Genesis 28:7

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram;

Complete Jewish Bible:

and that Ya'akov had listened to his father and mother and gone to Paddan-Aram.

Berean Standard Bible:

and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and gone to Paddan-aram.

American Standard Version:

and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan-aram:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And that Jacob^{H3290} obeyed^{H8085} his father^{H1} and his mother^{H517}, and was gone^{H3212} to Padanaram^{H6307};

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 28:7

28:7, "And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram;"

**Themes:**
1. **Obedience to Parents:** The verse emphasizes Jacob's obedience to his parents, Isaac and Rebekah, which was a significant virtue in ancient Near Eastern culture. This act of filial obedience contrasts with the deceptive nature Jacob displayed earlier when he tricked his brother Esau out of his birthright and blessing.

2. **Journey and Exile:** Jacob's departure for Padanaram (also known as Aram-naharaim or Paddan Aram) marks the beginning of a journey that will lead to his own personal growth and transformation. It is both a physical journey and a spiritual pilgrimage.

3. **Divine Plan:** The narrative suggests that Jacob's journey is part of a larger divine plan. His trip to Padanaram will eventually lead him back to the land of Canaan, fulfilling the covenantal promises made to his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac.

**Historical Context:**
Genesis 28:7 is set within the broader context of the patriarchal narratives, which describe the lives of the ancestors of Israel. At this point in the story, Jacob is leaving his family's home in Beersheba to escape the wrath of his brother Esau, whom he has wronged. He is also seeking a wife from among his mother's kin, following the family's custom of endogamous marriage to preserve the family line and inheritance.

Padanaram was an important region for the Semitic peoples and was part of Mesopotamia, the "cradle of civilization." It was the home of Jacob's uncle Laban, and it is there that Jacob would meet his future wives, Leah and Rachel, and begin to build his own family and wealth.

This verse is part of the larger story of Jacob, which includes his famous dream of a ladder or stairway reaching to heaven (Genesis 28:10-22), where God reaffirms the covenantal promises to him. Jacob's time in Padanaram will be marked by further deception, this time by Laban, and will ultimately lead to Jacob's return to Canaan, where he will reconcile with Esau and become known as Israel, the father of the twelve tribes of 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: 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H8085
   There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַע
   Transliteration: shâmaʻ
   Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
   Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
   
3. 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-'.
   
4. Strong's Number: H517
   There are 387 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֵם
   Transliteration: ʼêm
   Pronunciation: ame
   Description: a primitive word; a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father)); dam, mother, [idiom] parting.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3212
   There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַךְ
   Transliteration: yâlak
   Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
   Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6307
   There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פַּדָּן
   Transliteration: Paddân
   Pronunciation: pad-dawn'
   Description: from an unused root meaning to extend; a plateau; or פַּדַּן אֲרָם; from the same and אֲרָם; the table-land of Aram; Paddan or Paddan-Aram, a region of Syria; Padan, Padan-aram.