Genesis 28:1

Translations

Modern

So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. “Do not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” he commanded.

Traditional

And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

Literal

And Isaac called to Jacob, and he blessed him, and he commanded him and said to him, “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan.

Latin

Vocavit itaque Isaac Jacob, et benedixit eum, præcepitque ei dicens: Noli accipere conjugem de genere Chanaan:

Original

Hebrew

English

So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. “Do not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” he commanded.

Notes

Genesis 28:1–2

Isaac stayed in the land, but Jacob had to leave. God would deal with Jacob through his uncle Laban (see study note on 29:1–31:55).
Believers must remain spiritually pure by marrying other believers (2 Corinthians 6:14–18). The Canaanites had many groups and clans among their people through wars, treaties, and marriages (see Genesis 34:20–23).
Abraham’s family was to resist such mixing (compare 24:3; chapter 34). They were supposed to marry within their clan to maintain the purity of the line and of the faith that identified them as the chosen people. The surest way to lose their distinctiveness was to intermarry with people of other tribal backgrounds and beliefs (see Ezra 9–10; Nehemiah 13:23–29).

Theme notes and profiles

Arameans Hittites Isaac Jacob Leah Rebekah Blessing Purity and Identity Symbolic Numbers The Priestly Blessing

Related verses

Genesis 28:3–4
May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, so that you may become a company of peoples.
Genesis 24:3
…and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling,
Genesis 27:46
Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a Hittite wife from among them, what good is my life?”
Genesis 6:2
…the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.
Genesis 24:37
My master made me swear an oath and said, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell,
2 Corinthians 6:14–16
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
Genesis 26:34–35
When Esau was forty years old, he took as his wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite.
Exodus 34:15–16
Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices.
Deuteronomy 33:1
This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced upon the Israelites before his death.
Joshua 22:7
(To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan among their brothers.) When Joshua sent them to their homes he blessed them,
Genesis 27:27–33
So he came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed him and said: “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed.
Genesis 49:28
These are the tribes of Israel, twelve in all, and this was what their father said to them. He blessed them, and he blessed each one with a suitable blessing.

People

Isaac: Son of Abraham; father of Jacob and Esau Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Canaan: Ancient region; descendants of Ham; promised to Abraham's descendants

Glossary

Aram-Naharaim Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Ebla Tablets Genesis, Book of History of Israel Jacob Leah Nathanael Patriarchs, Period of the Syria, Syrians

Topics

Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God: Pious Parents Prohibit, to Their Children Benedictions: Upon Jacob Canaanites: Isaac Forbidden by Abraham to Take a Wife From Jacob: Esau Seeks to Kill, Escapes to Padan-Aram Marriage: The Jews: Careful in Contracting for Their Children Miscegenation: Jacob Parents: Their Duty to Their Children Is: Not to Make Unholy Connections for Them Wives: Not to be Selected from Among the Ungodly

Genesis 28:1

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?