Genesis 28
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God’s Word Translation

Genesis 28:11-22

11When he came to a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had gone down. He took one of the stones from that place, put it under his head, and lay down there.

12He had a dream in which he saw a stairway set up on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven. He saw the angels of God going up and coming down on it.

13The Lord was standing above it, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give the land on which you are lying to you and your descendants.

14Your descendants will be like the dust on the earth. You will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. Through you and through your descendant every family on earth will be blessed.

15Remember, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will also bring you back to this land because I will not leave you until I do what I’ve promised you.”

16Then Jacob woke up from his sleep and exclaimed, “Certainly, the Lord is in this place, and I didn’t know it!”

17Filled with awe, he said, “How awe-inspiring this place is! Certainly, this is the house of God and the gateway to heaven!”

18Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had put under his head. He set it up as a marker and poured olive oil on top of it.

19He named that place Bethel [House of God]. Previously, the name of the city was Luz.

20Then 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,

21and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will be my God.

22This stone that I have set up as a marker will be the house of God, and I will surely give you a tenth of everything you give me.”

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Commentaries on Genesis 28

God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society