Skip to content
Scripture Mapping

Genesis 35

World English Bible

WEB

1God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.” 2Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. 3Let’s arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.” 4They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. 5They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob. 6So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. 7He built an altar there, and called the place El Beth El; because there God was revealed to him, when he fled from the face of his brother. 8Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth. 9God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him. 10God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel.” He named him Israel. 11God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out of your body. 12The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your offspring after you I will give the land.” 13God went up from him in the place where he spoke with him. 14Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spoke with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it. 15Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him “Bethel”. 16They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor. 17When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for now you will have another son.” 18As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin. 19Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem). 20Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. 21Israel traveled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder. 22While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s servant): Dan and Naphtali. 26The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram. 27Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners. 28The days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years. 29Isaac gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him.

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

Overview

Genesis Chapter 35 marks a significant moment in the life of Jacob as he returns to Bethel, the place where he first encountered God. After the tragic death of his beloved wife, #Rachel, during childbirth, Jacob is reminded by God to go back to Bethel, where he is to build an altar. This chapter emphasizes the importance of returning to the place of divine encounter and worship. God reassures Jacob, reaffirming the covenant promises made to him, including the promise of a great nation arising from his lineage. Jacob's obedience in following God's command demonstrates his faith and commitment to the covenant relationship with the Lord.

The chapter also recounts the renaming of Jacob to #Israel, signifying his struggle and victory with God. This name change is a pivotal moment, as it reflects Jacob's transformation and the establishment of the nation of Israel. Additionally, the chapter concludes with a genealogy of Jacob's sons, highlighting the twelve tribes of Israel that will emerge from his lineage. The narrative serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the unfolding of His redemptive plan through Jacob's family, ultimately leading to the nation of Israel.

Study

14 dimensions

Referenced by

  1. Genesis 32:28v10In Genesis 32:28, Jacob's name is changed to Israel, signifying his struggle and prevailing with God. This is reaffirmed in Genesis 35:10, where God reiterates Jacob's new identity.
  2. Genesis 34:30v5Jacob's fear of retaliation in Genesis 34:30 is addressed by God's protection in Genesis 35:5, illustrating God's faithfulness despite human failure.
  3. 1 Chronicles 2:1v231 Chronicles 2:1 lists the sons of Israel, which corresponds to the genealogical account in Genesis 35:23-26, providing a foundational understanding of the tribes of Israel.

Topics in this chapter

Your study

Take it with you

This chapter’s study as a Markdown file. The analysis was written for a notebook originally, so the hashtags arrive as hashtags and the passages as links.