Genesis 28WEB
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Genesis28

World English Bible · Public Domain

1Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

2Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father. Take a wife from there from the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.

3May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a company of peoples,

4and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your offspring with you, that you may inherit the land where you travel, which God gave to Abraham.”

5Isaac sent Jacob away. He went to Paddan Aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.

6Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a command, saying, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;”

7and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan Aram.

8Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn’t please Isaac, his father.

9So Esau went to Ishmael, and took, in addition to the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.

10Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.

11He came to a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep.

12He dreamed and saw a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

13Behold, Yahweh stood above it, and said, “I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. I will give the land you lie on to you and to your offspring.

14Your offspring will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your offspring, all the families of the earth will be blessed.

15Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken of to you.”

16Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, “Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I didn’t know it.”

17He was afraid, and said, “How awesome this place is! This is none other than God’s house, and this is the gate of heaven.”

18Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on its top.

19He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.

20Jacob vowed 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 put on,

21so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and Yahweh will be my God,

22then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God’s house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give a tenth to you.”

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 28.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Isaac sends Jacob to Padan-aram. (1–5). Esau marries the daughter of Ishmael. (6–9). Jacob's vision. (10–15). The stone of Beth-el. (16–19). Jacob's vow. (20–22).

vv1-5

Jacob had blessings promised both as to this world and that which is to come; yet goes out to a hard service. This corrected him for the fraud on his father. The blessing shall be conferred on him, yet he shall smart for the indirect course taken to obtain it. Jacob is dismissed by his father with a solemn charge. He must not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan: those who profess religion, should not marry with those that care not for religion. Also with a solemn blessing. Isaac had before blessed him unwittingly; now he does it designedly. This blessing is more full than the former; it is a gospel blessing. This promise looks as high as heaven, of which Canaan was a type. That was the better country which Jacob and the other patriarchs had in view.

vv6-9

Good examples impress even the profane and malicious. But Esau thought, by pleasing his parents in one thing, to atone for other wrong doings. Carnal hearts are apt to think themselves as good as they should be, because in some one matter they are not so bad as they have been.

vv10-15

Jacob's conduct hitherto, as recorded, was not that of one who simply feared and trusted in God. But now in trouble, obliged to flee, he looked only to God to make him to dwell in safety, and he could lie down and sleep in the open air with his head upon a stone. Any true believer would be willing to take up with Jacob's pillow, provided he might have Jacob's vision. God's time to visit his people with his comforts, is, when they are most destitute of other comforts, and other comforters. Jacob saw a ladder which reached from earth to heaven, the angels going up and coming down, and God himself at the head of it. This represents, 1. The providence of God, by which there is a constant intercourse kept up between heaven and earth. This let Jacob know that he had both a good guide and a good guard. 2. The mediation of Christ. He is this ladder; the foot on earth in his human nature, the top in heaven in his Divine nature. Christ is the Way; all God's favours come to us, and all our services go to him, by Christ, Joh 1:51. By this way, sinners draw near to the throne of grace with acceptance. By faith we perceive this way, and in prayer we approach by it. In answer to prayer we receive all needful blessings of providence and grace. We have no way of getting to heaven but by Christ. And when the soul, by faith, can see these things, then every place will become pleasant, and every prospect joyful. He will never leave us, until his last promise is accomplished in our everlasting happiness. God now spake comfortably to Jacob. He spake from the head of the ladder. All the glad tidings we receive from heaven come through Jesus Christ. The Messiah should come from Jacob. Christ is the great blessing of the world. All that are blessed, are blessed in him, and none of any family are shut out from blessedness in him, but those that shut out themselves. Jacob had to fear danger from his brother Esau; but God promises to keep him. He had a long journey before him; to an unknown country; but, Behold, I am with thee, and God promises to bring him back again to this land. He seemed to be forsaken of all his friends; but God gives him this assurance, I will not leave thee. Whom God loves, he never leaves.

Cross References

Genesis 28
v12John 1:51typology

Jesus applies the ladder imagery directly to Himself as the mediator between heaven and earth.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v22Genesis 35:7fulfillment

Jacob fulfills his vow by building an altar at Bethel, naming it El-bethel.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v12Genesis 31:13thematic

God identifies Himself to Jacob specifically as the God of Beth-el where he anointed the pillar.

Supported by John Calvin

v14Genesis 12:3fulfillment

Direct reiteration of the Abrahamic covenant blessing to all the families of the earth.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

v22Genesis 35:1fulfillment

God commands Jacob to return to Bethel and perform the vow he made here.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v22Genesis 14:20allusion

Abraham's giving of tithes to Melchizedek is the precedent for Jacob's vow of a tenth.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v1Genesis 24:3thematic

Matches Abraham's prior strict prohibition against marrying Canaanite women.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

v15Hebrews 13:5thematic

New Testament echo of God's promise never to leave nor forsake His people.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v19Genesis 35:1thematic

God commands Jacob to return to Beth-el to build an altar where He appeared to him.

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

v19Hosea 12:4thematic

Hosea recalls Jacob's encounter, weeping, and supplication with the Angel at Beth-el.

Supported by JFB

v21Genesis 28:15fulfillment

Jacob's vow echoes God's promise to keep him and bring him back in peace.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

The formal Mosaic law regarding the tithing of all possessions, echoing Jacob's early practice.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v3Hebrews 11:20thematic

NT theological summary of Isaac blessing Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

Supported by John Calvin

v3Genesis 17:1-6thematic

The initial revelation of God Almighty (El Shaddai) promising multiplication to Abraham.

Supported by John Calvin

v9Genesis 36:3thematic

Identifies Mahalath, Ishmael's daughter (called Bashemath here), whom Esau married to please his parents.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v10Hosea 12:12thematic

Prophetic summary of Jacob fleeing to the country of Syria to serve for a wife.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v18Genesis 35:14thematic

Jacob later sets up and consecrates another pillar of stone at Beth-el upon his return.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v20Genesis 28:15thematic

Jacob's vow directly responds to and rests on God's preceding promise in verse 15.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

Israel's formal covenant declaration that 'the Lord shall be thy God,' mirroring Jacob's vow.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v22Hebrews 7:2thematic

New Testament discussion of Abraham's tenth, illuminating the patriarchal practice of tithing.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v14Galatians 3:16thematic

NT exposition showing the 'seed' of Abraham and Jacob points ultimately to Christ.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v20Proverbs 30:8thematic

Parallels Jacob's modest request for only necessary food and raiment.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v21Genesis 31:18thematic

Jacob returns with all his goods to go to Isaac his father in Canaan.