Genesis 28:2 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 28:2 kjv
Arise, go to Padanaram, 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.
Genesis 28:2 nkjv
Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother's brother.
Genesis 28:2 niv
Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother's father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother.
Genesis 28:2 esv
Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother's father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother's brother.
Genesis 28:2 nlt
Instead, go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your grandfather Bethuel, and marry one of your uncle Laban's daughters.
Genesis 28 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 24:3-4 | "I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven... that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac from there." | Abraham's similar instruction for Isaac's wife. |
| Gen 26:34-35 | "When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite; and they grieved Isaac and Rebekah." | Esau's unsuitable marriages highlight the concern. |
| Gen 27:46 | "Then Rebekah said to Isaac, 'I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife... from the daughters of Heth... what good will my life be to me?'" | Rebekah's explicit concern informing Isaac's command. |
| Gen 28:1 | "Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: 'You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan.'" | Immediate preceding direct prohibition. |
| Gen 28:3-4 | "May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful... that you may inherit the land... which God gave to Abraham." | Covenant blessing connected to the purpose of the journey. |
| Exod 34:15-16 | "Lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods... and you take their daughters for your sons." | Later Mosaic law prohibiting intermarriage. |
| Deut 7:3-4 | "Nor shall you make marriages with them... For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods." | Explicit reason for avoiding intermarriage. |
| Judg 3:5-6 | "Thus the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites... and they took their daughters as wives for themselves, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods." | Consequences of disregarding this command. |
| Ezra 9:1-2 | "For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of those lands." | Post-exilic warning against intermarriage and defilement. |
| Neh 13:23-27 | Nehemiah rebuking those who married foreign women, threatening God's judgment. | Later consequence of covenant disobedience. |
| 1 Kgs 11:1-8 | Solomon's foreign wives turned his heart after other gods, illustrating the danger of intermarriage. | Historical example of spiritual compromise. |
| 2 Cor 6:14 | "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers." | New Testament principle echoing the spiritual separation. |
| Amos 3:3 | "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" | Principle of agreement for spiritual fellowship. |
| Prov 18:22 | "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord." | God's blessing on finding a suitable partner. |
| Prov 19:14 | "Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord." | Marriage guidance and divine provision. |
| Gen 12:1 | "Now the Lord had said to Abram: 'Get out of your country, from your family... To a land that I will show you.'" | Echoes Abraham's call to journey and leave. |
| Gen 31:17-18 | Jacob's eventual departure from Laban with his wives and children. | Foreshadows Jacob's return journey. |
| Eph 5:22-33 | Instruction for Christian husbands and wives, emphasizing Christ's relationship with the Church. | Marriage as a spiritual covenant reflection. |
| Col 3:20 | "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord." | Jacob's obedience to parental instruction. |
| Gen 28:13-15 | God's reaffirmation of the Abrahamic covenant promises to Jacob during his journey. | Divine confirmation accompanying the journey. |
Genesis 28 verses
Genesis 28 2 meaning
This verse conveys Isaac's direct command to Jacob, instructing him to leave his present dwelling in Beersheba and embark on a journey to Padan Aram. The primary purpose of this travel is to secure a wife from within his maternal family, specifically from the household of Bethuel, his grandfather, and among the daughters of Laban, his maternal uncle. This instruction is crucial for ensuring the continuity of the covenant line through a lineage untainted by marriage to Canaanite women, whom Isaac and Rebekah deemed unsuitable due to their idolatrous practices.
Genesis 28 2 Context
Genesis 28:2 follows Isaac's specific instructions to Jacob regarding his marriage and his departure from Beersheba. The immediate context, particularly Gen 28:1, reveals Isaac's blessing upon Jacob and his explicit prohibition against taking a Canaanite wife. This command is not arbitrary but directly influenced by Rebekah's deep distress over Esau's previous marriages to Hittite women (Gen 26:34-35; 27:46), which were a source of grief and spiritual concern to her and Isaac. Beyond seeking a suitable wife, Jacob's journey to Padan Aram also serves the practical purpose of escaping the wrath of his brother Esau, who planned to kill him after Isaac's death. Thus, this verse sets in motion Jacob's defining period of exile and personal formation under Laban, crucial for the continuity and development of the covenant line. Historically and culturally, arranged marriages were the norm, and marrying within one's kin group or tribe was essential to maintain familial ties, property rights, and crucially, the distinct identity and religious purity of the patriarchal family, distinguishing them from surrounding idolatrous cultures. Padan Aram, in Mesopotamia, represented the ancestral homeland from which Abraham was called, reinforcing the theme of family lineage.
Genesis 28 2 Word analysis
- Arise (קוּם - qum): An imperative verb often signaling urgency, the initiation of a significant journey, or a decisive action. It implies a departure from a current state or location, preparing for movement.
- go (לֵךְ - lek): Also an imperative, closely paired with "Arise" to emphasize the command for immediate physical movement and departure.
- to Padan Aram (פַּדַּנָה אֲרָם - paddanah Aram): "Paddan" means "plain" or "field," while "Aram" refers to the region of Aramea. This specifies a geographical region in northern Mesopotamia, near Haran, which was part of the original family's journey from Ur, reinforcing kinship ties. It contrasts with the foreign, corrupting influence of Canaan.
- to the house of Bethuel (בֵּיתָה בְתוּאֵל - betah Bethu'el): "Beth" (house) signifies not just a physical dwelling but the entire family, household, or lineage. Bethuel was Rebekah's father and therefore Jacob's maternal grandfather. This explicitly ties Jacob to his mother's ancestral family, which was recognized as part of Abraham's extended kin (Gen 24).
- your mother's father (אֲבִי אִמֶּךָ - 'avi imekha): This phrase redundantly (after mentioning "Bethuel") stresses the maternal lineage, underlining the desired continuity within Rebekah's family line, considered suitable for covenant succession, unlike the Canaanites.
- and from there (מִשָּׁם - mishsham): This adverb clearly indicates that the action of taking a wife is to occur after Jacob has arrived at his destination.
- take for yourself (וְקַח־לְךָ - vəqakh lekha): A direct command. The reflexive suffix ("for yourself") implies Jacob's personal acquisition and ownership, yet within the context of parental instruction and the family's purposes.
- a wife (אִשָּׁה - ishshah): A general term for a woman or wife. Its specific identity is further qualified by the following phrase.
- from among the daughters of Laban (מִבְּנוֹת לָבָן - mibbenot Laban): "Laban" was Rebekah's brother, and thus Jacob's maternal uncle. This narrows the scope for Jacob's marital choice, specifying cousins within the established family tree. This practice was culturally accepted and common in ancient Near Eastern society to maintain tribal and family purity and strength.
- your mother's brother (אֲחִי אִמֶּךָ - 'achi imekha): Similar to the mention of "your mother's father," this reiterates and emphasizes the strong familial connection through Rebekah's side, underscoring the purpose of finding a spouse from a related, "clean" lineage, distinct from the inhabitants of Canaan.
Genesis 28 2 Bonus section
- This instruction from Isaac can be viewed as an act of divine providence, directing Jacob not only towards a suitable partner but also removing him from the immediate danger posed by his enraged brother Esau. While Isaac states a different primary reason for the departure (marriage), the flight aspect is equally vital (cf. Gen 27:43).
- The repetitive emphasis on "your mother's" lineage (Bethuel, your mother's father; Laban, your mother's brother) highlights Rebekah's profound influence on this decision, even if the command comes directly from Isaac. Her past grief over Esau's wives (Gen 26:34-35) directly informs Isaac's present command to Jacob.
- The journey prescribed here establishes Jacob's formative period of self-reliance, growth, and eventually, prosperity, away from the shadow of his brother and parents. It is where he will acquire his family and considerable wealth.
- The explicit prohibition against marrying Canaanites sets a precedent that will later be codified in Mosaic law, illustrating the consistent theological concern throughout biblical history for maintaining distinctness and spiritual purity against foreign influences.
Genesis 28 2 Commentary
Genesis 28:2 stands as a pivotal command in Jacob's narrative and the unfolding patriarchal history. It is Isaac's direct, purposeful instruction for Jacob to marry a kinswoman, thereby preventing intermarriage with Canaanite women, a primary concern articulated by Rebekah and evident from Esau's regrettable unions. This directive serves to uphold the Abrahamic covenant's integrity, ensuring the divinely promised lineage remains separate and pure from the spiritual defilements and idolatry prevalent in Canaan. More than just a practical instruction for finding a wife, it is an act of spiritual preservation and a step in preparing Jacob, the chosen heir, for his covenant responsibilities by sending him to a familiar, albeit distant, family environment. Jacob's journey to Padan Aram thus marks not merely a geographical transition but a profound moment of obedience, faith, and the shaping of his character through the experiences that await him. It signifies the proactive pursuit of divine blessing through familial and spiritual purity.