Genesis 28:20 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 28:20 kjv
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
Genesis 28:20 nkjv
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on,
Genesis 28:20 niv
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear
Genesis 28:20 esv
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear,
Genesis 28:20 nlt
Then Jacob made this vow: "If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing,
Genesis 28 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 28:15 | "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land..." | God's unconditional promise before Jacob's vow, assuring His presence. |
| Gen 31:3 | Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.” | God's continuing instruction and assurance of presence to Jacob later. |
| Gen 35:1 | God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” | Fulfillment of Jacob's vow to return to Bethel. |
| Exod 33:14 | And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." | God's promise of His presence with His people. |
| Deut 23:21-22 | "If you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it..." | Law regarding the solemnity and fulfillment of vows. |
| Num 30:2 | “If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” | Emphasizes the binding nature and importance of fulfilling vows. |
| Josh 1:9 | "...Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” | God's promised presence assuring strength and courage for journeys/tasks. |
| 1 Kings 8:57 | "The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us," | A prayer for God's enduring presence, echoing Jacob's request. |
| Ps 23:1 | "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." | Confidence in God's ultimate provision and care, reflecting Jacob's plea for necessities. |
| Ps 37:25 | "I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread." | Affirmation of God's provision for His people. |
| Ps 76:11 | "Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; let all around Him bring gifts to Him who is to be feared." | Exhortation to make and fulfill vows as acts of reverence. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding... and he will make straight your paths." | Advice on trusting God for guidance and provision on one's life path. |
| Isa 41:10 | "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." | God's promise of support and presence, especially in times of fear. |
| Matt 6:25 | "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on." | Jesus' teaching against anxiety, reinforcing reliance on God's provision. |
| Matt 6:33 | "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." | Prioritizing God leads to His provision for life's necessities. |
| Matt 28:20 | "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." | Jesus' ultimate promise of His unending presence with His disciples. |
| Luke 12:29-31 | "And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink... For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need them." | Similar to Matt 6, assuring disciples of God's knowledge and provision. |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." | Paul's affirmation of God's comprehensive provision for all needs. |
| 1 Tim 6:8 | "But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." | Reflection on basic necessities being sufficient, mirroring Jacob's plea. |
| Heb 13:5 | "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" | Connecting contentment with God's unfailing presence and care. |
Genesis 28 verses
Genesis 28 20 meaning
Jacob's vow in Genesis 28:20 signifies a responsive act of worship and commitment to God, made after experiencing God's profound promise at Bethel. It expresses a desire for God's continued presence and provision during his perilous journey, indicating dependence on divine sustenance and protection, not a condition set for God to fulfill His prior unconditional pledge. This moment marks a critical turning point in Jacob's understanding of his relationship with the Almighty.
Genesis 28 20 Context
Jacob, fleeing the wrath of his brother Esau (Gen 27), finds himself alone on a desperate journey from Beersheba towards Haran. He stops for the night at a solitary place and has a profound dream. In this dream (Gen 28:12-15), he sees a ladder reaching to heaven, with angels ascending and descending, and hears God reaffirming the Abrahamic covenant promises directly to him: land, offspring, blessing to all families of the earth, and critically, "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go... and I will not leave you." (Gen 28:15). Upon waking, overwhelmed by the divine encounter and recognition of "this is the house of God" (Bethel), Jacob erects a pillar and then makes this vow, which serves as his direct response to God's initiative and promise, signifying his renewed commitment and humble dependence.
Genesis 28 20 Word analysis
- Then: Indicating a direct sequence, marking Jacob's immediate response after his profound encounter and the divine revelation in verses 10-19.
- Jacob made a vow: The Hebrew term is נֶדֶר (neder), meaning a specific promise or dedication made to God. This signifies a binding, voluntary commitment. Vows were serious in the ancient Near East, taken before a divine witness.
- saying, "If: The Hebrew אִם (im), typically translated as "if," introduces a conditional clause. However, in this specific context, especially following God's unconditional promise in Gen 28:15, many interpreters understand this "if" not as a doubt or bargaining condition placed on God's fulfillment, but rather as Jacob's recognition and response to God's prior initiative. It reflects a humble expression of dependence, acknowledging that if God indeed proves true to His promise of presence and provision (which He already pledged), then Jacob will reciprocate with allegiance and worship.
- God: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim). This is a generic name for God, also used for the one true God of Israel. Its use here indicates a recognition of a divine power that Jacob has now intimately encountered.
- will be with me: יִהְיֶה עִמָּדִי (yihyeh immadi). Directly echoing God's promise to him in Gen 28:15, "Behold, I am with you" (אֲנֹכִי עִמָּךְ – anokhi immakh). Jacob is essentially re-stating God's own words back to Him, signifying a profound embrace of that divine pledge and a prayer for its tangible reality in his perilous journey.
- and will watch over me: וּשְׁמָרַנִי (u'shmarani), from the root שמר (shamar), meaning to keep, guard, protect. This signifies a plea for active, vigilant divine protection on his journey.
- on this journey I am taking: דֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי הֹלֵךְ (derekh asher anokhi holekh). Highlights Jacob's vulnerability and uncertainty. He is a solitary traveler on a dangerous path, far from his familiar home, without much worldly provision.
- and will give me: וְנָתַן־לִי (v'natan-li), from the verb נָתַן (natan), meaning to give or bestow. This is a humble request for sustenance.
- food to eat: לֶחֶם לֶאֱכֹל (lekhem le'ekhol). לֶחֶם (lekhem) typically means bread, but contextually refers to general provision for sustenance, not luxury. It highlights the basic need for nourishment.
- and clothes to wear: וּבֶגֶד לִלְבֹּשׁ (u'veged lilbosh). بֶּגֶד (beged) means garment or covering. Together with food, it represents the absolute basic necessities for survival in his precarious situation. Jacob's requests are not for wealth or power, but for fundamental human needs.
- "If God will be with me and will watch over me": This phrase reflects a desperate longing for divine presence and protection, directly referencing and internalizing God's previous promise ("I am with you and will keep you"). It's a prayer for the manifestation of that promise rather than a condition for its existence.
- "on this journey I am taking": Emphasizes Jacob's awareness of his vulnerable, transient state. This journey is marked by fear, loneliness, and uncertainty, making God's promised companionship even more critical.
- "will give me food to eat and clothes to wear": This indicates Jacob's humble and essential needs. He is not asking for riches but for mere subsistence, revealing a raw dependence on God for basic human provisions. This highlights that true faith often begins with trusting God for daily sustenance, a stark contrast to any self-reliant pursuits.
Genesis 28 20 Bonus section
Jacob's vow is an instance of a voluntary pledge, a "neder," which became a significant legal and spiritual practice in ancient Israel (cf. Deut 23:21-23). While appearing conditional, his vow is primarily an act of thanksgiving and dedication in anticipation of God's faithfulness. This passage subtly demonstrates that human vows, though voluntary, are always in response to divine initiative, especially in the context of the Abrahamic covenant, which was unconditional. Jacob is seeking validation of the promise rather than setting new terms for it. This shows Jacob's emerging, though imperfect, faith. His vulnerability in asking for mere food and clothing foreshadows the profound reliance of Israel on Yahweh for provision in the wilderness, emphasizing God's care even for the simplest human needs. The very simplicity of his request underscores a foundational biblical principle: God provides for the most basic sustenance of His people.
Genesis 28 20 Commentary
Genesis 28:20 marks Jacob's responsive act of faith and reliance following a transformative encounter with God. Far from being a conditional bargain or an attempt to bind God, Jacob's vow stems from a place of profound humility and vulnerability. God had already made an unconditional promise of presence and protection (Gen 28:15). Jacob's "if" ("im") clause, therefore, should be understood as an acknowledgment of and yearning for the concrete realization of God's prior pledge in his current desolate situation. He is not setting terms but articulating his commitment if God acts consistently with His declared nature and promise. His request for basic food and clothing highlights his desperate state and emphasizes that true dependence on God often starts with trusting Him for the most fundamental necessities of life, recognizing Him as the ultimate Provider even for simple provisions. This vow solidifies Jacob's nascent personal relationship with the God of his fathers, moving from intellectual understanding to a profound, personal reliance.