Genesis 28:18 kjv
And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
Genesis 28:18 nkjv
Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it.
Genesis 28:18 niv
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.
Genesis 28:18 esv
So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.
Genesis 28:18 nlt
The next morning Jacob got up very early. He took the stone he had rested his head against, and he set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it.
Genesis 28 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 22:3 | So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey... | Rising early for a divine directive/task |
| Gen 28:10-17 | Jacob went from Beersheba to Haran... a ladder set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven... God stood above it... "I am the LORD, the God of Abraham..." | Immediate context: the dream and divine revelation |
| Gen 28:20-22 | Then Jacob made a vow... "If God will be with me and will keep me in this way... then the LORD shall be my God, and this stone... shall be God's house." | Jacob's subsequent vow, fulfilling the consecration |
| Gen 31:45-48 | So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar... "This heap is a witness between you and me today." | Other instances of Jacob erecting pillars for witness |
| Gen 35:14 | And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. He poured a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. | Jacob's subsequent return to Bethel and reconsecration |
| Ex 24:4 | Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. | Pillars marking covenantal significance |
| Lev 8:10-12 | Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. He sprinkled some of it... and consecrated Aaron and his sons. | Anointing as a act of consecration and sanctification |
| Num 30:2 | When a man vows a vow to the LORD... he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. | The importance of keeping vows |
| Deut 23:21-23 | If you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it... | Exhortation to fulfill vows promptly |
| Jos 4:6-7 | that this may be a sign among you... these stones shall be a memorial to the people of Israel forever. | Stones as memorials of God's acts |
| 1 Sam 7:12 | Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah and called its name Ebenezer, for he said, "Thus far has the LORD helped us." | Pillars as memorials of God's help |
| 1 Sam 10:1 | Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, "Has not the LORD anointed you to be prince over His people Israel?" | Anointing of kings |
| 1 Sam 16:13 | Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. | Anointing of David for kingship |
| Psa 23:5 | You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. | Metaphorical anointing representing blessing and provision |
| Ecc 5:4-5 | When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it... It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. | Caution against breaking vows |
| Isa 57:15 | For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit." | God's presence not confined to structures but to the humble |
| Matt 18:20 | For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them. | God's spiritual presence among His people |
| 1 Pet 2:4-5 | As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house. | Spiritual parallel: Believers as living stones |
| Eph 2:20-22 | built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. | Spiritual temple built on Christ, the Cornerstone |
| Jas 5:14 | Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. | Anointing with oil for healing and prayer |
| Rev 21:3 | And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them." | Ultimate fulfillment: God dwelling among His redeemed |
Genesis 28 verses
Genesis 28 18 Meaning
Genesis 28:18 describes Jacob's immediate response to his profound dream and divine encounter at Bethel. Upon waking, he transformed the ordinary stone that served as his pillow into a sacred pillar, marking the place where God had revealed Himself. He then consecrated this stone by anointing its top with oil, symbolizing its dedication and setting it apart for a holy purpose. This act signifies Jacob's worship, acknowledgement of God's presence, and a memorialization of the foundational covenant promises renewed to him by the Lord.
Genesis 28 18 Context
Genesis chapter 28 recounts a pivotal moment in Jacob's life. He is fleeing Beersheba, having deceived his father Isaac and incurred his brother Esau's murderous wrath, and is en route to Paddan-Aram to find a wife. Jacob is alone, vulnerable, and journeying through a desolate region. That night, he uses a stone for a pillow and has a profound dream: a ladder (or stairway) extending from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending, and the Lord standing above it. In this vision, God reconfirms the covenant promises previously made to Abraham and Isaac – land, numerous offspring, and blessings for all families through his lineage – and personally assures Jacob of His presence and protection. Jacob awakens filled with awe and fear, recognizing the holiness of the place, declaring it the "house of God" (Bethel) and the "gate of heaven." His act in verse 18 is his immediate and tangible response to this awe-inspiring, life-altering encounter, establishing a sacred memorial.
Genesis 28 18 Word analysis
- "So Jacob" (וַיַּשְׁכֵּם יַעֲקֹב, vayyashkem Ya‘akov): The Hebrew verb shakam means "to rise early." This emphasizes Jacob's eagerness, diligence, and immediate, profound spiritual response to the divine encounter. Rising early in the biblical narrative often marks moments of significant decision or urgent action concerning divine matters (e.g., Abraham sacrificing Isaac, Moses ascending Sinai).
- "rose early in the morning" (bashaboker): Reinforces the immediate and deliberate nature of Jacob's actions. It signifies his promptness and conviction, demonstrating the powerful impact of the dream on him.
- "and took the stone" (vayyiqqah et ha'even): This is the ordinary, physical stone he had used as a pillow, underscoring the transformation of a mundane object into a sacred symbol by God's presence.
- "that he had put under his head" (’asher sam merashotav): Highlights the personal and ordinary nature of the stone just hours before. The divine encounter elevates this common item to extraordinary significance.
- "and set it up as a pillar" (vayyakemha matstsevah): Matstsebah (מַצֵּבָה) refers to an upright standing stone or monument. In this context, it functions as a memorial and an altar. Unlike pagan massebot which were sometimes objects of idolatrous worship, Jacob’s matstsebah here is dedicated to the Lord as a tangible marker of His divine presence and promises. It marks a place of communion with the True God.
- "and poured oil" (vayyitssoq shemen): Shemen (שֶׁמֶן), oil, often olive oil, was a primary element in ancient Near Eastern rites of dedication and consecration. This act transforms the stone from a simple monument into a consecrated object, signifying that it is set apart for God.
- "on its top" (al roshah): Indicates a complete and deliberate act of consecration, covering the visible part of the pillar. This ritual anointing signifies separation for holy use and symbolizes divine blessing and presence.
Words-group analysis:
- "So Jacob rose early in the morning and took the stone... and set it up as a pillar": This sequence of actions demonstrates Jacob's earnest and immediate physical response to a deeply spiritual revelation. It highlights his intentional commitment and devotion. He does not hesitate but acts decisively to honor the encounter.
- "took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up as a pillar": This transition from "pillow" to "pillar" symbolizes the profound shift from personal vulnerability and temporary rest to a divinely consecrated place. The common becomes holy through God's revelation.
- "poured oil on its top": This phrase emphasizes the ritual act of dedication and sanctification. The pouring of oil signifies that this pillar is not just a geographical marker, but a consecrated monument dedicated to YHWH, marking the location of His holy presence.
Genesis 28 18 Bonus section
- This act by Jacob highlights that God's holiness is not limited to constructed temples or sacred sites chosen by humans but can imbue an ordinary place where He chooses to reveal Himself, turning the mundane into the sacred.
- Jacob’s consecration of the stone with oil foreshadows the elaborate anointing rituals commanded by God later for the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priesthood (e.g., in Exodus and Leviticus), establishing a pattern of setting apart for divine service.
- The event sets the stage for Jacob's subsequent vow (Gen 28:20-22), solidifying his covenant relationship with God and his commitment to acknowledge the Lord's future provisions and protection.
Genesis 28 18 Commentary
Genesis 28:18 marks a critical turning point in Jacob’s life. Fresh from a vivid dream where God Himself renewed the Abrahamic covenant promises, Jacob's response is one of profound awe and immediate devotion. He doesn't wait; his early morning action reflects an urgent and sincere reverence. By transforming his pillow-stone into a pillar, Jacob memorializes God's personal appearance to him in this specific wilderness location. This act isn't just about setting up a monument; it’s an act of worship. The anointing of the stone with oil, a widely understood ancient Near Eastern ritual, consecrated it, setting it apart as sacred property of God. This action affirms the place as Bethel, the "house of God," signifying where God's presence had been tangibly revealed. Jacob, the fearful fugitive, takes his first concrete step of faith, dedicating himself and marking a holy ground where he recognized God's dwelling. This encounter transforms a desolate stopping place into a place of divine encounter and covenant, establishing a landmark significant in Israelite history.