Genesis 46:2

KJV

And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here [am] I.

KJV (with Strong's)

And God {H430} spake {H559} unto Israel {H3478} in the visions {H4759} of the night {H3915}, and said {H559}, Jacob {H3290}, Jacob {H3290}. And he said {H559}, Here am I.

Complete Jewish Bible

In a vision at night God called to Isra'el, "Ya'akov! Ya'akov!" He answered, "Here I am."

Berean Standard Bible

And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” He said. “Here I am,” replied Jacob.

American Standard Version

And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 46:2 records a profound divine encounter where God directly communicates with Jacob (Israel) through a night vision, offering crucial reassurance and guidance as the patriarch contemplates the momentous journey to Egypt to reunite with his long-lost son Joseph. This pivotal interaction underscores God's active and personal involvement in the lives of His covenant people, providing comfort, clarity, and direction amidst significant life transitions and profound uncertainty.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Genesis 46:2 is situated at a critical juncture in the patriarchal narrative, immediately following Jacob's receipt of the astonishing news that Joseph is alive and ruler in Egypt ([Genesis 45:28](/genesis/45-28 "Genesis 45:28 - Jacob Hears Joseph is Alive")). This news prompts Jacob's decision to journey to Egypt. Before embarking, however, Jacob pauses at Beersheba, a place hallowed by previous divine encounters with Abraham and Isaac ([Genesis 26:24](/genesis/26-24 "Genesis 26:24 - God Appears to Isaac at Beersheba")), to offer sacrifices to God. This act signifies his seeking divine counsel and approval for a move that would take him and his family out of the Promised Land, a land divinely covenanted to his forefathers. The verse thus sets the stage for God's direct intervention, providing the necessary divine mandate and comfort for this unprecedented relocation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, significant journeys and major life decisions, especially those involving the relocation of an entire family and its possessions, were often undertaken with great deliberation and, for the faithful, with a reliance on divine guidance. Leaving the land of Canaan, which was the promised inheritance of Abraham's descendants, would have been a profoundly weighty decision for Jacob. The practice of seeking divine oracles, dreams, or visions before such undertakings was common. "Visions of the night" were understood as a direct, supernatural mode of revelation, distinct from ordinary dreams, conveying authoritative divine messages. For Jacob, who had experienced profound divine encounters throughout his life (e.g., [Genesis 28:12-15](/genesis/28-12-15 "Genesis 28:12-15 - Jacob's Dream at Bethel")), this specific mode of communication would have carried immense weight and certainty.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights God's **sovereign providence** and meticulous oversight of His covenant plan, demonstrating that even a seemingly drastic move like going to Egypt is part of His larger design to preserve and multiply His people, ultimately fulfilling the promises made to Abraham ([Genesis 12:2-3](/genesis/12-2-3 "Genesis 12:2-3 - The Abrahamic Covenant")). The verse also underscores the theme of **divine guidance and reassurance**, as God actively intervenes to alleviate Jacob's potential fears and provide clear direction. Furthermore, the intimate address "Jacob, Jacob" reinforces the theme of God's **personal relationship** with His chosen patriarchs, emphasizing His intimate knowledge and care for His people, a theme echoed throughout the narratives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **God (Hebrew, _ʼĕlôhîym'_):** This plural form, used here with a singular verb, refers specifically to the supreme God. Its usage emphasizes God's majesty, power, and ultimate authority as the one true deity who initiates and directs Jacob's journey. The term denotes the divine being who is sovereign over all creation and actively involved in the affairs of humanity, particularly in His covenant relationship with Israel.
* **visions (Hebrew, _marʼâh'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to see," this term denotes a divine revelation, often in a waking state or a heightened spiritual experience, distinct from an ordinary dream. It implies a direct, clear, and divinely initiated communication, ensuring Jacob understood that the message was from God Himself and not a product of his own thoughts or anxieties. The "visions of the night" signify a supernatural encounter, emphasizing the gravity and certainty of the divine message.
* **spake (Hebrew, _ʼâmar'_):** This primitive root is a broad term meaning "to say," encompassing a wide range of verbal communication, from a simple utterance to a solemn declaration or command. In this context, it signifies God's direct, intentional, and authoritative communication to Jacob. The repetition of this verb ("spake... and said") underscores the divine initiative and the clarity with which God conveyed His message to the patriarch, leaving no room for doubt about the origin or purpose of the revelation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night":** This clause establishes the divine initiative and the specific mode of revelation. God, identified by His covenant name "Israel" (given to Jacob in [Genesis 35:10](/genesis/35-10 "Genesis 35:10 - Jacob Renamed Israel")), actively initiates communication. The phrase "visions of the night" indicates a direct, supernatural encounter, distinct from a mere dream, conveying a clear and authoritative message. This highlights God's sovereign choice to reveal His will and presence to Jacob at a critical juncture, providing clarity and comfort when human wisdom might falter.
* **"and said, Jacob, Jacob":** The repetition of Jacob's personal name is a significant rhetorical device in Hebrew scripture. It conveys a sense of urgency, deep personal address, and profound importance, often preceding a momentous divine instruction or revelation. Similar double calls are found in other biblical narratives, such as God calling to [Samuel](/1_samuel/3-10 "1 Samuel 3:10 - God Calls Samuel") or [Moses](/exodus/3-4 "Exodus 3:4 - God Calls Moses from the Burning Bush"), signifying that the recipient is being singled out for a vital purpose and that God is speaking with intense focus, tenderness, and a desire for immediate attention. This repetition underscores the intimate and personal nature of God's relationship with Jacob, affirming His intimate knowledge and profound care for the patriarch.
* **"And he said, Here [am] I":** Jacob's immediate and concise response, *hineni* (Hebrew for "Here am I"), is a classic biblical affirmation of readiness, attentiveness, and availability to God's call. It signifies not merely physical presence but a spiritual posture of submission, humility, and willingness to listen and obey. Despite any potential apprehension about leaving the Promised Land, Jacob's reply demonstrates his deep-seated faith and his readiness to receive and act upon divine instruction, setting the stage for the subsequent divine promises and commands.

#### Literary Devices
Genesis 46:2 employs several literary devices to enhance its impact and meaning. The most prominent is **Repetition**, specifically the doubling of Jacob's name ("Jacob, Jacob"). This literary technique is used throughout the Old Testament to convey urgency, deep personal address, and the profound importance of the message that follows. It serves to capture the recipient's full attention and underscore the gravity and tenderness of the divine call, indicating that God is speaking directly and intimately to Jacob about a matter of great consequence. Furthermore, the verse participates in the broader literary pattern of a **Divine Call Narrative**. This pattern typically involves God initiating contact, identifying the recipient, issuing a call or command, and the recipient responding. Jacob's immediate "Here am I" (hineni) is a quintessential response in such narratives, signaling his readiness and availability to God's will, even before the specific instructions are given. This pattern emphasizes the sovereign initiative of God and the necessary posture of obedient faith from His chosen servants.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
God's direct communication to Jacob in Genesis 46:2 profoundly illustrates His active and personal involvement in the lives of His people, particularly during times of significant transition, uncertainty, or fear. This encounter reveals God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises, demonstrating that even a journey seemingly away from the Promised Land is meticulously orchestrated within His sovereign plan for the preservation and multiplication of His chosen nation. It highlights that God knows His people intimately, addresses them with care and urgency, and expects a posture of readiness and obedience, assuring them of His abiding presence and guidance through every step of their journey.

* [Genesis 15:13](/genesis/15-13 "Genesis 15:13 - Prophecy of Israel's Sojourn in Egypt")
* [Exodus 3:4](/exodus/3-4 "Exodus 3:4 - God Calls Moses from the Burning Bush")
* [1 Samuel 3:10](/1_samuel/3-10 "1 Samuel 3:10 - God Calls Samuel")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 46:2 offers profound insights for contemporary believers, reminding us of God's enduring faithfulness and personal engagement in our lives. Just as God intimately addressed Jacob in his moment of significant transition and potential apprehension, He continues to offer guidance and reassurance to us today. When faced with daunting decisions, uncertainties about the future, or major life changes, we are called to seek God's counsel through prayer, diligent study of Scripture, and attentive listening to the Holy Spirit, trusting that He is faithful to His promises and will direct our paths. Jacob's immediate and humble response, "Here am I," serves as a powerful model for our own readiness to listen attentively and obey God's voice, even when His plan leads us to unfamiliar or challenging territories. This posture of availability is crucial, as it positions us to receive divine instruction and experience God's sovereign hand at work for our ultimate good and His glory, transforming our anxieties into opportunities for deeper trust and obedience.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you currently facing significant transitions or uncertainties that require divine guidance?**
* **How does Jacob's immediate response, "Here am I," challenge or encourage your own posture of readiness and obedience to God's call?**
* **What specific practices can you cultivate to better discern God's voice and receive His reassurance in your own "visions of the night" (moments of deep seeking or uncertainty)?**

### FAQ
**Why did God speak to Jacob in a "vision of the night"?**

Answer: God often communicated with His patriarchs and prophets through dreams and visions, especially during the night, to convey messages with clarity, solemnity, and divine authority, often bypassing the distractions of daily life. This method emphasizes the supernatural origin of the message and its critical importance, ensuring Jacob understood that the directive to go to Egypt was from God Himself, not merely a human decision or a product of his own anxieties. It underscores the divine initiative in guiding His covenant people.

**What is the significance of the repetition "Jacob, Jacob"?**

Answer: In Hebrew, the repetition of a name signifies urgency, deep personal affection, and the profound importance of the message that follows. It's a literary device used to capture the full attention of the recipient and underscore the gravity and tenderness of the divine call, indicating that God is speaking directly and intimately to Jacob about a matter of great consequence for his life and the future of his descendants. It highlights the personal nature of God's relationship with His chosen ones.

**What does Jacob's response, "Here am I" (hineni), signify?**

Answer: *Hineni* is a common biblical response indicating not just physical presence, but a spiritual readiness, attentiveness, and willingness to obey God's command or receive His instruction. It conveys a posture of humble submission and availability, signifying that Jacob was prepared to listen and respond to whatever God would reveal, despite any personal reservations about leaving Canaan. It is a response of faith and commitment to God's sovereign will.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Genesis 46:2, with God's personal call to Jacob and His promise of presence, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The divine voice calling "Jacob, Jacob" prefigures Christ's own intimate call to His disciples, "Follow me" ([Matthew 4:19](/matthew/4-19 "Matthew 4:19 - Jesus Calls His First Disciples")), inviting individuals into a personal relationship and a divinely guided journey that transcends earthly limitations. Just as God promised to go down to Egypt with Jacob ([Genesis 46:4](/genesis/46-4 "Genesis 46:4 - God Promises to Go with Jacob to Egypt")) and bring him back, Christ is Emmanuel, "God with us" ([Matthew 1:23](/matthew/1-23 "Matthew 1:23 - Immanuel, God With Us")), the incarnate Word who tabernacled among us ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). He promises His abiding presence with His followers through all life's uncertainties, even to the end of the age ([Matthew 28:20](/matthew/28-20 "Matthew 28:20 - The Great Commission and Christ's Presence")), assuring us, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" ([Hebrews 13:5](/hebrews/13-5 "Hebrews 13:5 - God Will Never Leave Nor Forsake You")). The preservation of the nascent nation of Israel through their sojourn in Egypt, initiated by this divine encounter, was crucial for the lineage through which the Messiah would eventually come, demonstrating God's meticulous sovereign plan to bring salvation to humanity through the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of all God's promises.

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 15:1

¶ After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I [am] thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward.

Job 33:14

¶ For God speaketh once, yea twice, [yet man] perceiveth it not.

Job 33:15

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

Genesis 22:1

¶ And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, [here] I [am].

Acts 10:3

He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

Genesis 22:11

¶ And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here [am] I.

Numbers 12:6

And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, [I] the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, [and] will speak unto him in a dream.