Genesis 28:21

21 and if I return safely to my father's home, then you will be my God.

Genesis 28:21 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 28:21

So that I come again to my father's house in peace
In safety from Esau, and all other enemies, as God promised him he should: then the Lord shall be my God;
not as if he should not be his God if he did not do all this for him; which would savour not only of a mercenary spirit, but of great impiety; neither of which were to be found in Jacob: but the meaning is, that he should not only continue to own him as his God, and to worship him, but having fresh obligations upon him, should be stirred up more eagerly and devoutly to serve him in a very singular way and manner, and particularly by doing what is expressed in ( Genesis 28:22 ) . Some think he has respect to the Messiah, owning him to be the true God with the Father and the blessed Spirit, who had appeared to Abraham, and was the fear of Isaac, and whom Jacob now owned as his God: this receives some confirmation from the Targum of Jonathan, which begins the paragraph thus,

``if the Word of the Lord will be my help then the Lord shall be my God.''

Genesis 28:21 In-Context

19 He named the place Bethel. (The town there was once known as Luz.)
20 Then Jacob made a vow to the Lord: "If you will be with me and protect me on the journey I am making and give me food and clothing,
21 and if I return safely to my father's home, then you will be my God.
22 This memorial stone which I have set up will be the place where you are worshiped, and I will give you a tenth of everything you give me."
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.