Genesis 35
Contemporary English Version
Jacob Returns to Bethel
35 (A) God told Jacob, “Return to Bethel, where I appeared to you when you were running from your brother Esau. Make your home there and build an altar for me.”
2 Jacob said to his family and to everyone else who was traveling with him:
Get rid of your foreign gods! Then make yourselves acceptable to worship God and put on clean clothes. 3 Afterwards, we'll go to Bethel. I will build an altar there for God, who answered my prayers when I was in trouble and who has always been at my side.
4 So everyone gave Jacob their idols and their earrings,[a] and he buried them under the oak tree near Shechem.
5 While Jacob and his family were traveling through Canaan, God terrified the people in the towns so much that no one dared bother them. 6 Finally, they reached Bethel, also known as Luz. 7 Jacob built an altar there and called it “God of Bethel,” because that was the place where God had appeared to him when he was running from Esau. 8 While they were there, Rebekah's personal servant Deborah[b] died. They buried her under an oak tree and called it “Weeping Oak.”
God Blesses Jacob at Bethel
9-11 (B)(C) After Jacob came back to the land of Canaan, God appeared to him again. This time he gave Jacob a new name and blessed him by saying:
I am God All-Powerful, and from now on your name will be Israel[c] instead of Jacob. You will have many children. Your descendants will become nations, and some of the men in your family will even be kings. 12 I will give you the land that I promised Abraham and Isaac, and it will belong to your family forever.
13 After God had gone, 14 (D) Jacob set up a large rock, so that he would remember what had happened there. Then he poured wine and olive oil on the rock to show that it was dedicated to God, 15 and he named the place Bethel.[d]
Benjamin Is Born
16 Jacob and his family had left Bethel and were still a long way from Ephrath, when the time came for Rachel's baby to be born. 17 She was having a rough time, but the woman who was helping her said, “Don't worry! It's a boy.” 18 Rachel was at the point of death, and right before dying, she said, “I'll name him Benoni.”[e] But Jacob called him Benjamin.[f]
19 Rachel was buried beside the road to Ephrath, which is also called Bethlehem. 20 Jacob set up a tombstone over her grave, and it is still there. 21 Jacob, also known as Israel, traveled to the south of Eder Tower, where he set up camp.
22 (E) During their time there, Jacob's oldest son Reuben slept with Bilhah, who was one of Jacob's other wives.[g] And Jacob found out about it.
Jacob's Twelve Sons
23-26 Jacob had twelve sons while living in northern Syria.[h] His first-born Reuben was the son of Leah, who later gave birth to Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Leah's servant Zilpah had two sons: Gad and Asher.
Jacob and his wife Rachel had Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel's servant woman Bilhah had two more sons: Dan and Naphtali.
Isaac Dies
27 (F) Jacob went to his father Isaac at Hebron, also called Mamre or Kiriath-Arba, where Isaac's father Abraham had lived as a foreigner. 28-29 Isaac died at the ripe old age of 180, then his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Footnotes
- 35.4 earrings: These would have had symbols of foreign gods on them.
- 35.8 Deborah: See 24.59 and the note there.
- 35.9-11 Israel: See the note at 32.28.
- 35.15 Bethel: See the note at 28.19.
- 35.18 Benoni: In Hebrew “Benoni” means “Son of my Sorrow.”
- 35.18 Benjamin: In Hebrew “Benjamin” can mean “Son at my Right Side” (the place of power).
- 35.22 other wives: See the note at 22.24. Bilhah had been Rachel's servant woman (see 29.28-30).
- 35.23-26 northern Syria: See the note at 24.10.
Genesis 35
Legacy Standard Bible
Jacob Goes Up to Bethel
35 Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to (A)Bethel and [a]live there, and make an altar there to (B)God, who appeared to you (C)when you fled [b]from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his (D)household and to all who were with him, “Put away (E)the foreign gods which are among you and (F)cleanse yourselves and change your garments; 3 and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make (G)an altar there to God, (H)who answered me in the day of my distress and (I)has been with me [c]wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which [d]they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the [e]oak which was near Shechem.
5 Then they journeyed on, and there was [f](J)a terror from God upon the cities which were around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to (K)Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. 7 (L)And he built an altar there and called the place [g]El-bethel, because there God had revealed Himself to him when he fled [h]from his brother. 8 Then (M)Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; it was named [i]Allon-bacuth.
Jacob Is Renamed Israel
9 Then God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and He (N)blessed him. 10 (O)And God said to him,
“Your name is Jacob;
Your name shall no longer be called Jacob,
But Israel shall be your name.”
Thus He called his name Israel. 11 God also said to him,
“I am [j](P)God Almighty;
(Q)Be fruitful and multiply;
A nation and an (R)assembly of nations shall [k]come from you,
And (S)kings shall [l]come forth from your loins.
12 (T)And the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac,
I will give it to you,
And I will give the land to your seed after you.”
13 Then (U)God went up from him in the place where He had spoken with him. 14 And Jacob set up (V)a pillar in the place where He had spoken with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. 15 So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, [m](W)Bethel.
16 Then they journeyed from Bethel; and there was still some distance to go to (X)Ephrath, and Rachel gave birth, and she [n]suffered severely in her labor. 17 Now it happened that when she was in severe labor the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for now (Y)you have another son.” 18 Now it happened as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him [o]Ben-oni; but his father called him [p]Benjamin. 19 So (Z)Rachel died and was buried on the way to (AA)Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 And Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; that is the (AB)pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. 21 Then Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the [q](AC)tower of [r]Eder.
The Sons of Jacob
22 Now it happened while Israel was dwelling in that land, that (AD)Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it.
And there were twelve sons of Jacob—
23 (AE)the sons of Leah:
Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn,
then Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun;
24 (AF)the sons of Rachel:
Joseph and Benjamin;
25 and (AG)the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant-woman:
Dan and Naphtali;
26 and (AH)the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant-woman:
Gad and Asher.
These are the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
27 And Jacob came to his father Isaac at (AI)Mamre of (AJ)Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned.
28 Now the days of Isaac were (AK)180 years. 29 And Isaac breathed his last and died and was (AL)gathered to his people, an (AM)old man and full of days; and (AN)his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Footnotes
- Genesis 35:1 Lit dwell
- Genesis 35:1 Lit from the face of
- Genesis 35:3 Lit in the way which
- Genesis 35:4 Lit were in their hand
- Genesis 35:4 Or terebinth
- Genesis 35:5 Or a terror of God
- Genesis 35:7 The God of Bethel
- Genesis 35:7 Lit from the face of
- Genesis 35:8 Lit oak of weeping
- Genesis 35:11 Heb El Shaddai
- Genesis 35:11 Or come into being
- Genesis 35:11 Or come into being
- Genesis 35:15 Lit the house of God
- Genesis 35:16 Lit had difficulty in her giving birth
- Genesis 35:18 Lit the son of my sorrow
- Genesis 35:18 Lit the son of the right hand
- Genesis 35:21 Heb Migdal-eder
- Genesis 35:21 Or flock
Genesis 35
King James Version
35 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.
6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.
7 And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
8 But Deborah, Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.
9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.
10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.
11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;
12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.
13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.
14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.
15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.
16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.
21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.
22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
24 The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:
25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:
26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid: Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.
27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.
28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.
29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Genesis 35
Common English Bible
Jacob establishes worship at Bethel
35 God said to Jacob, “Get up, go to Bethel, and live there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you ran away from your brother Esau.”
2 Jacob said to his household and to everyone who was with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you. Clean yourselves and change your clothes. 3 Then let’s rise and go up to Bethel so that I can build an altar there to the God who answered me when I was in trouble and who has been with me wherever I’ve gone.” 4 So they gave Jacob all of the foreign gods they had, as well as the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the terebinth at Shechem. 5 When they set out, God made all of the surrounding cities fearful so that they didn’t pursue Jacob’s sons. 6 Jacob and all of the people with him arrived in Luz, otherwise known as Bethel, in the land of Canaan. 7 He built an altar there and named the place El-bethel,[a] because God had revealed himself to him there when he ran away from his brother. 8 Rebekah’s nurse Deborah died and was buried at Bethel under the oak, and Jacob named it Allon-bacuth.[b]
9 God appeared to Jacob again, while he was on his way back from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. 10 God said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but your name will be Jacob no longer. No, your name will be Israel.” And he named him Israel. 11 God said to him, “I am El Shaddai.[c] Be fertile and multiply. A nation, even a large group of nations, will come from you; kings will descend from your own children. 12 The land I gave to Abraham and to Isaac, I give to you; and I will give the land to your descendants after you.” 13 Then God ascended, leaving him alone in the place where he spoke to him. 14 So Jacob set up a sacred pillar, a stone pillar, at the place God spoke to him. He poured an offering of wine on it and then poured oil over it. 15 Jacob named the place Bethel where God spoke to him.
Benjamin’s birth and Rachel’s death
16 They left Bethel, and when they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into hard labor. 17 During her difficult labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid. You have another son.” 18 As her life faded away, just before she died, she named him Ben-oni,[d] but his father named him Benjamin.[e] 19 Rachel died and was buried near the road to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem. 20 Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. It’s the pillar on Rachel’s tomb that’s still there today. 21 Israel continued his trip and pitched his tent farther on near the tower of Eder.
Jacob’s family
22 While Israel stayed in that place, Reuben went and slept with Bilhah his father’s secondary wife, and Israel heard about it.
Jacob had twelve sons. 23 The sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob’s oldest son, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, were Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant, were Gad and Asher. These were Jacob’s sons born to him in Paddan-aram.
Isaac’s death
27 Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, that is, Kiriath-arba. This is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac lived as immigrants. 28 At the age of 180 years, 29 Isaac took his last breath and died. He was buried with his ancestors after a long, satisfying life. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Footnotes
- Genesis 35:7 Or God of Bethel
- Genesis 35:8 Or oak of weeping
- Genesis 35:11 Or God Almighty or God of the Mountain
- Genesis 35:18 Or my suffering son
- Genesis 35:18 Or right-hand son or strong son
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