Keraia
Genesis 28

Genesis 28:2

Jacob’s Departure · Genesis 28:1–5
Read Genesis 28

Translations

Modern
“Go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel, and take a wife from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.
Traditional
Arise, go to Padan–aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother.
Literal
Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel, the father of your mother, and take for yourself from there a wife from the daughters of Laban, the brother of your mother.
Latin
…sed vade, et proficiscere in Mesopotamiam Syriæ, ad domum Bathuel patris matris tuæ, et accipe tibi inde uxorem de filiabus Laban avunculi tui.

Original

Hebrew
English
“Go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel, and take a wife from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.

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).

People

Bethuel: Father of Rebekah, Isaac's wife Laban: Brother of Rebekah; father of Leah and Rachel

Places

Paddan: The homeland of the patriarchs in Mesopotamia

Glossary

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

Topics

Benedictions: Upon Jacob Bethuel: Son of Nahor, Father of Rebekah Jacob: Esau Seeks to Kill, Escapes to Padan-Aram Marriage: Contracted in Patriarchal Age with Near Relations Marriage: Isaac and Rebekah Marriage: The Jews: Careful in Contracting for Their Children Parents: Their Duty to Their Children Is: Not to Make Unholy Connections for Them