithfulness and the establishment of a personal relationship with Jacob, setting the stage for the unfolding of His redemptive plan through Jacob's descendants.

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Referenced by

  1. Genesis 26:24v13Genesis 26:24 contains God's reassurance to Isaac, similar to the promise He later makes to Jacob in Genesis 28:13-15, affirming His presence and blessing.
  2. Genesis 31:3v15In Genesis 31:3, God tells Jacob to return to the land of his fathers, promising His presence. This echoes God's promise in Genesis 28:15 to be with Jacob wherever he goes.
  3. Genesis 32:1v12Genesis 32:1 mentions the angels of God meeting Jacob, reminiscent of Jacob's vision of angels ascending and descending on a ladder in Genesis 28:12, symbolizing God's presence and protection.
  4. Genesis 32:9-12v13In Genesis 32:9-12, Jacob prays to God, recalling the promises made to him at Bethel in Genesis 28:13-15, where God assured him of His presence and future blessings.
  5. Genesis 33:18-20v20Jacob arrives safely in Shechem and builds an altar, fulfilling his vow to God made in Genesis 28:20-22, where he promised to worship God upon his safe return. This demonstrates faithfulness to vows and the importance of worship.
  6. Genesis 35:1v19In Genesis 35:1, God instructs Jacob to return to Bethel, where he had previously encountered God in Genesis 28:19. This return signifies a renewal of Jacob's commitment to God and the fulfillment of his vow.
  7. Genesis 46:4v15In Genesis 46:4, God assures Jacob of His presence and promise to bring him back, similar to the promise given to Jacob at Bethel in Genesis 28:15.
  8. Genesis 48:16v15In Genesis 48:16, Jacob speaks of the Angel who redeemed him from all evil, echoing God's promise in Genesis 28:15 to be with Jacob and keep him wherever he goes, highlighting God's faithfulness and protection.
  9. Joshua 4:9v18Joshua 4:9 describes the setting up of stones as a memorial, similar to Jacob setting up a stone pillar in Genesis 28:18-22 as a witness to God's promise.
  10. Hosea 12:4v12Hosea 12:4 mentions Jacob's encounter with God at Bethel, which is detailed in Genesis 28:12-15, where Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven and receives God's promise of blessing and presence.
  11. John 1:51v12John 1:51 alludes to Jacob's ladder in Genesis 28:12, symbolizing Jesus as the connection between heaven and earth.

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