Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau." Then God saidThis phrase marks a divine intervention and communication, emphasizing God's active role in guiding His chosen people. The Hebrew word for "God" here is "Elohim," which underscores His power and sovereignty. This divine command is a reminder of God's ongoing relationship with Jacob, highlighting His faithfulness and the importance of obedience to His word. to Jacob
Jacob, whose name means "supplanter" or "heel-grabber," is a central patriarch in the biblical narrative. His life is marked by transformation and encounters with God. This direct address signifies a personal relationship and a specific calling, reminding us that God knows us individually and has plans for each of us. Arise, go up
The command "Arise, go up" is both literal and spiritual. In Hebrew, "qum" (arise) and "alah" (go up) suggest a call to action and elevation. This is not just a physical journey but a spiritual ascent, urging Jacob to move towards a place of greater spiritual significance and obedience. to Bethel
Bethel, meaning "House of God," is a place of profound spiritual significance. It is where Jacob previously encountered God in a dream (Genesis 28:10-19). Returning to Bethel symbolizes a return to the place of divine promise and encounter, a call to renew one's commitment to God and His purposes. and settle there
The instruction to "settle there" implies establishing a permanent presence. In Hebrew, "yashab" means to dwell or inhabit. This suggests a call to stability and rootedness in God's presence, encouraging believers to make their spiritual home in places where they have encountered God. Build an altar there
Building an altar is an act of worship and remembrance. The Hebrew word "mizbeach" (altar) is derived from "zabach," meaning to sacrifice. This act signifies dedication, worship, and the acknowledgment of God's past faithfulness. It is a call to prioritize worship and to remember God's interventions in our lives. to the God who appeared to you
This phrase emphasizes the personal nature of Jacob's relationship with God. The Hebrew "ra'ah" (appeared) indicates a visible manifestation, reminding Jacob of God's tangible presence and past faithfulness. It encourages believers to recall and celebrate their personal encounters with God. when you fled from your brother Esau
This reference to Jacob's flight from Esau serves as a reminder of God's protection and provision during times of distress. It highlights God's faithfulness in past trials and His ability to transform difficult circumstances into opportunities for growth and divine encounter. This encourages believers to trust in God's sovereignty and faithfulness in their own lives. Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe divine being who speaks to Jacob, giving him a direct command to return to Bethel. 2. JacobThe patriarch who is instructed by God to go to Bethel and build an altar. He is a central figure in the account of Genesis. 3. BethelA significant location in Jacob's life, previously named Luz, where God appeared to Jacob in a dream ( Genesis 28:10-19). The name means "House of God" in Hebrew. 4. EsauJacob's brother, from whom Jacob fled years earlier due to the conflict over the birthright and blessing. 5. AltarA structure for worship and sacrifice, symbolizing Jacob's renewed commitment and worship of God. Teaching Points Obedience to God's CallJacob's immediate response to God's command demonstrates the importance of obedience in our walk with God. We should be attentive and ready to act when God speaks to us. Returning to Our Spiritual RootsJust as Jacob returned to Bethel, believers are encouraged to revisit foundational moments in their faith journey, renewing their commitment to God. Significance of WorshipBuilding an altar signifies worship and dedication. In our lives, we should prioritize worship and create spaces and times dedicated to honoring God. God's FaithfulnessGod's instruction to Jacob to return to Bethel is a reminder of His faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises. We can trust in God's unwavering commitment to His word. Reconciliation and PeaceJacob's journey back to Bethel, where he fled from Esau, symbolizes reconciliation and peace. We are called to seek peace and reconciliation in our relationships. Bible Study Questions 1. What does Jacob's obedience to God's command teach us about responding to God's direction in our own lives? 2. How can we identify and return to our own "Bethel" moments, where we have encountered God in a significant way? 3. In what ways can we build "altars" in our daily lives to prioritize worship and dedication to God? 4. How does the account of Jacob's return to Bethel encourage us to trust in God's faithfulness and promises? 5. What steps can we take to seek reconciliation and peace in our relationships, following Jacob's example of returning to a place of past conflict? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 28:10-19This passage describes Jacob's first encounter with God at Bethel, where he dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven and receives God's promises. Genesis 31:13God reminds Jacob of his vow at Bethel, urging him to return to the land of his birth. Exodus 3:5Similar to Jacob's experience, Moses encounters God in a significant place, the burning bush, emphasizing the holiness of certain locations. Psalm 46:10Encourages believers to be still and recognize God's sovereignty, paralleling Jacob's need to pause and worship at Bethel. Hebrews 11:21Highlights Jacob's faith, which is evident in his obedience to God's command to return to Bethel. People Allon, Aram, Arba, Asher, Benjamin, Benoni, Bilhah, Dan, Deborah, Eder, Ephrath, Esau, Gad, Isaac, Issachar, Jacob, Joseph, Leah, Levi, Mamre, Naphtali, Rachel, Rebekah, Reuben, Simeon, Zebulun, ZilpahPlaces Allon-bacuth, Bethel, Bethlehem, Canaan, Eder, El-bethel, Ephrath, Hebron, Kiriath-arba, Luz, Mamre, Paddan-aram, ShechemTopics Altar, Appeared, Arise, Bethel, Beth-el, Brother, Build, Dwell, Esau, Face, Fled, Fleddest, Flee, Fleeing, Flight, Jacob, Living-place, Rise, SettleDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 35:1 5319 fugitives
5548 speech, divine
8626 worship, places
8644 commemoration Genesis 35:1-2 7416 purification Genesis 35:1-5 5095 Jacob, life Library February the Eighth Revisiting Old Altars
"I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress." --GENESIS xxxv. 1-7. It is a blessed thing to revisit our early altars. It is good to return to the haunts of early vision. Places and things have their sanctifying influences, and can recall us to lost experiences. I know a man to whom the scent of a white, wild rose is always a call to prayer. I know another to whom Grasmere is always the window of holy vision. Sometimes a particular pew in a particular church …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling YearOur Last ChapterConcluded with the Words, "For Childhood and Youth are Vanity"...
Our last chapter concluded with the words, "For childhood and youth are vanity": that is, childhood proves the emptiness of all "beneath the sun," as well as old age. The heart of the child has the same needs--the same capacity in kind--as that of the aged. It needs God. Unless it knows Him, and His love is there, it is empty; and, in its fleeting character, childhood proves its vanity. But this makes us quite sure that if childhood can feel the need, then God has, in His wide grace, met the …
F. C. Jennings—Old Groans and New Songs The Death of Abraham
'Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.'--GENESIS xxv. 8. 'Full of years' does not seem to me to be a mere synonym for longevity. That would be an intolerable tautology, for we should then have the same thing said three times over--'an old man,' 'in a good old age,' 'full of years.' There must be some other idea than that in the words. If you notice that the expression is by no means a usual one, that it is only …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Trials and visions of Devout Youth
'And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The National Oath at Shechem
'And Joshua said unto the people. Ye cannot serve the Lord: for He is an holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. 20. If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then He will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that He hath done you good. 21. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord. 22. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves, that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve Him. And they said, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah
"And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto Me (one) [Pg 480] to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth are the times of old, the days of eternity." The close connection of this verse with what immediately precedes (Caspari is wrong in considering iv. 9-14 as an episode) is evident, not only from the [Hebrew: v] copulative, and from the analogy of the near relation of the announcement of salvation to the prophecy of disaster …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:12). In our last chapter we considered at some length the much debated and difficult question of the human will. We have shown that the will of the natural man is neither Sovereign nor free but, instead, a servant and slave. We have argued that a right conception of the sinner's will-its servitude-is essential to a just estimate of his depravity and ruin. The utter corruption and degradation of human nature is something which …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God The Birth of Jesus.
(at Bethlehem of Judæa, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke II. 1-7. ^c 1 Now it came to pass in those days [the days of the birth of John the Baptist], there went out a decree [a law] from Cæsar Augustus [Octavius, or Augustus, Cæsar was the nephew of and successor to Julius Cæsar. He took the name Augustus in compliment to his own greatness; and our month August is named for him; its old name being Sextilis], that all the world should be enrolled. [This enrollment or census was the first step …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Gen. xxxi. 11
Of no less importance and significance is the passage Gen. xxxi. 11 seq. According to ver. 11, the Angel of God, [Hebrew: mlaK halhiM] appears toJacob in a dream. In ver. 13, the same person calls himself the God of Bethel, with reference to the event recorded in chap. xxviii. 11-22. It cannot be supposed that in chap xxviii. the mediation of a common angel took place, who, however, had not been expressly mentioned; for Jehovah is there contrasted with the angels. In ver. 12, we read: "And behold …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 35:1 NIVGenesis 35:1 NLTGenesis 35:1 ESVGenesis 35:1 NASBGenesis 35:1 KJV
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