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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 28:17 And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/28-17.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/01_Gen_28_17.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 28:17 - Jacob's Ladder" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And he was afraid and said, How awesome is this place! 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This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/genesis/28.htm">New Living Translation</a> But he was also afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!” <a href="/esv/genesis/28.htm">English Standard Version</a> And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” <a href="/bsb/genesis/28.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!” <a href="/kjv/genesis/28.htm">King James Bible</a> And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. <a href="/nkjv/genesis/28.htm">New King James Version</a> And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” <a href="/nasb_/genesis/28.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” <a href="/nasb/genesis/28.htm">NASB 1995</a> He was afraid and said, &#8220How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/genesis/28.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” <a href="/lsb/genesis/28.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And he was afraid and said, “How fearsome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” <a href="/amp/genesis/28.htm">Amplified Bible</a> So he was afraid and said, “How fearful and awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gateway to heaven.” <a href="/csb/genesis/28.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.” <a href="/hcsb/genesis/28.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> He was afraid and said, &#8220What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.&#8221 <a href="/asv/genesis/28.htm">American Standard Version</a> And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. <a href="/cev/genesis/28.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Then Jacob became frightened and said, "What a frightening place! It must be the house of God and the gateway to heaven." <a href="/erv/genesis/28.htm">English Revised Version</a> And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. <a href="/gwt/genesis/28.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Filled with awe, he said, "How awe-inspiring this place is! Certainly, this is the house of God and the gateway to heaven!" <a href="/gnt/genesis/28.htm">Good News Translation</a> He was afraid and said, "What a terrifying place this is! It must be the house of God; it must be the gate that opens into heaven." <a href="/isv/genesis/28.htm">International Standard Version</a> In mounting terror, he cried out, "How scary this place is! This is nothing less than God's house and the gateway to heaven!" <a href="/msb/genesis/28.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> And he was afraid and said, ?How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!? <a href="/net/genesis/28.htm">NET Bible</a> He was afraid and said, "What an awesome place this is! This is nothing else than the house of God! This is the gate of heaven!" <a href="/nheb/genesis/28.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> He was afraid, and said, "How awesome is this place. This is none other than God's house, and this is the gate of heaven." <a href="/wbt/genesis/28.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is no other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. <a href="/web/genesis/28.htm">World English Bible</a> He was afraid, and said, “How awesome this place is! This is none other than God’s house, and this is the gate of heaven.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/genesis/28.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and he fears and says, “How fearful [is] this place; this is nothing but a house of God, and this a gate of the heavens.” <a href="/ylt/genesis/28.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and he feareth, and saith, 'How fearful is this place; this is nothing but a house of God, and this a gate of the heavens.' <a href="/slt/genesis/28.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And he will be afraid, and will Say, How terrible this place is not this but the house of God, and this the gate of the heavens?<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/genesis/28.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And trembling he said: How terrible is this place! this is no other but the house of God, and the gate of heaven. <a href="/cpdv/genesis/28.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And being terrified, he said: “How terrible this place is! This is nothing other than the house of God and the gateway of heaven.” <a href="/nabre/genesis/28.htm">New American Bible</a> He was afraid and said: “How awesome this place is! This is nothing else but the house of God, the gateway to heaven!” <a href="/nrsvce/genesis/28.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/genesis/28.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And Jacob was exceedingly fearful, and he said, How sacred is this place today! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. <a href="/hpbt/genesis/28.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And Yaquuv feared a great fear and said, “How awesome is this place today! This is nothing but the house of God and this is the gate of Heaven!”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/genesis/28.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And he was afraid, and said: 'How full of awe is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.' <a href="/sep/genesis/28.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And he was afraid, and said, How fearful is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. <a href="/parallel/genesis/28-17.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=6869" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/genesis/28.htm">Jacob's Ladder</a> …16When Jacob woke up, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was unaware of it.” 17<a href="/hebrew/3372.htm" title="3372: way·yî·rā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten. A primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. To frighten.">And he was afraid</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">and said,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: mah- (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">“How</a> <a href="/hebrew/3372.htm" title="3372: nō·w·rā (V-Nifal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten. A primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. To frighten.">awesome</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: haz·zeh (Art:: Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">is this</a> <a href="/hebrew/4725.htm" title="4725: ham·mā·qō·wm (Art:: N-ms) -- Or maqom; also mqowmah; or mqomah; from quwm; properly, a standing, i.e. A spot; but used widely of a locality; also of a condition.">place!</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: zeh (Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">This</a> <a href="/hebrew/369.htm" title="369: ’ên (Adv) -- As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.">is none</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">other than</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!"></a> <a href="/hebrew/1004.htm" title="1004: bêṯ (N-msc) -- A house. Probably from banah abbreviated; a house.">the house</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">of God;</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: wə·zeh (Conj-w:: Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">this</a> <a href="/hebrew/8179.htm" title="8179: ša·‘ar (N-msc) -- A gate. From sha'ar in its original sense; an opening, i.e. Door or gate.">is the gate</a> <a href="/hebrew/8064.htm" title="8064: haš·šā·mā·yim (Art:: N-mp) -- Heaven, sky. Dual of an unused singular shameh; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky.">of heaven!”</a> <div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/john/1-51.htm">John 1:51</a> Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” <a href="/matthew/16-18.htm">Matthew 16:18</a> And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. <a href="/revelation/21-2.htm">Revelation 21:2-3</a> I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. / And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. <a href="/hebrews/12-22.htm">Hebrews 12:22-24</a> Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels / in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, / to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. <a href="/psalms/84-1.htm">Psalm 84:1-2</a> For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD of Hosts! / My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. <a href="/isaiah/66-1.htm">Isaiah 66:1</a> This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be? <a href="/1_kings/8-27.htm">1 Kings 8:27-30</a> But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built. / Yet regard the prayer and plea of Your servant, O LORD my God, so that You may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying before You today. / May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. ... <a href="/exodus/3-5.htm">Exodus 3:5</a> “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” <a href="/1_timothy/3-15.htm">1 Timothy 3:15</a> in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. <a href="/revelation/3-12.htm">Revelation 3:12</a> The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name. <a href="/psalms/24-3.htm">Psalm 24:3-4</a> Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? / He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully. <a href="/isaiah/57-15.htm">Isaiah 57:15</a> For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite. <a href="/ezekiel/43-12.htm">Ezekiel 43:12</a> This is the law of the temple: All its surrounding territory on top of the mountain will be most holy. Yes, this is the law of the temple. <a href="/1_peter/2-5.htm">1 Peter 2:5</a> you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. <a href="/zechariah/8-3.htm">Zechariah 8:3</a> This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.he was.<a href="/exodus/3-6.htm">Exodus 3:6</a> Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.<a href="/judges/13-22.htm">Judges 13:22</a> And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.<a href="/matthew/17-6.htm">Matthew 17:6</a> And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.the house.<a href="/genesis/28-22.htm">Genesis 28:22</a> 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.<a href="/genesis/35-1.htm">Genesis 35:1-13</a> 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… <a href="/2_chronicles/5-14.htm">2 Chronicles 5:14</a> So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/26-24.htm">Afraid</a> <a href="/hebrews/12-28.htm">Awe</a> <a href="/malachi/1-14.htm">Awesome</a> <a href="/genesis/19-11.htm">Doorway</a> <a href="/genesis/15-12.htm">Dreadful</a> <a href="/genesis/27-33.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/1_john/4-18.htm">Feareth</a> <a href="/revelation/21-8.htm">Fearful</a> <a href="/genesis/27-41.htm">Full</a> <a href="/genesis/24-60.htm">Gate</a> <a href="/genesis/19-29.htm">God's</a> <a href="/genesis/28-12.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/genesis/28-12.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/genesis/21-33.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/genesis/28-2.htm">House</a> <a href="/hebrews/12-25.htm">Less</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/31-31.htm">Afraid</a> <a href="/joshua/4-14.htm">Awe</a> <a href="/exodus/15-11.htm">Awesome</a> <a href="/exodus/12-22.htm">Doorway</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-19.htm">Dreadful</a> <a href="/genesis/31-31.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/genesis/32-7.htm">Feareth</a> <a href="/exodus/15-11.htm">Fearful</a> <a href="/genesis/30-1.htm">Full</a> <a href="/genesis/34-20.htm">Gate</a> <a href="/genesis/28-22.htm">God's</a> <a href="/genesis/49-25.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/genesis/49-25.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/genesis/35-4.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/genesis/28-19.htm">House</a> <a href="/exodus/16-17.htm">Less</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 28</div>1. <a href="/genesis/28-1.htm">Isaac blesses Jacob, and sends him to Padan-aram.</a> 6. <a href="/genesis/28-6.htm">Esau marries Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael.</a> 10. <a href="/genesis/28-10.htm">Jacob journeys, and has a vision of a ladder.</a> 18. <a href="/genesis/28-18.htm">The stone of Bethel.</a> 20. <a href="/genesis/28-20.htm">Jacob's vow.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/28.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/28.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>And he was afraid Jacob's fear is a common response to divine encounters in the Bible, reflecting reverence and awe. This fear is not terror but a recognition of God's holiness and power. Similar reactions are seen in Moses at the burning bush (<a href="/exodus/3-6.htm">Exodus 3:6</a>) and Isaiah's vision (<a href="/isaiah/6-5.htm">Isaiah 6:5</a>). It underscores the human recognition of the divine presence and the overwhelming nature of encountering God.and said, “How awesome is this place! The term "awesome" indicates a profound respect and wonder. Jacob's exclamation highlights the significance of the location, Bethel, which means "house of God." This site becomes a central place of worship and remembrance for the Israelites. The awe Jacob experiences is a response to the vision of the ladder reaching to heaven, symbolizing the connection between God and humanity.This is none other than the house of God; Jacob identifies the place as the "house of God," foreshadowing the establishment of the temple in Jerusalem as a dwelling place for God's presence. This phrase also points to the idea of God dwelling among His people, a theme fulfilled in the New Testament with Jesus Christ, who is described as the true temple (<a href="/john/2-19.htm">John 2:19-21</a>).this is the gate of heaven!” The "gate of heaven" signifies a portal or access point to the divine realm. Jacob's dream of the ladder with angels ascending and descending suggests a bridge between heaven and earth. This imagery is echoed in <a href="/john/1-51.htm">John 1:51</a>, where Jesus refers to Himself as the ladder, indicating that He is the mediator between God and humanity. The concept of a "gate" also alludes to the idea of entering into God's presence, a privilege granted through Christ.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jacob.htm">Jacob</a> The grandson of Abraham, son of Isaac and Rebekah. He is the central figure in this passage, experiencing a divine encounter in a dream. 2. <a href="/topical/b/bethel.htm">Bethel</a> The location where Jacob has his dream. Originally called Luz, Jacob renames it Bethel, meaning "House of God," after his vision. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_dream.htm">The Dream</a> Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it, and God speaks to him, reaffirming the covenant made with Abraham and Isaac. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_covenant.htm">The Covenant</a> God's promise to Jacob, which includes land, descendants, and blessings, continuing the Abrahamic covenant. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_fear_and_awe.htm">The Fear and Awe</a> Jacob's reaction to the dream, recognizing the holiness of the place and the presence of God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/r/reverence_for_god's_presence.htm">Reverence for God's Presence</a> Jacob's reaction teaches us the importance of recognizing and revering God's presence in our lives. <a href="/topical/g/god's_faithfulness.htm">God's Faithfulness</a> The reaffirmation of the covenant to Jacob highlights God's faithfulness to His promises, encouraging us to trust in His word. <a href="/topical/t/transformation_of_places.htm">Transformation of Places</a> Just as Jacob's encounter transformed Luz into Bethel, our encounters with God can transform ordinary places into sacred spaces. <a href="/topical/t/the_gateway_to_heaven.htm">The Gateway to Heaven</a> Jacob's vision points to the ultimate connection between heaven and earth through Jesus Christ, encouraging us to seek Him as our mediator. <a href="/topical/p/personal_encounters_with_god.htm">Personal Encounters with God</a> Jacob's experience reminds us that God desires personal relationships with us, and we should be open to His communication in our lives.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_28.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 28</a> <a href="/q/how_to_biblically_respect_others.htm">What are examples of miracles in the Bible?</a> <a href="/q/is_bethel's_divine_role_verified.htm">Is there any external verification that Bethel was so central or divinely significant as described (Genesis 28)? </a> <a href="/q/why_did_judaism_develop_gradually.htm">Why does archaeology show that Judaism developed gradually rather than being revealed all at once?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_the_dispensation_of_promise.htm">What is the Dispensation of Promise?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/28.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(17) How dreadful.--The manifestation of God must always inspire awe and dread, but not fear: for where He reveals Himself, there is "the gate of heaven"--the appointed entrance for prayer now, and for admission to the glorified life hereafter.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/28.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 17. - And he was afraid, - so were Moses (<a href="/exodus/20-18.htm">Exodus 20:18, 19</a>), Job (<a href="/genesis/42-5.htm">Genesis 42:5, 6</a>), Isaiah (<a href="/genesis/6-5.htm">Genesis 6:5</a>), Peter (<a href="/luke/5-8.htm">Luke 5:8</a>), John (<a href="/revelation/1-17.htm">Revelation 1:17, 18</a>), at similar discoveries of the Divine presence - and said, How dreadful is this place! - i.e. how to be feared! how awe-inspiring! φοβερὸς (LXX.), terribilis (Vulgate) - this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. Not literally, but figuratively, the place where God dwells, and the entrance to his glorious abode (Keil); the idea that Jacob was "made aware by the dream that he had slept on one of those favored spots singled out for a future sanctuary, and was fearful that he had sinned by employing it for a profane purpose" (Kalisch), being fanciful. <a href="/commentaries/genesis/28-17.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>And he was afraid וַיִּירָא֙ (way·yî·rā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3372.htm">Strong's 3372: </a> To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten and said, וַיֹּאמַ֔ר (way·yō·mar) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “How מַה־ (mah-) Interrogative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> What?, what!, indefinitely what awesome נּוֹרָ֖א (nō·w·rā) Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3372.htm">Strong's 3372: </a> To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten [is] this הַזֶּ֑ה (haz·zeh) Article | Pronoun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> This, that place! הַמָּק֣וֹם (ham·mā·qō·wm) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4725.htm">Strong's 4725: </a> A standing, a spot, a condition This זֶ֗ה (zeh) Pronoun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> This, that is none אֵ֣ין (’ên) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_369.htm">Strong's 369: </a> A non-entity, a negative particle other than כִּ֚י (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction the house בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1004.htm">Strong's 1004: </a> A house of God; אֱלֹהִ֔ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative this וְזֶ֖ה (wə·zeh) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> This, that is the gate שַׁ֥עַר (ša·‘ar) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8179.htm">Strong's 8179: </a> An opening, door, gate of heaven!” הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ (haš·šā·mā·yim) Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8064.htm">Strong's 8064: </a> Heaven, sky <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/28-17.htm">Genesis 28:17 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/genesis/28-17.htm">Genesis 28:17 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/genesis/28-17.htm">Genesis 28:17 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/genesis/28-17.htm">Genesis 28:17 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/genesis/28-17.htm">Genesis 28:17 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/28-17.htm">Genesis 28:17 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/28-17.htm">Genesis 28:17 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/28-17.htm">Genesis 28:17 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/28-17.htm">Genesis 28:17 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/genesis/28-17.htm">Genesis 28:17 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/genesis/28-17.htm">OT Law: Genesis 28:17 He was afraid and said How dreadful (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/28-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 28:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 28:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/28-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 28:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 28:18" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>