Genesis 28:17

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful [is] this place! this [is] none other but the house of God, and this [is] the gate of heaven.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then he became afraid and said, "This place is fearsome! This has to be the house of God! This is the gate of heaven!"

Berean Standard Bible:

And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!”

American Standard Version:

And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he was afraid^{H3372}, and said^{H559}, How dreadful^{H3372} is this place^{H4725}! this is none other but the house^{H1004} of God^{H430}, and this is the gate^{H8179} of heaven^{H8064}.

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Commentary for Genesis 28:17

Genesis 28:17 is part of the narrative concerning Jacob, one of the patriarchs of the Israelites. The verse captures Jacob's reaction upon waking from a dream where he saw a ladder or stairway reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it (Genesis 28:12-13). God renews the covenant with Jacob in this dream, promising him land, offspring, and divine protection.

**Themes:**
1. **Revelation of the Divine:** Jacob's realization that he is in a sacred space, the "house of God," underscores the theme of divine encounter and revelation.
2. **Promise and Covenant:** The verse reflects the broader theme of God's promises to the patriarchs, which are central to the narrative of Genesis.
3. **Sacred Space:** The idea that certain locations can be "thin places" where the boundary between earth and heaven is especially permeable.
4. **Fear of the Lord:** Jacob's fear in the presence of the divine signifies a recognition of God's holiness and power.

**Historical Context:**
This event occurs during Jacob's journey to Haran, where he is fleeing from his brother Esau after deceiving their father Isaac to receive the blessing meant for Esau. The location of Jacob's dream is later called Bethel, which means "house of God" in Hebrew. This site becomes significant in the history of Israel as a place where God revealed himself.

The verse reflects the ancient Near Eastern belief in the importance of sacred spaces where deities could be encountered, but it also emphasizes the unique relationship between God and the Israelites, as the God of Israel is not confined to any one place but chooses to reveal himself in specific locations and at critical moments in the lives of the patriarchs. Jacob's naming of the place as Bethel and his erection of a pillar there demonstrate an early form of worship and acknowledgment of God's presence in the land, which is a precursor to the formal worship practices of the Israelites.

*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: H3372
   There are 305 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָרֵא
   Transliteration: yârêʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-ray'
   Description: a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten; affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), [idiom] see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).
   
2. 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.
   
3. Strong's Number: H4725
   There are 379 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָקוֹם
   Transliteration: mâqôwm
   Pronunciation: maw-kome'
   Description: or מָקֹם; also (feminine) מְקוֹמָה; or מְקֹמָה; from קוּם; properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind); country, [idiom] home, [idiom] open, place, room, space, [idiom] whither(-soever).
   
4. Strong's Number: H1004
   There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּיִת
   Transliteration: bayith
   Pronunciation: bah'-yith
   Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out).
   
5. 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.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8179
   There are 302 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שַׁעַר
   Transliteration: shaʻar
   Pronunciation: shah'-ar
   Description: from שָׁעַר in its original sense; an opening, i.e. door or gate; city, door, gate, port ([idiom] -er).
   
7. Strong's Number: H8064
   There are 395 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַיִם
   Transliteration: shâmayim
   Pronunciation: shaw-mah'-yim
   Description: dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve); air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s).