Amplified Bible
Genesis 28:20
20Then 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,
Genesis 28:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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,
- New International Version (NIV)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 clothes to wear
- English Standard Version (ESV)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,
- New King James Version (NKJV)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,
Context of Genesis 28:20
18So Jacob got up early in the morning, and took the stone he had put under his head and he set it up as a pillar [that is, a monument to the vision in his dream], and he poured [olive] oil on the top of it [to consecrate it]. 19He named that place Bethel (the house of God); the previous name of that city was Luz (Almond Tree). 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, 21and if [He grants that] I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God. 22This stone which I have set up as a pillar (monument, memorial) will be God’s house [a sacred place to me], and of everything that You give me I will give the tenth to You [as an offering to signify my gratitude and dependence on You].”
Read all of Genesis 28Genesis 28:20 word by word
וַיִּדַּ֥ר יַעֲקֹ֖ב נֶ֣דֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־יִהְיֶ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים עִמָּדִ֗י וּשְׁמָרַ֙נִי֙ בַּדֶּ֤רֶךְ הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָנֹכִ֣י הוֹלֵ֔ךְ וְנָֽתַן־לִ֥י לֶ֛חֶם לֶאֱכֹ֖ל וּבֶ֥גֶד לִלְבֹּֽשׁ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
- vowedנָדַרnâdar · to vowH5087
- a vowנֶ֫דֶרneder nêder · vowH5088
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- If Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- will be with me, and will keep meשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
- in this wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
- that I goהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
- and will giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- me breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
- to eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- and raimentבֶּ֫גֶדbeged · garmentH899
- to put onלָבֵשׁlâbash lâbêsh · to clotheH3847
Cross-references for Genesis 28:20
- Genesis 31:13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, and where you made a vow to Me; now stand up, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.’ ”
- Leviticus 27:1Again, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
- Numbers 6:1Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
- Numbers 21:2So Israel made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will indeed hand over these people to me, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”
- Judges 11:30Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If You will indeed give the Ammonites into my hand,
- 1 Samuel 1:11She made a vow, saying, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction (suffering) of Your maidservant and remember, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life; a razor shall never touch his head.”
- 1 Samuel 14:24But the men of Israel were hard-pressed that day, because Saul had put the people under a curse, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people ate any food.
- 2 Samuel 15:8For your servant made a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram (Syria), ‘If the Lord will in fact bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord [by offering a sacrifice of thanksgiving].’ ”
- Nehemiah 9:1Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the Israelites assembled with fasting and in sackcloth and with dirt on their heads.
- Psalms 22:25My praise will be of You in the great assembly. I will pay my vows [made in the time of trouble] before those who [reverently] fear Him.
- Psalms 56:12Your vows are binding upon me, O God; I will give thank offerings to You.
- Psalms 61:5For You have heard my vows, O God; You have given me the inheritance of those who fear Your name [with reverence].
- Psalms 66:13I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings; I shall pay You my vows,
- Psalms 76:11Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; Let all who are around Him bring gifts to Him who is to be feared [with awe-inspired reverence].
- Psalms 116:14I will pay my vows to the Lord, Yes, in the presence of all His people.
- Psalms 119:106I have sworn [an oath] and have confirmed it, That I will keep Your righteous ordinances.
Commentaries on Genesis 28:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Vowed a vow - A vow is a solemn, holy promise, by which a man bound himself to do certain things in a particular way, time, etc., and for power to accomplish which he depended on God; hence all vows were made with prayer. If God will be with me, etc. - Jacob seems to make this vow rather for his posterity than for himself, as we may learn from Genesis 28:13-15; for he particularly refers to the promises which God had made to him, which concerned the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-22Verses 1-22 - Jacob‘s Journey to Haran 3. קהל qâhāl “congregation.” 9. מחלת māchălat Machalath, “sickness, or a harp.” 19. לוּז lûz Luz, “almond.” The blessing of his sons was the last passage in the active life of Isaac, after which he retires from the scene. Jacob now becomes the leading figure in the sacred history. His spiritual character has yet come out to view. But even now we can discern the general distinction in the lives of the three…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-22Verses 20-22 Jacob made a solemn vow on this occasion. In this observe, 1. Jacob's faith. He trusts that God will be with him, and will keep him; he depends upon it. 2. Jacob's moderation in his desires. He asks not for soft clothing and dainty meat. If God give us much, we are bound to be thankful, and to use it for him; if he gives us but little, we are bound to be content, and cheerfully to enjoy him in it. 3. Jacob's piety, and his regard to God…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-22In view of what God would do for him, Jacob vowed to do certain things for God. He believed the Lord’s words and responded in gratitude. Jacob’s vow influenced Israel’s way of making commitments to God in worship.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2220. Jacob vowed a vow--His words are not to be considered as implying a doubt, far less as stating the condition or terms on which he would dedicate himself to God. Let "if" be changed into "since," and the language will appear a proper expression of Jacob's faith--an evidence of his having truly embraced the promise. How edifying often to meditate on Jacob at Beth-el.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 28:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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