Genesis 31:13

I [am] the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, [and] where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.

I am the God {H410} of Bethel {H1008}, where thou anointedst {H4886} the pillar {H4676}, and where thou vowedst {H5087} a vow {H5088} unto me: now arise {H6965}, get thee out {H3318} from this land {H776}, and return {H7725} unto the land {H776} of thy kindred {H4138}.

I am the God of Beit-El, where you anointed a standing-stone with oil, where you vowed your vow to me. Now get up, get out of this land, and return to the land where you were born.'"

I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up and leave this land at once, and return to your native land.’”

I am the God of Beth-el, where thou anointedst a pillar, where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy nativity.

Commentary

Genesis 31:13 is a pivotal verse in Jacob's journey, revealing God's direct command and reminding Jacob of a foundational encounter with the Divine. It underscores God's active involvement in the lives of His people, guiding them through challenges and toward their destiny.

Context

This verse comes as part of a divine communication to Jacob in a dream (as mentioned in Genesis 31:11), while he is still with Laban in Haran. Jacob has spent twenty years serving Laban, enduring his changing wages and deceitful practices. Tensions are rising between Jacob and Laban's sons, making his departure imminent and necessary. God's instruction here is not new, as He had previously told Jacob, "Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee" (Genesis 31:3). This verse deepens that command by rooting it in a past, significant encounter.

Key Themes

  • Divine Identity and Personal Relationship: God identifies Himself specifically as "the God of Bethel." This is a powerful reminder to Jacob of a deeply personal and transformative encounter he had with God many years prior. It signifies that the God who met him then is the same God guiding him now.
  • God's Faithfulness and Remembrance: God explicitly recalls Jacob's actions at Bethel: anointing the pillar and vowing a vow (see Genesis 28:10-22 for details of this encounter). This demonstrates God's perfect memory and His faithfulness to the covenant He initiated with Jacob, even when Jacob might have forgotten or felt distant.
  • Divine Command and Guidance: The clear command, "now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred," provides Jacob with explicit divine authorization and direction for his next steps. It's a call to leave a place of hardship and return to the promised land and his family.

Linguistic Insights

The name Bethel (Hebrew: Χ‘ΦΌΦ΅Χ™Χͺ־א֡ל, Beyt-ΚΌEl) literally means "house of God." This name was given by Jacob himself after his profound dream and encounter with God there, emphasizing the sacredness and significance of that place in his spiritual journey. The "pillar" (Hebrew: matstsebah) was a standing stone, set up by Jacob as a memorial and a place of worship after his dream.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He remembers our past encounters with Him, our promises, and His own faithfulness. When faced with difficult circumstances or needing direction, we can look to God's past faithfulness as a foundation for trust and obedience. Just as Jacob was commanded to leave a challenging situation and return to his God-given destiny, believers today are often called to step out in faith, trusting God's guidance to lead them to where He intends them to be. It encourages us to remember our own "Bethel" moments – times when God has clearly revealed Himself and His will – and to draw strength from those experiences for present challenges.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 31:3

    And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

  • Genesis 32:9

    ΒΆ And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:

  • Genesis 28:12

    And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

  • Genesis 28:22

    And this stone, which I have set [for] a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

  • Genesis 35:7

    And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
← Back