King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
Complete Jewish Bible:
So Yitz'chak called Ya'akov, and, after blessing him, charged him: "You are not to choose a wife from the Hitti women.
Berean Standard Bible:
So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. “Do not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” he commanded.
American Standard Version:
And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Isaac{H3327} called{H7121} Jacob{H3290}, and blessed{H1288} him, and charged{H6680} him, and said{H559} unto him, Thou shalt not take{H3947} a wife{H802} of the daughters{H1323} of Canaan{H3667}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 24:3
- And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
Genesis 28:3
- And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
Genesis 28:4
- And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.
Genesis 27:46
- And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these [which are] of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?
Genesis 24:37
- And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
Genesis 6:2
- That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they [were] fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Genesis 26:34
- ¶ And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:
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Commentary for Genesis 28:1
**Themes:**
1. **Parental Blessing:** Isaac calling Jacob to bless him reflects the importance of parental blessings in the cultural and religious life of the ancient Hebrews, signifying the transfer of familial authority and divine favor.
2. **Divine Promise:** The blessing is part of the broader theme of the divine promise to the patriarchs, ensuring the continuation of the covenant through the next generation.
3. **Marriage and Purity:** The instruction to not marry from the daughters of Canaan underscores themes of ethnic and religious purity, as well as the importance of endogamy to maintain the distinct identity of the Israelite people.
4. **Obedience:** Isaac's charge to Jacob implies an expectation of obedience, a recurring theme in the relationship between God and His people.
**Historical Context:**
Genesis 28:1 is set within the narrative of the patriarchal age, where the ancestors of the Israelite nation are establishing their identity and relationship with God. At this point in the story, Jacob has just deceived his father Isaac to obtain the blessing meant for his older brother Esau. Fearing Esau's wrath, Jacob is sent away to find a wife from among his mother Rebekah's family in Haran.
The historical context reflects the early interactions between the Hebrew people and their neighbors, the Canaanites. The Canaanites were a group of ancient people living in the region that would later become Israel and Palestine. The instruction to avoid intermarriage with the Canaanites would have been significant in the context of maintaining a separate identity and avoiding the religious syncretism that could come from such unions. This directive is consistent with later laws in the Pentateuch that prohibit marriage with the inhabitants of Canaan to prevent the adoption of foreign gods and religious practices.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3327
There are 101 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִצְחָק
Transliteration: Yitschâq
Pronunciation: yits-khawk'
Description: from צָחַק; laughter (i.e. mochery); Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham; Isaac. Compare יִשְׂחָק. - Strong's Number: H7121
There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָרָא
Transliteration: qârâʼ
Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say. - Strong's Number: H3290
There are 319 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַעֲקֹב
Transliteration: Yaʻăqôb
Pronunciation: yah-ak-obe'
Description: from עָקַב; heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch; Jacob. - Strong's Number: H1288
There are 289 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָרַךְ
Transliteration: bârak
Pronunciation: baw-rak'
Description: a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason); [idiom] abundantly, [idiom] altogether, [idiom] at all, blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, [idiom] greatly, [idiom] indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, [idiom] still, thank. - Strong's Number: H6680
There are 475 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָוָה
Transliteration: tsâvâh
Pronunciation: tsaw-vaw'
Description: a primitive root; (intensively) to constitute, enjoin; appoint, (for-) bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. - Strong's Number: H1323
There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּת
Transliteration: bath
Pronunciation: bath
Description: from בָּנָה (as feminine of בֵּן); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively); apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. - Strong's Number: H3667
There are 91 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כְּנַעַן
Transliteration: Kᵉnaʻan
Pronunciation: ken-ah'-an
Description: from כָּנַע; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him; Canaan, merchant, traffick.