CINXE.COM

<!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 28:20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/28-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/01_Gen_28_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 28:20 - The Stone of Bethel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear," /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/28-20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/28-20.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/28.htm">Chapter 28</a> > Verse 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad20.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/28-19.htm" title="Genesis 28:19">◄</a> Genesis 28:20 <a href="/genesis/28-21.htm" title="Genesis 28:21">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/genesis/28.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/genesis/28.htm">New International Version</a> Then Jacob made a vow, saying, &#8220If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear <a href="/nlt/genesis/28.htm">New Living Translation</a> Then Jacob made this vow: “If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, <a href="/esv/genesis/28.htm">English Standard Version</a> Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, <a href="/bsb/genesis/28.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear, <a href="/kjv/genesis/28.htm">King James Bible</a> And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, <a href="/nkjv/genesis/28.htm">New King James Version</a> Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, <a href="/nasb_/genesis/28.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Jacob also made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and give me food to eat and garments to wear, <a href="/nasb/genesis/28.htm">NASB 1995</a> Then Jacob made a vow, saying, &#8220If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, <a href="/nasb77/genesis/28.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, <a href="/lsb/genesis/28.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey on which I am going, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, <a href="/amp/genesis/28.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Then Jacob made a vow (promise), saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and clothing to wear, <a href="/csb/genesis/28.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and watch over me during this journey I’m making, if he provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, <a href="/hcsb/genesis/28.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Then Jacob made a vow: &#8220If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, if He provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, <a href="/asv/genesis/28.htm">American Standard Version</a> And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, <a href="/cev/genesis/28.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Jacob solemnly promised God, "If you go with me and watch over me as I travel, and if you give me food and clothes <a href="/erv/genesis/28.htm">English Revised Version</a> And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, <a href="/gwt/genesis/28.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Then Jacob made a vow: "If God will be with me and will watch over me on my trip and give me food to eat and clothes to wear, <a href="/gnt/genesis/28.htm">Good News Translation</a> Then Jacob made a vow to the LORD: "If you will be with me and protect me on the journey I am making and give me food and clothing, <a href="/isv/genesis/28.htm">International Standard Version</a> Then he made this solemn vow: "If God remains with me, watches over me throughout this journey that I'm taking, gives me food to eat and clothes to wear, <a href="/msb/genesis/28.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ?If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear, <a href="/net/genesis/28.htm">NET Bible</a> Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God is with me and protects me on this journey I am taking and gives me food to eat and clothing to wear, <a href="/nheb/genesis/28.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and will watch over me on this journey I am taking, and will give me food to eat, and clothing to put on, <a href="/wbt/genesis/28.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, <a href="/web/genesis/28.htm">World English Bible</a> Jacob vowed a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/genesis/28.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And Jacob vows a vow, saying, “Seeing God is with me, and has kept me in this way which I am going, and has given to me bread to eat, and a garment to put on— <a href="/ylt/genesis/28.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And Jacob voweth a vow, saying, 'Seeing God is with me, and hath kept me in this way which I am going, and hath given to me bread to eat, and a garment to put on -- <a href="/slt/genesis/28.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Jacob will vow a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will preserve me in this way which I went, and gave to me bread to eat, and covering to put on,<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/genesis/28.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And he made a vow, saying: If God shall be with me, and shall keep me in the way by which I walk, and shall give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, <a href="/cpdv/genesis/28.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And then he made a vow, saying: “If God will be with me, and will guard me along the way by which I walk, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, <a href="/nabre/genesis/28.htm">New American Bible</a> Jacob then made this vow: “If God will be with me and protect me on this journey I am making and give me food to eat and clothes to wear, <a href="/nrsvce/genesis/28.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear,<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/genesis/28.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me and will protect me in this way that I go, and will give me food to eat and clothing to wear <a href="/hpbt/genesis/28.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And Yaquuv vowed a vow and said, “If God will be with me and he will keep me in this way in which I go, and he will give to me bread to eat and clothes to wear,<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/genesis/28.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And Jacob vowed a vow, saying: 'If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, <a href="/sep/genesis/28.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If the Lord God will be with me, and guard me throughout on this journey, on which I am going, and give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, <a href="/parallel/genesis/28-20.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=6894" 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">The Stone of Bethel</a> …19and he called that place Bethel, though previously the city had been named Luz. 20<a href="/hebrew/3290.htm" title="3290: ya·‘ă·qōḇ (N-proper-ms) -- A son of Isaac, also his desc. From aqab; heel-catcher; Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch.">Then Jacob</a> <a href="/hebrew/5087.htm" title="5087: way·yid·dar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To vow. A primitive root; to promise.">made</a> <a href="/hebrew/5088.htm" title="5088: ne·ḏer (N-ms) -- A vow. Or neder; from nadar; a promise; also a thing promised.">a vow,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: lê·mōr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">saying,</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">“If</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">God</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: yih·yeh (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">will be</a> <a href="/hebrew/5978.htm" title="5978: ‘im·mā·ḏî (Prep:: 1cs) -- Along with, against, by, from">with me</a> <a href="/hebrew/8104.htm" title="8104: ū·šə·mā·ra·nî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms:: 1cs2) -- To keep, watch, preserve. A primitive root; properly, to hedge about, i.e. Guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.">and watch over me</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.">on this</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/595.htm" title="595: ’ā·nō·ḵî (Pro-1cs) -- I. Sometimes; a primitive pro. I."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: hō·w·lêḵ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1870.htm" title="1870: bad·de·reḵ (Prep-b, Art:: N-cs) -- Way, road, distance, journey, manner. From darak; a road; figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb.">journey,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: wə·nā·ṯan- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">and if He will provide</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">me</a> <a href="/hebrew/3899.htm" title="3899: le·ḥem (N-ms) -- Bread, food. From lacham; food, especially bread, or grain.">with food</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: le·’ĕ·ḵōl (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">to eat</a> <a href="/hebrew/899.htm" title="899: ū·ḇe·ḡeḏ (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage. From bagad; a covering, i.e. Clothing; also treachery or pillage.">and clothes</a> <a href="/hebrew/3847.htm" title="3847: lil·bōš (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- Or labesh; a primitive root; properly, wrap around, i.e. to put on a garment or clothe, literally or figuratively.">to wear,</a> 21so that I may return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God.…<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="/genesis/31-13.htm">Genesis 31:13</a> 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.’” <a href="/genesis/35-3.htm">Genesis 35:3</a> Then let us arise and go to Bethel. I will build an altar there to God, who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.” <a href="/judges/11-30.htm">Judges 11:30-31</a> Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand, / then whatever comes out the door of my house to greet me on my triumphant return from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” <a href="/1_samuel/1-11.htm">1 Samuel 1:11</a> And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.” <a href="/2_samuel/15-8.htm">2 Samuel 15:8</a> For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur of Aram, saying: ‘If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.’” <a href="/psalms/66-13.htm">Psalm 66:13-14</a> I will enter Your house with burnt offerings; I will fulfill my vows to You— / the vows that my lips promised and my mouth spoke in my distress. <a href="/psalms/116-14.htm">Psalm 116:14</a> I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people. <a href="/ecclesiastes/5-4.htm">Ecclesiastes 5:4-5</a> When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. / It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. <a href="/numbers/21-2.htm">Numbers 21:2</a> So Israel made a vow to the LORD: “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will devote their cities to destruction.” <a href="/deuteronomy/23-21.htm">Deuteronomy 23:21-23</a> If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. / But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty of sin. / Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth. <a href="/matthew/5-33.htm">Matthew 5:33</a> Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ <a href="/matthew/6-31.htm">Matthew 6:31-33</a> Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ / For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. / But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. <a href="/matthew/7-7.htm">Matthew 7:7-11</a> Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. / Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ... <a href="/luke/12-29.htm">Luke 12:29-31</a> And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it. / For the Gentiles of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. / But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you. <a href="/john/14-13.htm">John 14:13-14</a> And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. / If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,vowed.<a href="/genesis/31-13.htm">Genesis 31:13</a> 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.<a href="/leviticus/27-1.htm">Leviticus 27:1-34</a> And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, … <a href="/numbers/6-1.htm">Numbers 6:1-20</a> And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, … If God.<a href="/genesis/28-15.htm">Genesis 28:15</a> And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.will give.<a href="/1_timothy/6-8.htm">1 Timothy 6:8</a> And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/27-17.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/genesis/27-27.htm">Clothing</a> <a href="/genesis/27-33.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/genesis/27-31.htm">Food</a> <a href="/genesis/25-25.htm">Garment</a> <a href="/genesis/27-27.htm">Garments</a> <a href="/genesis/28-18.htm">Jacob</a> <a href="/genesis/24-56.htm">Journey</a> <a href="/genesis/28-15.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/genesis/26-33.htm">Oath</a> <a href="/genesis/27-27.htm">Raiment</a> <a href="/genesis/20-7.htm">Safe</a> <a href="/1_timothy/5-12.htm">Vow</a> <a href="/acts/23-21.htm">Vowed</a> <a href="/malachi/1-14.htm">Voweth</a> <a href="/genesis/28-15.htm">Watch</a> <a href="/genesis/28-5.htm">Way</a> <a href="/revelation/19-8.htm">Wear</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/31-54.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/genesis/35-2.htm">Clothing</a> <a href="/genesis/31-46.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/genesis/31-38.htm">Food</a> <a href="/genesis/39-12.htm">Garment</a> <a href="/genesis/35-2.htm">Garments</a> <a href="/genesis/29-1.htm">Jacob</a> <a href="/genesis/29-1.htm">Journey</a> <a href="/genesis/29-9.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/genesis/31-13.htm">Oath</a> <a href="/genesis/37-34.htm">Raiment</a> <a href="/genesis/37-22.htm">Safe</a> <a href="/genesis/31-13.htm">Vow</a> <a href="/genesis/31-13.htm">Vowed</a> <a href="/numbers/6-21.htm">Voweth</a> <a href="/genesis/30-31.htm">Watch</a> <a href="/genesis/30-25.htm">Way</a> <a href="/exodus/18-18.htm">Wear</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>Then Jacob made a vow, saying, In the ancient Near Eastern context, making a vow was a solemn promise or commitment, often made in response to a divine encounter or as part of a covenant relationship. Jacob's vow here is significant as it marks a pivotal moment in his spiritual journey. Vows were binding and taken seriously, reflecting a deep commitment to fulfill one's promise to God. This vow follows Jacob's dream at Bethel, where God reaffirmed the Abrahamic covenant to him, indicating a personal relationship with God.“If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, Jacob's request for God's presence and protection reflects a common biblical theme of divine guidance and safeguarding. The journey Jacob refers to is his flight from Beersheba to Haran, a journey fraught with potential dangers. This echoes God's promise to Abraham and Isaac of His presence and protection. The conditional "if" suggests Jacob's growing faith and reliance on God, acknowledging his need for divine assistance. This request for God's presence is reminiscent of God's assurance to Moses in <a href="/exodus/33-14.htm">Exodus 33:14</a>, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear, Jacob's request for basic necessities highlights the human dependence on God for sustenance and provision. In the ancient world, food and clothing were fundamental needs, and their provision was often seen as a sign of divine blessing. This reflects the biblical principle that God is the provider of all needs, as seen in <a href="/matthew/6-31.htm">Matthew 6:31-33</a>, where Jesus teaches about trusting God for daily necessities. Jacob's focus on these essentials underscores his humility and recognition of God's role as the sustainer of life.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jacob.htm">Jacob</a> The grandson of Abraham and son of Isaac, Jacob is a central figure in this passage. He is on a journey to Haran to find a wife from his mother's family, as instructed by Isaac. 2. <a href="/topical/b/bethel.htm">Bethel</a> The place where Jacob has a dream of a ladder reaching to heaven and where he makes his vow to God. Bethel becomes a significant spiritual landmark in Jacob's life. 3. <a href="/topical/v/vow.htm">Vow</a> Jacob makes a conditional vow to God, promising that if God fulfills certain conditions, then the LORD will be his God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_nature_of_vows.htm">The Nature of Vows</a> Vows are serious commitments before God. Jacob's vow reflects a conditional faith, which can be a starting point for a deeper relationship with God. Believers should consider the weight of their promises to God. <a href="/topical/g/god's_faithfulness.htm">God's Faithfulness</a> Despite Jacob's conditional vow, God remains faithful. This teaches us about God's grace and His commitment to His promises, even when our faith is imperfect. <a href="/topical/d/dependence_on_god.htm">Dependence on God</a> Jacob's request for basic needs (food and clothing) highlights the importance of relying on God for provision. Believers are encouraged to trust God for their daily needs. <a href="/topical/s/spiritual_milestones.htm">Spiritual Milestones</a> Bethel becomes a spiritual milestone for Jacob. Christians can identify and cherish moments of divine encounter and commitment in their own 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/why_does_jacob_bargain_with_god.htm">Why does Jacob appear to “bargain” with God, seemingly contradicting other passages that discourage testing God (Genesis 28:20–22)? </a> <a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_tithing.htm">What does the Bible teach about tithing?</a> <a href="/q/who_is_jacob,_also_known_as_israel.htm">Who is Jacob, also known as Israel?</a> <a href="/q/how_do_modern_believers_tithe_today.htm">Leviticus 27:30: If tithes of crops and animals were commanded, how should this apply to modern believers where agricultural offerings are rarely relevant?</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>(20-22) Then shall the Lord (Jehovah) be my God.--This is a false translation, and gives a wrong sense. Jacob, in his vow, which implies no doubt on his part, but is his acceptance of the terms of the covenant, says: "If Elohim will be with me, and will protect me on this journey that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, and if I come again in peace to my father's house, and Jehovah will be my Elohim, then this stone which I have set up as a pillar shall be Beth-Elohiin; and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely pay thee tithes." <a href="/context/genesis/28-20.htm" title="And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,">Genesis 28:20-21</a> are a recapitulation of the mercies of which he was to be the recipient, while in <a href="/genesis/28-22.htm" title="And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that you shall give me I will surely give the tenth to you.">Genesis 28:22</a> Jacob states what shall be his vow of gratitude.But what was a Beth-Elohim? It has been supposed that it was a sort of cromlech, set up to be itself an object of adoration. Attention has also been called to the Baitylia, or stones "possessed of a soul," which the Ph?nicians are said by Eusebius (Praep. Evang. i. 10) to have worshipped; and it has been thought, with some probability, that the word is a corrupt form of the Hebrew Beth-Elohim. These Baitylia. however, were meteoric stones, and their sanctity arose from their having fallen from heaven. Stones, moreover, set up at first simply as memorials may in time have been worshipped, and hence the prohibition in <a href="/leviticus/26-1.htm" title="You shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither raise you up a standing image, neither shall you set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down to it: for I am the LORD your God.">Leviticus 26:1</a>, <a href="/deuteronomy/16-22.htm" title="Neither shall you set you up any image; which the LORD your God hates.">Deuteronomy 16:22</a>; but there is no trace of any such idolatrous tendency here. Jacob apparently meant by a Beth-Elohim a place where prayer and offerings would be acceptable, because God ad manifested Himself there; and His vow signified that if, preserved by Jehovah's care, he was permitted to visit the place again, he would consecrate it to Jehovah's service, and spend there in sacrifice, or in some other way to His honour, the tithe of whatever property he might have acquired.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/28.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 20, 21. - And Jacob vowed a vow, - not in any mercenary or doubtful spirit, but as an expression of gratitude for the Divine mercy (Calvin), as the soul's full and free acceptance of the Lord to be its own God (Murphy), as the instinctive impulse of the new creature (Candlish) - saying, If (not the language of uncertainty, but equivalent to "since, ' or "forasmuch as;" Jacob by faith both appropriating and anticipating the fulfillment of the preceding promise) God (Elohim; for the reason of which vide infra) will be with me, - as he has promised (ver. 15), and as I believe he will - and will keep me in this way that I go, - a particular appropriation of the general promise (ver. 15) - and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on (i.e. all the necessaries of life, included, though not specially mentioned, in the preceding promise), so that I come again to my father's house - also guaranteed by God (ver. 15), and here accepted by the patriarch - in peace (i.e. especially free from Esau's avenging threats); then shall the Lord be my God - literally, and Jehovah will be to me for Elohim (Rosenmüller, Hengstenberg, Keil, Kalisch, 'Speaker's Commentary'), though the received translation is not without support (LXX., Vulgate, Syriac, Calvin, Michaelis, Lange, Murphy, Wordsworth); but to have bargained and bartered with God in the way which this suggests before assenting to accept him as an object of trust and worship would have been little less than criminal. Accordingly, the clause is best placed in the protasis of the sentence, which then practically reads, "if Elohim will be Jehovah to me, and if Jehovah will be to me Elohim" (vide Hengstenberg, 'Introduction,' vol. 1. p. 358). <a href="/commentaries/genesis/28-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>Then Jacob יַעֲקֹ֖ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3290.htm">Strong's 3290: </a> Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc made וַיִּדַּ֥ר (way·yid·dar) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5087.htm">Strong's 5087: </a> To promise a vow, נֶ֣דֶר (ne·ḏer) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5088.htm">Strong's 5088: </a> A promise, a thing promised saying, לֵאמֹ֑ר (lê·mōr) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “If אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not God אֱלֹהִ֜ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative will be יִהְיֶ֨ה (yih·yeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> To fall out, come to pass, become, be with עִמָּדִ֗י (‘im·mā·ḏî) Preposition | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5978.htm">Strong's 5978: </a> Against, by, from, me, mine, of, that I take, unto, me and watch over וּשְׁמָרַ֙נִי֙ (ū·šə·mā·ra·nî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8104.htm">Strong's 8104: </a> To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to me on this הַזֶּה֙ (haz·zeh) Article | Pronoun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> This, that journey, בַּדֶּ֤רֶךְ (bad·de·reḵ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1870.htm">Strong's 1870: </a> A road, a course of life, mode of action and if He will provide וְנָֽתַן־ (wə·nā·ṯan-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> To give, put, set me לִ֥י (lî) Preposition | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> with food לֶ֛חֶם (le·ḥem) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3899.htm">Strong's 3899: </a> Food, bread, grain to eat לֶאֱכֹ֖ל (le·’ĕ·ḵōl) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> To eat and clothes וּבֶ֥גֶד (ū·ḇe·ḡeḏ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_899.htm">Strong's 899: </a> A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage to wear, לִלְבֹּֽשׁ׃ (lil·bōš) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3847.htm">Strong's 3847: </a> Wrap around, to put on a, garment, clothe <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/28-20.htm">Genesis 28:20 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/genesis/28-20.htm">Genesis 28:20 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/genesis/28-20.htm">Genesis 28:20 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/genesis/28-20.htm">Genesis 28:20 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/genesis/28-20.htm">Genesis 28:20 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/28-20.htm">Genesis 28:20 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/28-20.htm">Genesis 28:20 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/28-20.htm">Genesis 28:20 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/28-20.htm">Genesis 28:20 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/genesis/28-20.htm">Genesis 28:20 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/genesis/28-20.htm">OT Law: Genesis 28:20 Jacob vowed a vow saying If God (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/28-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 28:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 28:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/28-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 28:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 28:21" /></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>