Genesis 35:1
New International Version
Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”

New Living Translation
Then God said to Jacob, “Get ready and move to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother, Esau.”

English Standard Version
God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

King James Bible
And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

New King James Version
Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”

New American Standard Bible
Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

NASB 1995
Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

NASB 1977
Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

Amplified Bible
Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you [in a distinct manifestation] when you fled [years ago] from Esau your brother.”

Christian Standard Bible
God said to Jacob, “Get up! Go to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
God said to Jacob, “Get up! Go to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

American Standard Version
And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, who appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

Contemporary English Version
God told Jacob, "Return to Bethel, where I appeared to you when you were running from your brother Esau. Make your home there and build an altar for me."

English Revised Version
And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, who appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then God said to Jacob, "Go to Bethel and live there. Make an altar there. I am the God who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau."

Good News Translation
God said to Jacob, "Go to Bethel at once, and live there. Build an altar there to me, the God who appeared to you when you were running away from your brother Esau."

International Standard Version
Later, God told Jacob, "Get up, move to Bethel, and live there. Build an altar to the God who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau."

Majority Standard Bible
Then God said to Jacob, ?Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.?

NET Bible
Then God said to Jacob, "Go up at once to Bethel and live there. Make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau."

New Heart English Bible
And God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau."

Webster's Bible Translation
And God said to Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar to God, who appeared to thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

World English Bible
God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And God says to Jacob, “Rise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there, and make there an altar to God, who appeared to you in your fleeing from the face of your brother Esau.”

Young's Literal Translation
And God saith unto Jacob, 'Rise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there, and make there an altar to God, who appeared unto thee in thy fleeing from the face of Esau thy brother.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And God will say to Jacob, Arise, go up to the house of God and dwell there: and make there an altar to God, having been seen to thee in thy fleeing from the face of Esau thy brother.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
In the meantime God said to Jacob: Arise, and go up to Bethel, and dwell there, and make there an altar to God, who appeared to thee when thou didst flee from Esau thy brother.

Catholic Public Domain Version
About this time, God said to Jacob, “Arise and go up to Bethel, and live there, and make an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

New American Bible
God said to Jacob: Go up now to Bethel. Settle there and build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.

New Revised Standard Version
God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
AND God said to Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there; and build there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the presence of your brother Esau.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said to Yaquuv: “Arise, come up to BaythEil and dwell there, and make an altar there to God who was revealed unto you when you fled from before Esau your brother.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And God said unto Jacob: 'Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there; and make there an altar unto God, who appeared unto thee when thou didst flee from the face of Esau thy brother.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And God said to Jacob, Arise, go up to the place, Baethel, and dwell there; and make there an altar to the God that appeared to thee, when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob Returns to Bethel
1Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments.…

Cross References
Genesis 28:10-22
Meanwhile Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. / On reaching a certain place, he spent the night there because the sun had set. And taking one of the stones from that place, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. / And Jacob had a dream about a ladder that rested on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down the ladder. ...

Genesis 31:13
I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up, leave this land at once, and return to your native land.’”

Genesis 32:9-12
Then Jacob declared, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, the LORD who told me, ‘Go back to your country and to your kindred, and I will make you prosper,’ / I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. Indeed, with only my staff I came across the Jordan, but now I have become two camps. / Please deliver me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid that he may come and attack me and the mothers and children with me. ...

Genesis 12:7-8
Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. / From there Abram moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD, and he called on the name of the LORD.

Genesis 13:3-4
From the Negev he journeyed from place to place toward Bethel, until he came to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been pitched, / to the site where he had built the altar. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

Genesis 46:1
So Israel set out with all that he had, and when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

Exodus 3:12
“I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”

Exodus 20:24
You are to make for Me an altar of earth, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and cattle. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.

Joshua 24:1
Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.

Judges 20:18
The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” “Judah will be first,” the LORD replied.

1 Samuel 7:16
Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places.

1 Kings 18:30
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people approached him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been torn down.

2 Kings 17:28
Thus one of the priests they had carried away came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should worship the LORD.

Hosea 12:4-5
Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there— / the LORD God of Hosts, the LORD is His name of renown.

Psalm 22:3
Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.


Treasury of Scripture

And God said to Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar to God, that appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.

God said.

Genesis 22:14
And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

Deuteronomy 32:36
For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.

Psalm 46:1
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Beth-el.

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.

Genesis 12:8
And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

Genesis 13:3,4
And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; …

when thou.

Genesis 16:8
And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

Genesis 27:41-45
And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob…

Exodus 2:15
Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

Jump to Previous
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Altar Appeared Arise Bethel Beth-El Build Dwell Esau Face Fled Fleddest Flee Fleeing Flight Jacob Live Settle
Genesis 35
1. God commands Jacob to go to Bethel.
2. He purges his house of idols.
6. He builds an altar at Bethel.
8. Deborah dies at Allon Bacuth.
9. God blesses Jacob at Bethel.
10. Jacob Named Israel.
16. Rachel travails of Benjamin, and dies in the way to Edar.
22. Reuben lies with Bilhah.
23. The sons of Jacob.
27. Jacob comes to Isaac at Hebron.
28. The age, death, and burial of Isaac.














Then God said
This phrase marks a divine intervention and communication, emphasizing God's active role in guiding His chosen people. The Hebrew word for "God" here is "Elohim," which underscores His power and sovereignty. This divine command is a reminder of God's ongoing relationship with Jacob, highlighting His faithfulness and the importance of obedience to His word.

to Jacob
Jacob, whose name means "supplanter" or "heel-grabber," is a central patriarch in the biblical narrative. His life is marked by transformation and encounters with God. This direct address signifies a personal relationship and a specific calling, reminding us that God knows us individually and has plans for each of us.

Arise, go up
The command "Arise, go up" is both literal and spiritual. In Hebrew, "qum" (arise) and "alah" (go up) suggest a call to action and elevation. This is not just a physical journey but a spiritual ascent, urging Jacob to move towards a place of greater spiritual significance and obedience.

to Bethel
Bethel, meaning "House of God," is a place of profound spiritual significance. It is where Jacob previously encountered God in a dream (Genesis 28:10-19). Returning to Bethel symbolizes a return to the place of divine promise and encounter, a call to renew one's commitment to God and His purposes.

and settle there
The instruction to "settle there" implies establishing a permanent presence. In Hebrew, "yashab" means to dwell or inhabit. This suggests a call to stability and rootedness in God's presence, encouraging believers to make their spiritual home in places where they have encountered God.

Build an altar there
Building an altar is an act of worship and remembrance. The Hebrew word "mizbeach" (altar) is derived from "zabach," meaning to sacrifice. This act signifies dedication, worship, and the acknowledgment of God's past faithfulness. It is a call to prioritize worship and to remember God's interventions in our lives.

to the God who appeared to you
This phrase emphasizes the personal nature of Jacob's relationship with God. The Hebrew "ra'ah" (appeared) indicates a visible manifestation, reminding Jacob of God's tangible presence and past faithfulness. It encourages believers to recall and celebrate their personal encounters with God.

when you fled from your brother Esau
This reference to Jacob's flight from Esau serves as a reminder of God's protection and provision during times of distress. It highlights God's faithfulness in past trials and His ability to transform difficult circumstances into opportunities for growth and divine encounter. This encourages believers to trust in God's sovereignty and faithfulness in their own lives.

XXXV.

JACOB RETURNS TO BETH-EL AND HEBRON.--DEATH OF ISAAC.

(1) Arise, go up to Beth-el.--The position of Jacob at Shechem had become dangerous; for though the first result of the high-handed proceeding of Simeon and Levi was to strike the natives with terror (Genesis 35:5), yet reprisals might follow if they had time to learn the comparatively small number of Jacob's followers. It was necessary, therefore, to remove; but besides this, Beth-el was the goal of the patriarch's jonrneyings. He had made a solemn vow there on his journey to Padanaram, and though forty-two years had elapsed, it had not been forgotten (see Genesis 31:13); and the Divine command to go thither Was the outward authorisation of what his own conscience dictated. On this account we cannot believe that he had remained long at Shechem. Nomads are singularly leisurely in their movements. There is nothing of the rush and hurry of city life in their doings or purposes. They are capable of a great effort occasionally, but then relapse into their usual slowness. And so, when Jacob found good pasture and plenty of room for his cattle at Shechem, he remained there for awhile; but he did not abandon his purpose of going first to Beth-el, and finally to Hebron.

Verse 1. - And God - Elohim. The employment of this name for the Deity throughout the present chapter has been deemed conclusive evidence that, with Rome Jehovistic alterations, it belongs to the fundamental document (Tuch, Bleek, Delitzsch, Kalisch, et alii); but the frequent allusions to Genesis 28:13-16, which by partitionists is almost universally assigned to the Jehovist, prove that both sections have proceeded from the same author, and that, "though the mention of the name is avoided, this chapter, there is no doubt, substantially relates to Jehovah" (Hengstenberg), while the name Elohim may simply indicate that Jacob s journey from Shechem was undertaken in obedience to a Divine intimation (Quarry) - said unto Jacob (shortly after the incidents recorded in the preceding chapter), Arise, go up to Bethel, - about thirty miles distant (Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:3; Genesis 28:19), to which, some thirty years previous, he had solemnly vowed to return (Genesis 28:22) - a vow which he appeared somewhat dilatory in performing, although its conditions had been exactly fulfilled (Keil, Kurtz, Kalisch, etc.) - and dwell there (the massacre of the Shechemites had obviously rendered longer residence in that neighborhood unsafe): and make there an altar - this Jacob had substantially promised to do in his vow (vide Genesis 28:22) - unto God, that appeared unto thee - i.e. unto Jehovah (vide Genesis 28:13) - when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. The words contained an assurance that the same Divine arm which had shielded him against the enmity of Esau and the oppression of Laban would extend to him protection on his future way.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then God
אֱלֹהִים֙ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

said
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶֽל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Jacob,
יַעֲקֹ֔ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

“Arise,
ק֛וּם (qūm)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

go up
עֲלֵ֥ה (‘ă·lêh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

to
בֵֽית־ (ḇêṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's Hebrew

Bethel,
אֵ֖ל (’êl)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1008: Bethel -- 'house of God', a city in Ephraim, also a place in southern Judah

and settle
וְשֶׁב־ (wə·šeḇ-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

there.
שָׁ֑ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

Build
וַעֲשֵׂה־ (wa·‘ă·śêh-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

an altar
מִזְבֵּ֔חַ (miz·bê·aḥ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

there
שָׁ֣ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

to the God
לָאֵל֙ (lā·’êl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty

who appeared
הַנִּרְאֶ֣ה (han·nir·’eh)
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

to
אֵלֶ֔יךָ (’ê·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

you when you fled
בְּבָרְחֲךָ֔‪‬ (bə·ḇā·rə·ḥă·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1272: To bolt, to flee suddenly

from
מִפְּנֵ֖י (mip·pə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

your brother
אָחִֽיךָ׃ (’ā·ḥî·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

Esau.”
עֵשָׂ֥ו (‘ê·śāw)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6215: Esau -- oldest son of Isaac


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OT Law: Genesis 35:1 God said to Jacob Arise go up (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 34:31
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