Genesis 28:13

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I [am] the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then suddenly ADONAI was standing there next to him; and he said, "I am ADONAI, the God of Avraham your [grand]father and the God of Yitz'chak. The land on which you are lying I will give to you and to your descendants.

Berean Standard Bible:

And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie.

American Standard Version:

And, behold, Jehovah stood above it, and said, I am Jehovah, the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And, behold, the LORD{H3068} stood{H5324} above it, and said{H559}, I am the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Abraham{H85} thy father{H1}, and the God{H430} of Isaac{H3327}: the land{H776} whereon thou liest{H7901}, to thee will I give it{H5414}, and to thy seed{H2233};

Cross-References (KJV):

Genesis 13:15

  • For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

Genesis 35:12

  • 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.

Genesis 48:3

  • And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,

Genesis 26:24

  • And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I [am] the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I [am] with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.

Genesis 12:7

  • And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

Genesis 35:1

  • ¶ 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.

Hebrews 11:16

  • But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

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Commentary for Genesis 28:13

Genesis 28:13 is part of the narrative of Jacob's ladder. The verse is set within the broader context of the patriarchal narratives in the Book of Genesis, which detail the stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the ancestors of the Israelite people.

**Themes:**

1. **Divine Presence and Promise:** The verse emphasizes God's direct communication with Jacob, affirming His presence and reiterating the covenantal promises made to Jacob's forefathers, Abraham and Isaac.
2. **Covenantal Continuity:** God identifies Himself as the God of Abraham and Isaac, linking Jacob to the earlier covenantal promises, which include the promises of land, numerous descendants, and blessings to all families of the earth (Genesis 12:1-3).
3. **Land Promise:** Specifically, the theme of the land promise is central. God reassures Jacob that the land on which he lies (Canaan) will be given to him and his descendants, foreshadowing the future possession of the Promised Land by the Israelites.
4. **Blessing and Protection:** The vision and promise serve to comfort and guide Jacob, who is fleeing from his brother Esau's anger, indicating that God's plans for him will be fulfilled despite his current predicament.

**Historical Context:**

- **Patriarchal Era:** The event takes place during the patriarchal age, which is traditionally dated around the early second millennium BCE.
- **Jacob's Flight:** Jacob is on his way to Haran to escape his brother's wrath after deceiving their father Isaac to receive the blessing meant for Esau.
- **Bethel:** The location where Jacob has his vision is called Bethel (House of God), which later becomes a significant religious site in Israel's history.
- **Covenant Renewal:** This vision is a pivotal moment in Jacob's life, marking a personal encounter with God and a renewal of the covenant promises, which are foundational to the identity and hope of the emerging Israelite nation.

In summary, Genesis 28:13 is a key verse in the story of Jacob, highlighting themes of divine presence, covenantal promises, and the assurance of inheriting the Promised Land, all within the context of the patriarchal narratives that establish the religious and historical foundations of ancient Israel.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
  2. Strong's Number: H5324
    There are 75 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָצַב
    Transliteration: nâtsab
    Pronunciation: naw-tsab'
    Description: a primitive root; to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively); appointed, deputy, erect, establish, [idiom] Huzzah (by mistake for a proper name), lay, officer, pillar, present, rear up, set (over, up), settle, sharpen, establish, (make to) stand(-ing, still, up, upright), best state.
  3. 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.
  4. Strong's Number: H430
    There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
    Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
    Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
    Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
  5. Strong's Number: H85
    There are 1159 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אַבְרָהָם
    Transliteration: ʼAbrâhâm
    Pronunciation: ab-raw-hawm'
    Description: contracted from אָב and an unused root (probably meaning to be populous); father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram; Abraham.
  6. Strong's Number: H1
    There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָב
    Transliteration: ʼâb
    Pronunciation: awb
    Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.
  7. 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.
  8. Strong's Number: H776
    There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶרֶץ
    Transliteration: ʼerets
    Pronunciation: eh'-rets
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
  9. Strong's Number: H7901
    There are 194 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁכַב
    Transliteration: shâkab
    Pronunciation: shaw-kab'
    Description: a primitive root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose); [idiom] at all, cast down, (lover-)lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay.
  10. Strong's Number: H5414
    There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָתַן
    Transliteration: nâthan
    Pronunciation: naw-than'
    Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
  11. Strong's Number: H2233
    There are 205 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: זֶרַע
    Transliteration: zeraʻ
    Pronunciation: zeh'-rah
    Description: from זָרַע; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity; [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time.