Genesis 33:18

18 After Jacob came from Paddan Aram,[a] he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city.

Genesis 33:18 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.
English Standard Version (ESV)
18 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city.
New Living Translation (NLT)
18 Later, having traveled all the way from Paddan-aram, Jacob arrived safely at the town of Shechem, in the land of Canaan. There he set up camp outside the town.
The Message Bible (MSG)
18 And that's how it happened that Jacob arrived all in one piece in Shechem in the land of Canaan - all the way from Paddan Aram. He camped near the city.
American Standard Version (ASV)
18 And Jacob came in peace to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram; and encamped before the city.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
18 So having come from Paddan Aram, Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem in Canaan. He camped within sight of the city.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
18 After Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at the Canaanite city of Shechem and camped in front of the city.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
18 After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan. He camped where he could see the city.

Genesis 33:18 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 33:18

And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem
Not Salem, of which Melchizedek was king, much less Jerusalem, for it was forty miles from it F23; more likely Salim near Aenon, where John was baptizing, ( John 3:23 ) ; though it perhaps is the same with Shechem; for the words may be read, he "came to Shalem, the city Shechem", a city which Hamor had built, and called by the name of his son Shechem, the same with Sychar, ( John 4:5 ) ; this was on this side Jordan, and therefore Jacob must have passed over that river, though no mention is made of it; it is said to be about eight miles from Succoth F24: though some think Shalem is not the name of a place, but an appellative, and to be rendered "safe [and] sound", or "whole"; and so the Jewish F25 writers generally understand it of his coming in peace, health, and safety: which [is] in the land of Canaan;
it belonged to that tribe of the Canaanites called Hivites; for Hamor, the father of Shechem, from whom it had its name, was an Hivite, ( Genesis 34:2 ) , so that Jacob was now got into the land of Canaan, his own country, and where his kindred dwelt: when he came from Padanaram;
from Mesopotamia, from Haran there; Shechem was the first place in the land of Canaan he came to, when he came from thence, and whither he came in the greatest safety, he himself, wives, children, and servants, in good health, without any loss of any of his cattle and substance; and without any ill thing befalling: him all the way thither, being delivered from Laban and Esau, and from every danger, and from every enemy: and to signify this is this clause added, which may seem otherwise superfluous: and pitched his tent before the city;
the city of Shechem, not in it, but near it.


FOOTNOTES:

F23 Bunting's Travels, p. 75.
F24 Ib. p. 72.
F25 Targum Jon. Jarchi, Aben Ezra & Ben Gersom in loc.

Genesis 33:18 In-Context

16 So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir.
17 Jacob, however, went to Sukkoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Sukkoth.
18 After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city.
19 For a hundred pieces of silver, he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of ground where he pitched his tent.
20 There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Genesis 25:20; Genesis 28:2
  • 2. S Genesis 12:6; Joshua 24:1; Judges 9:1

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
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