Genesis 35:9-15

Listen to Genesis 35:9-15
9 After Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, [a] God appeared to him again and blessed him.
10 And God said to him, “Though your name is Jacob, [b] you will no longer be called Jacob. Instead, your name will be Israel. [c]” So God named him Israel.
11 And God told him, “I am God Almighty. [d] Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you.
12 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”
13 Then God went up from the place where He had spoken with him.
14 So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God had spoken with him—a stone marker—and he poured out a drink offering on it and anointed it with oil.
15 Jacob called the place where God had spoken with him Bethel. [e]

Genesis 35:9-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 35

This chapter gives an account of Jacob's going to Bethel, and building an altar there by the order and direction of God, Ge 35:1-7, where Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died and was buried, Ge 35:8, and where God appeared to Jacob, confirmed the new name of Israel he had given him, and renewed to him the promises of the multiplication of his seed, and of their inheriting the land of Canaan, Ge 35:9-13; all which is gratefully acknowledged by Jacob, who erected a pillar in the place, and called it Bethel, in memory of God's gracious appearance to him there, Ge 35:14,15; from hence he journeyed towards his father's house, and on the way Rachel his wife fell in travail, and bore him a son, and died, and was buried near Ephrath, Ge 35:16-21; near this place Reuben committed incest with Bilhah, Ge 35:22, and the names of the twelve sons of Jacob are given, Ge 35:23-26; and the chapter is closed with an account of Jacob's arrival at his father's house, of the death of Isaac, and of his burial at the direction of his two sons, Ge 35:27-29.

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Footnotes 5

  • [a] That is, northwest Mesopotamia; also in verse 26
  • [b] Jacob means he grasps the heel or he deceives.
  • [c] Israel means he struggles with God.
  • [d] Hebrew El-Shaddai
  • [e] Bethel means house of God.
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