Genesis 28:18-22

18 So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up 1for a pillar 2and poured oil on the top of it.
19 He called the name of that place 3Bethel,[a] but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
20 Then Jacob 4made 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 wear,
21 5so that I come again to my father's house in peace, 6then the LORD shall be my God,
22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, 7shall be God's house. And 8of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you."

Genesis 28:18-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 28

In this chapter an account is given of the charge Isaac gave to Jacob not to marry a Canaanitess, but to go to Padanaram, and take a wife from his mother's family, and of his blessing him before he sent him away, Ge 28:1-5; of the notice that Esau took of this blessing and charge, which led him to take a wife of the family of Ishmael, Ge 28:6-9; of the dream of the ladder, which Jacob had in his way to Haran, Ge 28:10-12; of the blessing which God conferred upon him there, Ge 28:13-15; of the awfulness of the place upon his awaking, and of his erecting a pillar in it, and giving a name to it, Ge 28:16-19; and of the vow he made to God, should he be supplied with the necessaries of life, and be kept in safety by him, Ge 28:20-22.

Cross References 8

  • 1. Genesis 31:13, 45; Genesis 35:14; [1 Samuel 7:12; 2 Samuel 18:18]
  • 2. [Leviticus 8:10, 11; Numbers 7:1]
  • 3. Genesis 35:7; Judges 1:23, 26
  • 4. Genesis 31:13
  • 5. [Judges 11:31; 2 Samuel 15:7-9]
  • 6. Deuteronomy 26:17
  • 7. Genesis 35:7, 14
  • 8. Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-33

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Bethel means the house of God
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.