Genesis 28:5 kjv
And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.
Genesis 28:5 nkjv
So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Padan Aram, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.
Genesis 28:5 niv
Then Isaac sent Jacob on his way, and he went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau.
Genesis 28:5 esv
Thus Isaac sent Jacob away. And he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.
Genesis 28:5 nlt
So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Paddan-aram to stay with his uncle Laban, his mother's brother, the son of Bethuel the Aramean.
Genesis 28 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 24:3-4 | And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven... that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites... but thou shalt go unto my country... and take a wife unto my son Isaac. | Abraham's command to avoid Canaanite wives for Isaac. |
| Gen 24:10 | And the servant took ten camels... and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. | Seeking a wife from the ancestral homeland. |
| Gen 24:15 | And it came to pass... Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel... | Introduction of Rebekah and Bethuel. |
| Gen 27:41 | And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing... and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. | Esau's murderous intent, necessitating Jacob's departure. |
| Gen 27:42 | And these words of Esau... were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob... and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau... doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. | Rebekah's intervention to save Jacob's life. |
| Gen 27:43 | Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran. | Rebekah's instruction to Jacob to flee to Laban. |
| Gen 27:46 | And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me? | Rebekah's feigned reason to Isaac for Jacob's departure. |
| Gen 28:1 | 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. | Isaac's blessing and explicit command concerning marriage. |
| Gen 28:2 | Arise, go to Paddan-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. | Isaac directly commands Jacob to go to Laban's family for a wife. |
| Gen 28:4 | And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. | The covenant blessing connected to the journey and lineage. |
| Gen 28:6-8 | When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away... to take him a wife... and that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father... Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took... his sister to be his wife. | Esau's contrasting marriage choices highlight Jacob's obedience. |
| Gen 28:10 | And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. | Start of Jacob's journey; confirms destination. |
| Gen 29:4 | And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. | Jacob's arrival in Laban's region (Haran). |
| Deut 26:5 | Thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father... | Identifying Jacob (or Abraham) as an "Aramean" by heritage. |
| Acts 7:2 | And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran. | Abraham's origin in Mesopotamia, connecting Jacob's destination to ancestral roots. |
| Gen 12:1-3 | Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred... unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee... and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. | Echoes the theme of separation for covenant blessing. |
| Prov 19:14 | House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: but a prudent wife is from the LORD. | God's providence in finding a suitable spouse for His purposes. |
| 2 Cor 6:14 | Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? | Theological principle behind avoiding marriage with those outside the faith, though written later. |
| Neh 13:25 | And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. | Later, severe consequences for intermarriage among God's people. |
| Mal 2:15 | And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. | Importance of seeking "godly seed" through marriage, implicitly guarding against foreign alliances. |
| Isa 51:1-2 | Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. | Reinforces the importance of the family line (Abraham and Sarah) from which the chosen lineage emerged. |
Genesis 28 verses
Genesis 28 5 Meaning
Genesis 28:5 records a pivotal moment: Isaac's direct action to send Jacob away from the Promised Land to Paddan-aram. This departure serves multiple crucial purposes: to remove Jacob from the immediate danger posed by Esau's murderous anger, to fulfill Rebekah's desire to secure a suitable, non-Canaanite wife for Jacob, and to ensure the continuation of the covenant lineage through a chosen heir free from ungodly intermarriage. The verse specifically identifies Laban as the destination, connecting him through Rebekah, thus highlighting the patriarchal concern for family purity and inherited spiritual values.
Genesis 28 5 Context
Genesis 28:5 is embedded within a critical juncture in the life of Jacob and the unfolding Abrahamic covenant. It immediately follows Isaac's formal blessing of Jacob (Gen 28:1-4), which explicitly charges him not to take a wife from Canaanite women, but instead to seek one from his mother's family in Paddan-aram. This directive aligns with Rebekah's secret concern for Jacob's safety from Esau (Gen 27:42-45) and her open concern about Jacob marrying a Canaanite woman, which distressed her and Isaac (Gen 27:46). Thus, Jacob's departure is multifaceted: a flight from danger, an act of parental obedience, and a divinely guided step towards securing the legitimate lineage for the covenant promises. It sets the stage for Jacob's iconic dream at Bethel and his subsequent trials and formation under Laban. Historically, avoiding Canaanite wives was paramount for the patriarchs to prevent spiritual assimilation into idolatrous cultures and to preserve the distinctive identity of the covenant family.
Genesis 28 5 Word analysis
- So: (waw) Connects this action as the direct result and logical progression from Isaac's blessing and command in the preceding verses (Gen 28:1-4).
- Isaac: (Yiṣḥāq - laughter) The patriarch, recipient of Abraham's blessing, now passing on the lineage and command to his chosen son, Jacob. His actions here underscore his parental authority and active participation in guiding the covenant line.
- sent: (wayyišlaḥ - from שָׁלַח, shalach) To send forth, dismiss, extend. Implies a purposeful and authoritative dispatch. It is not merely Jacob running away, but a sanctioned departure by his father, signifying blessing and mission.
- Jacob: (Yaʿăqōḇ - supplanter; heel-grabber) The central figure whose character will be forged and whose lineage will become Israel. His journey represents a critical phase of divine instruction and formation for him personally and for the future nation.
- away: Emphasizes the physical separation from his home, family, and the land of Canaan, marking the beginning of a significant exile and pilgrimage.
- and he went: (wayyēleḵ) Simple action of movement, indicating Jacob's immediate obedience to the parental command and the commencement of his long journey.
- to Paddan-aram: (Padan ’Ăram - Field of Aram) A specific geographical region in upper Mesopotamia (modern day northern Syria/south-eastern Turkey), the ancestral home of Rebekah and Laban. This location signifies the continued return to the family lineage chosen by Abraham, avoiding Canaanite influence. It ties into the "wandering Aramean" identity later.
- to Laban: (Lāḇān - white) Rebekah's brother and Jacob's uncle. He becomes a significant, albeit manipulative, figure in Jacob's life. His explicit mention emphasizes the familial destination and the intended purpose of seeking a kinswoman for a wife.
- the son of Bethuel: (Ben-Bəṯû’êl) Direct genealogical link establishing Laban's identity. Bethuel was Rebekah's father and Abraham's nephew, thus making Laban also a cousin once removed to Isaac, further emphasizing the desired family ties for marriage.
- the Aramean: (hā’Ărammî) Refers to Bethuel. Highlights his ethnic origin from the Arameans, a people related to the Hebrews through Terah (Abraham's father's lineage) and dwelling in Aram (Mesopotamia). This further distinguishes them from the Canaanites and confirms their suitable ethnic background for marriage into the covenant family. It implies a cultural and potentially religious compatibility relative to Canaan.
- the brother of Rebekah: (’Ăḥî Rīḇqāh) A direct, undeniable family connection emphasizing his closeness to Jacob's mother and substantiating his role as a trusted kinsman for lodging and sourcing a wife. This phrase powerfully underscores the network of family ties and the patriarchal system in place.
- Jacob's and Esau's: Specifies Rebekah's children, re-emphasizing her central role in the narrative and lineage. The mention of both sons subtly highlights the distinction in their paths and choices.
- mother: Finalizes the familial chain, reaffirming the patriarchal importance of maternal lineage in identifying suitable marital partners and continuing the sacred seed line.
Genesis 28 5 Bonus section
The deliberate repetition and reinforcement of Laban's relationship to Rebekah and Bethuel in this single verse highlight the deep importance of family connections and approved lineage within patriarchal society. This was critical for preserving the unique identity and the promise of the covenant seed, guarding against the spiritual assimilation threatened by intermarriage with Canaanites. This careful record of Jacob's origins and intended marriage ties underscores the theological emphasis on divine election and the specific, divinely ordained line through which salvation history would unfold. The detail also sets the stage for future events, where Laban, despite being kinsman, would pose significant challenges to Jacob, showcasing God's work in perfecting His chosen vessel through adversity. This verse marks Jacob's physical separation but his continued spiritual connection to the Abrahamic promise.
Genesis 28 5 Commentary
Genesis 28:5 serves as the hinge between the patriarchal deception of Chapter 27 and Jacob's pivotal journey and transformation. It succinctly describes Jacob's sanctioned departure, presenting it not merely as an escape from Esau, but as an obedient step guided by both parents for the greater purpose of preserving the Abrahamic covenant line. The detail specifying Laban's lineage ("son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah") is far from superfluous; it underscores the patriarchs' deep-seated conviction about marriage within one's kindred to maintain not only social ties but also spiritual purity, in contrast to the detrimental effects of intermarriage with Canaanites already experienced (e.g., Esau's wives, Gen 26:34-35). This verse subtly yet powerfully illustrates the intersection of human decisions (Isaac and Rebekah's plans for Jacob) and divine Providence working to establish the "godly seed" promised through Abraham. Jacob's seemingly reluctant journey becomes a pilgrimage of faith, blessed by his father and later ratified by God himself (Gen 28:12-15).
Examples:
- A parent sending a child to study in a Christian institution to secure a spouse of like faith.
- Making choices about dating or marriage partners that align with biblical principles, seeking counsel from godly elders.
- Fleeing from environments or relationships that threaten one's spiritual well-being, even if it means leaving comfort behind.