Genesis 31:13 kjv

I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.

Genesis 31:13 nkjv

I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.' "

Genesis 31:13 niv

I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.'?"

Genesis 31:13 esv

I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.'"

Genesis 31:13 nlt

I am the God who appeared to you at Bethel, the place where you anointed the pillar of stone and made your vow to me. Now get ready and leave this country and return to the land of your birth.'"

Genesis 31 verses

Genesis 31 13 Meaning

Gen 31:13 records God identifying Himself to Jacob as "the God of Bethel," directly linking Himself to the place where Jacob had a profound spiritual encounter, anointed a pillar, and made a vow. This verse serves as a divine command for Jacob to return to Canaan, reminding him of God's prior faithfulness and the covenant made at Bethel, reaffirming God's continuous care and sovereign guidance over Jacob's life.

Genesis 31 13 Context

Genesis 31:13 is spoken by God to Jacob after two decades of service and struggle with Laban. Jacob has amassed great wealth through God's blessing, but Laban's covetousness and deceit have made his position untenable. Previously, the angel of God had already spoken to Jacob (Gen 31:11-12) about Laban's schemes and the increase of Jacob's flocks as a divine act. This particular verse, Gen 31:13, explicitly identifies the speaker as the "God of Bethel." This identification instantly links Jacob's current circumstances to his foundational covenant encounter in Gen 28, where he, a fugitive, first made a vow to God, recognizing His presence and promising allegiance in exchange for God's protection and provision. God's command in verse 13 to "arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth" is not just a practical instruction for Jacob's immediate situation, but a divine directive to move Jacob closer to the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant promises regarding the land of Canaan, to which he was promised to return (Gen 28:15).

Genesis 31 13 Word analysis

• "I am": (אֲנִי, ʾănî) Hebrew emphatic pronoun, declaring self-existence and authority. This echoes God's self-identification throughout Scripture, affirming His immutable nature and direct presence.
• "the God": (הָאֵל, hāʾēl) Refers to God as El, a common Semitic term for deity, often used for the supreme God. When combined with "of Bethel," it distinguishes Yahweh as the one true God uniquely tied to this significant encounter, not just a local deity.
• "of Bethel": (בֵּית־אֵל, bêṯ-ʾēl) Meaning "House of God." This is not just a geographical marker but a theological designation. God explicitly ties His identity to this sacred site and the covenant established there (Gen 28). This signifies His continued remembrance of His promises and Jacob's response.
• "where you anointed": (אֲשֶׁר מָשַׁחְתָּ, ʾăšer māšaḥtā) From the verb māšaḥ (מָשַׁח), meaning "to anoint," often with oil, signifying consecration or setting apart for sacred purposes. It refers to Jacob's action in Gen 28:18.
• "a pillar": (מַצֵּבָה, maṣṣêḇāh) A standing stone or monument. In Gen 28, Jacob sets it up and anoints it as a memorial and a place of worship, distinguishing it from pagan usage of similar stones for idolatry (which would later be forbidden, Deut 16:22). Here, it is an act of covenant consecration.
• "and where you made a vow": (וְנָדַרְתָּ־שָׁם נֶדֶר, wə-nādārtā-šām neḏer) The verb nāḏar (נָדַר) means "to vow" or "to promise." Neḏer (נֶדֶר) is the noun for a "vow." This highlights Jacob's solemn pledge of allegiance and giving, emphasizing God's expectation of covenant fidelity (Gen 28:20-22).
• "to Me": (לִי, lî) Emphatically specifies that the vow was directly addressed to and accepted by God.
• "Now arise": (עַתָּה קוּם, ʿattāh qûm) A direct, immediate command to act. Qûm (קוּם) means "to rise up" or "to get up," implying readiness and urgency.
• "leave this land": (צֵא מִן־הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת, ṣêʾ min-hāʾāreṣ hazzōʾṯ) An imperative to depart from Haran and Laban's influence. It signifies a breaking away from a past phase of life and preparing for the next.
• "and return": (וְשׁוּב, wəšûḇ) From the verb šûḇ (שׁוּב), meaning "to turn back," "to go back," or "to return." This emphasizes the divine purpose of guiding Jacob back to the promised land.
• "to the land of your birth": (אֶל־אֶרֶץ מוֹלַדְתֶּךָ, ʾel-ʾereṣ môladteḵā) Specifically refers to Canaan, Jacob's homeland, as it was the land promised to Abraham and Isaac and where Jacob himself was born (though in Haran this was Jacob's second 'home'). It underscores the fulfillment of God's promise to bring him back (Gen 28:15).

Words-Group analysis:

• "I am the God of Bethel": This phrase encapsulates God's faithfulness and enduring covenant relationship with Jacob. It identifies God not by His universal power but by His specific interaction with Jacob, reminding Jacob of a pivotal moment of divine revelation and his own commitment. It is a polemic against pagan beliefs where deities were limited to specific geographic areas or temples, implying that this God is omnipresent yet specifically remembers and claims His encounters.
• "where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to Me": This grouping serves as a clear historical anchor, recalling Jacob's solitary moment of spiritual encounter in Gen 28. It emphasizes both Jacob's response (anointing the pillar, making a vow) and God's recognition of those actions, indicating the binding nature of the vow and God's memory of it. God does not forget our promises to Him.
• "Now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth": This is the divine directive, a clear call to action rooted in the prior covenant. It signals a major transition in Jacob's life, from being Laban's servant to heading towards the patriarchal land, and ultimately, to becoming the father of the twelve tribes. It highlights God's sovereignty over Jacob's movements and future.

Genesis 31 13 Bonus section

The mention of "anointed a pillar" here carries rich theological weight. While later Israelite law would prohibit the erection of certain pillars associated with Canaanite fertility cults, Jacob's act at Bethel pre-dates these laws and is divinely sanctioned, distinguishing it as a legitimate act of worship and memorial. The anointing of the pillar transformed a mundane stone into a sacred marker, dedicated to God as a reminder of His presence and promise. This speaks to the concept of sanctification—making ordinary things sacred through their dedication to God. Furthermore, God reminding Jacob of his vow signals the seriousness of covenants and personal commitments made to the Most High. It implies that God holds His people accountable for their pledges, a theme reiterated in later wisdom literature and laws regarding vows. This interaction at Bethel prefigures the wilderness tabernacle, where God’s presence would dwell amongst His people, demonstrating God's desire for a relationship with humanity and specific dwelling places consecrated to Him, foreshadowing also the ultimate "house of God" which is the New Covenant community (Eph 2:21-22).

Genesis 31 13 Commentary

Genesis 31:13 is a powerful testament to God's remembrance, faithfulness, and sovereign guidance in Jacob's life. Twenty years earlier, Jacob, a fleeing fugitive, encountered God at Bethel and made a conditional vow. This verse demonstrates that God not only heard and accepted that vow but also honored His part of the covenant by protecting Jacob and prospering him (as referenced in Gen 31:12). Now, God calls Jacob to fulfill his own part of the vow (which implied his safe return to the land) by giving a direct command to leave Laban and return to Canaan.

The identification "I am the God of Bethel" is significant. It links God's timeless identity to a specific, deeply personal moment in Jacob's history, showing that the omnipresent Creator God personally involves Himself in the lives of His covenant people. It is a reminder to Jacob that his prosperity was not by his own cunning or Laban's grudging concession, but by divine decree, originating from the God he met at Bethel. This emphasizes God's personal oversight of His children and His expectation of their faithfulness to commitments made to Him. This passage underscores that God's plan is continuous and interconnected; Jacob's return is not merely an escape from Laban but a purposeful step toward the inheritance of the land and the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. It models that God's commands often align with prior promises and lead towards His ultimate purposes.

Practical examples:

• Divine Remembrance: God remembers our commitments and His promises to us.
• Fulfilling Vows: Reminds believers to take seriously their vows made to God.
• God's Initiative in Transitions: Often, God initiates major life transitions, not just our desires.
• Connecting Past Grace to Future Guidance: God points to past grace (Bethel) to guide future actions.