Genesis 35:14

KJV

And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, [even] a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Jacob {H3290} set up {H5324} a pillar {H4676} in the place {H4725} where he talked {H1696} with him, even a pillar {H4678} of stone {H68}: and he poured {H5258} a drink offering {H5262} thereon, and he poured {H3332} oil {H8081} thereon.

Complete Jewish Bible

Ya'akov set up a standing-stone in the place where he had spoken with him, a stone pillar. Then he poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it.

Berean Standard Bible

So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God had spoken with him—a stone marker—and he poured out a drink offering on it and anointed it with oil.

American Standard Version

And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spake with him, a pillar of stone: and he poured out a drink-offering thereon, and poured oil thereon.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 35:14 records Jacob's profound act of worship and commemoration at Bethel, a sacred site where God had repeatedly manifested His presence. This verse details Jacob's erection of a stone pillar and his subsequent pouring of drink and oil offerings upon it, serving as a tangible response to God's renewed appearance and reaffirmation of the Abrahamic covenant. It marks the solemn consecration of the place and signifies Jacob's deepened commitment and gratitude to the Lord, transforming a physical location into an enduring memorial of divine faithfulness and human devotion.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a pivotal narrative in Jacob's life, following his return to Canaan from Paddan-Aram. God had specifically commanded Jacob to return to Bethel and build an altar there, prompting Jacob to purify his household of foreign gods [Genesis 35:1-5](/genesis/35-1-5 "God's command to Jacob and his family's purification"). Just prior to this verse, God appeared to Jacob again at Bethel, reaffirming the covenant promises of land and numerous descendants, and formally bestowing upon him the new, significant name, Israel [Genesis 35:9-13](/genesis/35-9-13 "God's appearance and renaming of Jacob at Bethel"). Jacob's actions in verse 14 are a direct and immediate response to this profound divine visitation, serving as a personal act of worship and memorialization of the renewed covenant. This act also echoes his initial encounter and vow at this very location years earlier, as recorded in [Genesis 28:18-22](/genesis/28-18-22 "Jacob's initial encounter and vow at Bethel"), creating a powerful sense of narrative continuity and covenant faithfulness across Jacob's life.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting up of stone pillars (*matzebah*) as memorials was a common practice in the ancient Near East, often used to mark significant events, treaties, or sacred sites. However, while some cultures used such pillars in idolatrous worship, Jacob's act is distinct, dedicated solely to Yahweh, the one true God. The pouring of drink offerings (*nesekh*) and oil (*shemen*) were also established forms of ancient worship. Drink offerings, typically wine, were libations poured out as acts of devotion, thanksgiving, or covenant ratification. Oil, particularly olive oil, was used extensively for anointing, consecration, and purification, signifying setting apart for sacred purposes or divine blessing. Jacob's actions here are deeply rooted in the cultural practices of his time but are uniquely transformed by their singular focus on the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, reflecting a personal and covenantal response rather than a generic pagan ritual.

* **Key Themes:** Genesis 35:14 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the book of Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. It powerfully illustrates the theme of **Divine Faithfulness and Covenant Renewal**, as God consistently keeps His promises to Jacob despite Jacob's past failings, leading to a renewed commitment from Jacob. The act of setting up a pillar and making offerings underscores the theme of **Worship and Consecration**, demonstrating appropriate human response to divine revelation and the setting apart of places and objects for God's purposes. Furthermore, the emphasis on Bethel as a recurring site of divine encounter highlights the **Theology of Sacred Place**, where specific locations become hallowed through God's presence and serve as enduring memorials of His work. This verse also reinforces the theme of **Jacob's Transformation into Israel**, as his renewed worship follows his renaming, symbolizing a deeper spiritual maturity and dedication to his covenant God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Following God's powerful reaffirmation of His covenant and the bestowal of Jacob's new name, Israel, Jacob responds with immediate and tangible acts of worship, demonstrating his profound gratitude and renewed commitment. This verse encapsulates these significant actions.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Pillar (Hebrew, _matstsêbâh'_):** From H4676, meaning "something stationed, i.e. a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an idol." In this context, Jacob's pillar is a **memorial stone**, an upright monument erected to commemorate a significant event—God's renewed appearance and covenant reaffirmation. Unlike the "idol" connotation, Jacob's pillar is explicitly set up in worship of Yahweh, serving as a tangible marker of a sacred space and a profound divine encounter, echoing his earlier act in [Genesis 28:18](/genesis/28-18 "Jacob's first pillar at Bethel").
* **Talked (Hebrew, _dâbar'_):** From H1696, a primitive root meaning "to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work." Here, it specifically refers to God's act of speaking with Jacob, encompassing the divine commands, promises, and the renaming of Jacob to Israel as detailed in [Genesis 35:9-13](/genesis/35-9-13 "God's discourse with Jacob at Bethel"). It highlights the personal, communicative nature of God's relationship with Jacob, making the place of the pillar a site of intimate divine-human communion.
* **Poured (Hebrew, _nâçak'_):** From H5258, a primitive root meaning "to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy, to anoint a king; cover, melt, offer, (cause to) pour (out), set (up)." This word describes Jacob's action of pouring out both the drink offering and the oil. It signifies a deliberate act of offering and consecration, where a valuable substance is poured out as an act of devotion and dedication to God. This physical act represents a spiritual surrender and a setting apart of the pillar as sacred.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, [even] a pillar of stone:"** This clause describes Jacob's primary physical response. The erection of the pillar (*matstsêbâh*) is not merely a marker but a memorial, a visible testament to the profound divine encounter that just transpired. The specification "a pillar of stone" emphasizes its permanence and solidity, signifying an enduring remembrance of God's faithfulness and the covenant renewed at this precise location. It is placed "where he talked with him," directly linking the physical monument to the verbal communication and covenant promises God had just made to Jacob.
* **"and he poured a drink offering thereon,"** This action signifies a libation (*neçek*), typically wine, poured out as an act of worship. It represents Jacob's profound gratitude, devotion, and perhaps a costly surrender to God. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, such offerings often sealed covenants or expressed thanksgiving. For Jacob, it is a personal and heartfelt response to God's unwavering faithfulness and the reaffirmation of His promises, acknowledging God's worthiness through a tangible act of giving.
* **"and he poured oil thereon."** The pouring of oil (*shemen*) serves as an act of consecration. Oil in biblical tradition often symbolizes anointing, setting apart for sacred purposes, or the presence of the Holy Spirit. By anointing the pillar with oil, Jacob formally dedicates it as holy, a place imbued with divine significance due to God's manifestation there. This ritual act reinforces the sanctity of the location and the profound nature of the divine encounter, marking it as a special place of communion between God and humanity.

#### Literary Devices
Genesis 35:14 is rich with **Symbolism**. The **pillar** itself symbolizes a permanent memorial, a tangible reminder of God's presence and promises, echoing Jacob's earlier act at Bethel in [Genesis 28:18](/genesis/28-18 "Jacob's first pillar at Bethel") and establishing a pattern of commemorating divine encounters. The **drink offering** symbolizes costly devotion, thanksgiving, and a pouring out of self in worship, while the **oil** symbolizes consecration, anointing, and the setting apart of something as holy for God. The passage also employs **Repetition** and **Echo**, specifically by recalling Jacob's earlier experience at Bethel, which reinforces the theme of God's enduring faithfulness and Jacob's consistent, though sometimes faltering, response. This repetition underscores the continuity of God's covenant relationship with Jacob across decades of his life. The entire scene functions as a **Commemoration**, establishing a sacred space and a ritual act that serves to remember and honor God's powerful intervention and covenant renewal.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 35:14 powerfully illustrates the reciprocal nature of the covenant relationship between God and humanity. God's initiative in appearing to Jacob and reaffirming His promises elicits a profound and tangible response of worship and dedication from Jacob. This act underscores the importance of remembering and commemorating God's faithfulness in our lives, transforming ordinary places and moments into sacred memorials. It highlights that true worship involves not only verbal acknowledgment but also costly, tangible acts of devotion and consecration, setting apart our resources and ourselves for God's purposes. The pillar, drink offering, and oil collectively signify a deep reverence for God's presence and a renewed commitment to His covenant.

* [Genesis 28:18](/genesis/28-18 "Jacob's first pillar at Bethel")
* [Exodus 29:40-41](/exodus/29-40-41 "Instructions for daily drink offerings")
* [Leviticus 8:10-12](/leviticus/8-10-12 "Anointing of the Tabernacle and Aaron")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jacob's actions in Genesis 35:14 provide a profound and enduring model for how we, as believers, might respond to God's presence and faithfulness in our own lives. Just as Jacob marked a significant place and time of divine encounter with a tangible memorial, we are called to acknowledge, remember, and respond to God's interventions and promises. This can involve creating personal "memorials" in our hearts and lives—whether through journaling moments of divine grace, establishing specific prayer practices, or engaging in acts of service that honor God's work within us. The ancient practices of pouring offerings, though culturally specific, point to the timeless principle of giving our best to God in worship and gratitude. It challenges us to consider what "costly" offerings we might pour out today—our time, talents, resources, or even our deepest desires—as acts of consecration and devotion in response to God's unfailing love and covenant promises. True worship is a personal, heartfelt, and tangible response to God's ongoing relationship with us, solidifying our commitment and deepening our gratitude.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Bethel" moments—places or times of profound divine encounter—have you experienced in your life, and how have you commemorated them?**
* **In what tangible ways can you "pour out" a drink offering or "pour oil" on your life today, symbolizing your gratitude and consecration to God?**
* **How does remembering God's past faithfulness, like Jacob did, strengthen your trust and commitment to Him in present challenges?**
* **What aspects of your life (time, talents, resources) might God be inviting you to set apart or consecrate more fully to Him?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jacob set up a pillar instead of building an altar, as God commanded in Genesis 35:1?**

Answer: While God commanded Jacob to build an altar in [Genesis 35:1](/genesis/35-1 "God's command to Jacob to go to Bethel"), the pillar in [Genesis 35:14](/genesis/35-14 "Jacob sets up a pillar") serves a distinct, though related, purpose. An altar (Hebrew: *mizbeakh*) was primarily for sacrifices, signifying atonement, communion, and worship through offerings. A pillar (*matzebah*), on the other hand, was typically a memorial stone, commemorating a significant event or marking a sacred place. Jacob had previously set up a pillar at Bethel in [Genesis 28:18](/genesis/28-18 "Jacob's first pillar at Bethel") after his initial dream. His action in [Genesis 35:14](/genesis/35-14 "Jacob's pillar and offerings") reaffirms that earlier dedication and specifically marks the precise spot of God's renewed appearance and covenant reaffirmation. The building of the altar for sacrifices would likely have followed or occurred concurrently, as implied by the broader context of God's command in [Genesis 35:7](/genesis/35-7 "Jacob builds an altar at El-Bethel"). Both acts contribute to the sanctification of the place and Jacob's multifaceted worship and commemoration of God's faithfulness.

**What is the significance of pouring both a drink offering and oil on the pillar?**

Answer: Both the drink offering (*nesekh*) and the pouring of oil (*shemen*) are ancient acts of worship and consecration, each carrying distinct but complementary symbolic weight. The drink offering, often wine, was a libation poured out as an act of devotion, thanksgiving, and communion, signifying a costly and complete surrender to God. It expressed Jacob's profound gratitude for God's renewed promises and His unwavering faithfulness. The pouring of oil, on the other hand, symbolized anointing and setting apart something as holy or sacred for God's use. It marked the pillar as consecrated, imbued with divine significance due to God's manifest presence there. Oil in the Bible frequently signifies divine presence, anointing for sacred purposes, or the Holy Spirit. Together, these acts demonstrate Jacob's profound reverence, gratitude, and dedication, transforming a mere stone monument into a sacred memorial of God's enduring covenant and the hallowed ground where He chose to reveal Himself.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jacob's act of setting up a pillar and consecrating it with offerings at Bethel serves as a rich foreshadowing of Christ and His redemptive work. Just as Bethel means "House of God" and was a place where God met humanity, Christ Himself is the ultimate "House of God," the true dwelling place of God among humanity, as affirmed in [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us"). He is the living **pillar** of truth and the cornerstone of God's new temple, the Church [Ephesians 2:20-22](/ephesians/2-20-22 "Christ as the cornerstone of the spiritual temple"). The ladder Jacob saw at Bethel, connecting heaven and earth, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, who declares Himself to be the true access point between God and humanity [John 1:51](/john/1-51 "Jesus as the ladder to heaven"). Furthermore, the offerings Jacob poured out find their perfect antitype in Christ's own life and death. He is the ultimate "drink offering" poured out for the salvation of humanity, His blood sealing the new covenant [Matthew 26:28](/matthew/26-28 "This is my blood of the covenant"). He is also the one anointed by the Holy Spirit without measure [John 3:34](/john/3-34 "God gives the Spirit without limit"), consecrating Himself as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice [Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Christ's sacrifice sanctifies us"). Through His self-offering, we are also consecrated and brought into intimate, enduring communion with God, making us living stones in His spiritual house [1 Peter 2:5](/1_peter/2-5 "Living stones in a spiritual house").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 28:18

And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put [for] his pillows, and set it up [for] a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

Genesis 28:19

And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city [was called] Luz at the first.

Genesis 31:45

And Jacob took a stone, and set it up [for] a pillar.

1 Samuel 7:12

Then Samuel took a stone, and set [it] between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

Genesis 35:20

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that [is] the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.

Exodus 17:15

And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: