Christian Standard Bible
Genesis 28:20
20Then 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,
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 in the morning Jacob took the stone that was near his head and set it up as a marker. He poured oil on top of it 19and named the place Bethel, though previously the city was named Luz. 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, 21and if I return safely to my father’s family, then the Lord will be my God. 22This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God’s house, and I will give to you a tenth of all that you give me.”
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 poured oil on the stone marker and made a solemn vow to me. Get up, leave this land, and return to your native land.’”
- Leviticus 27:1The Lord spoke to Moses:
- Numbers 6:1The Lord instructed Moses,
- Numbers 21:2Then Israel made a vow to the Lord, “If you will hand this people over to us, we will completely destroy their cities.”
- Judges 11:30Jephthah made this vow to the Lord: “If you in fact hand over the Ammonites to me,
- 1 Samuel 1:11Making a vow, she pleaded, “Lord of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”
- 1 Samuel 14:24and the men of Israel were worn out that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath: “The man who eats food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies is cursed.” So none of the troops tasted any food.
- 2 Samuel 15:8For your servant made a vow when I lived in Geshur of Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord really brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron.’”
- Nehemiah 9:1On the twenty-fourth day of this month the Israelites assembled; they were fasting, wearing sackcloth, and had put dust on their heads.
- Psalms 22:25I will give praise in the great assembly because of you; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear you.
- Psalms 56:12I am obligated by vows to you, God; I will make my thanksgiving sacrifices to you.
- Psalms 61:5God, you have heard my vows; you have given a heritage to those who fear your name.
- Psalms 66:13I will enter your house with burnt offerings; I will pay you my vows
- Psalms 76:11Make and keep your vows to the Lord your God; let all who are around him bring tribute to the awe-inspiring one.
- Psalms 116:14I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
- Psalms 119:106I have solemnly sworn to 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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