Berean Standard Bible
Genesis 28:20
20Then 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,
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
18Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it, 19and he called that place Bethel, though previously the city had been named Luz. 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, 21so that I may return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God. 22And this stone I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give You a tenth.”
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
- Then Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
- madeנָדַרnâdar · to vowH5087
- a vowנֶ֫דֶרneder nêder · vowH5088
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Ifאִם'im · ifH518
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- will beהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- with meעִמָּדִי‛immâd · with meH5978
- and watch over meשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
- on thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
- ·אֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
- ·אָֽנֹכִ֫י'ânôkîy · IH595
- ·הָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
- journeyדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
- and if He will provideנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- with foodלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
- to eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- and clothesבֶּ֫גֶדbeged · garmentH899
- to wearלָבֵשׁlâbash lâbêsh · to clotheH3847
Cross-references for Genesis 28:20
- Genesis 31:13I 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.’”
- Leviticus 27:1Then the LORD said to Moses,
- Numbers 6:1And the LORD said to Moses,
- Numbers 21:2So Israel made a vow to the LORD: “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will devote their cities to destruction.”
- Judges 11:30Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand,
- 1 Samuel 1:11And 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.”
- 1 Samuel 14:24Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food.
- 2 Samuel 15:8For 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.’”
- Nehemiah 9:1On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth, with dust on their heads.
- Psalms 22:25My praise for You resounds in the great assembly; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You.
- Psalms 56:12Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You.
- Psalms 61:5For You have heard my vows, O God; You have given me the inheritance reserved for those who fear Your name.
- Psalms 66:13I will enter Your house with burnt offerings; I will fulfill my vows to You—
- Psalms 76:11Make and fulfill your vows to the LORD your God; let all the neighboring lands bring tribute to Him who is to be feared.
- Psalms 116:14I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people.
- Psalms 119:106I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments.
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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