Genèse 28:20

20 Et Jacob fit un vœu, en disant: Si Dieu est avec moi, et me garde dans ce voyage que je fais, et me donne du pain pour manger, et des habits pour me vêtir,

Genèse 28:20 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 28:20

And Jacob vowed a vow
Which is the first vow we read of in Scripture: saying, if God will be with me;
the word if is not a sign of doubting, but is either an adverb of time, and may be rendered, "when God shall be with me" F20; or as a supposition, expressive of an inference or conclusion drawn, "seeing God will be with me" F21; which he had the utmost reason to believe he would, since he had not only promised it, but had so lately granted him his presence in a very singular and remarkable manner, referring to the promise of God, ( Genesis 28:15 ) : and will keep me in this way that I go;
as he had said he would, and as hitherto he had, and for the future he had reason to believe he still would: and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on;
which is included in that clause, "I will not leave thee" ( Genesis 28:15 ) , even not without food and raiment; which is all men can desire or use, and therefore with them should be content.


FOOTNOTES:

F20 (Ma) "quum", Junius & Tremellius; so Ainsworth.
F21 Quandoquidem, Tigurine version.

Genèse 28:20 In-Context

18 Et Jacob se leva de bon matin, et prit la pierre dont il avait fait son chevet, et la dressa en monument, et il versa de l'huile sur son sommet.
19 Et il appela ce lieu-là Béthel (maison de Dieu), tandis qu'auparavant la ville s'appelait Luz.
20 Et Jacob fit un vœu, en disant: Si Dieu est avec moi, et me garde dans ce voyage que je fais, et me donne du pain pour manger, et des habits pour me vêtir,
21 Et que je retourne en paix à la maison de mon père, l'Éternel sera mon Dieu;
22 Et cette pierre, que j'ai dressée en monument, sera la maison de Dieu; et tout ce que tu m'accorderas, je t'en donnerai fidèlement la dîme.
The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.