Genesis 35 11

Genesis 35:11 kjv

And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

Genesis 35:11 nkjv

Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body.

Genesis 35:11 niv

And God said to him, "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants.

Genesis 35:11 esv

And God said to him, "I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body.

Genesis 35:11 nlt

Then God said, "I am El-Shaddai ? 'God Almighty.' Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants!

Genesis 35 verses

Genesis 35 11 meaning

God reappears to Jacob (reaffirming his new name, Israel) and re-issues the covenant blessings given to Abraham and Isaac. This verse specifies three key elements of the divine promise: first, a renewed command and blessing to "be fruitful and multiply," ensuring numerous descendants; second, the explicit declaration that these descendants will form "a nation and a company of nations," highlighting a vast multitude beyond a single ethnicity; and third, the promise that "kings shall come from your loins," establishing a royal lineage among his offspring. God introduces Himself as "God Almighty" ('El Shaddai), emphasizing His power and ability to fulfill these profound promises.

Genesis 35 11 Context

This verse occurs during a pivotal moment in Jacob's life. After his transformation and re-naming to Israel at Penuel (Gen 32:28-30), he experiences significant challenges: the incident with Dinah in Shechem (Gen 34), which results in Simeon and Levi's violent retribution, and the subsequent fear of retribution from surrounding peoples. God then commands Jacob to go to Bethel (Gen 35:1), the place where Jacob first encountered God and made a vow upon leaving Canaan (Gen 28:10-22). At Bethel, Jacob purifies his household from foreign idols, underscoring a commitment to covenant faithfulness. Following the renewal of his name (Gen 35:10), God explicitly appears to Jacob, reaffirms the identity of "Israel," and then pronounces the covenant promises found in Gen 35:11-12. This divine declaration serves as both a comfort and a renewed commission to Jacob, ensuring the continuation and expansion of the patriarchal line despite recent difficulties and impending sorrow (Rachel's death is imminent). It confirms that the covenant established with Abraham and Isaac remains active and will be fulfilled through Jacob/Israel, providing him with divine assurance and a grander vision for his descendants.

Genesis 35 11 Word analysis

• "And God said to him": A divine initiative and a direct, personal communication from God. This is not Jacob's request, but a sovereign declaration by the Creator. The use of 'Elohim here indicates the powerful, general term for God.
• "I am God Almighty": Hebrew: 'Anokhi 'El Shaddai' (אנכי אל שדי).
  • 'Anokhi' (אנכי): Emphatic first-person singular pronoun, "I, myself." Highlights God's self-revelation and authority.
  • 'El Shaddai' (אל שדי): Often translated as "God Almighty" or "All-Sufficient God" or "God of the mountain/breast."
    • 'El' (אל): General Semitic word for "God," denoting strength and power.
    • 'Shaddai' (שדי): Its precise etymology is debated but conveys powerful attributes:
      • Possibly from shad (שד), meaning "breast," signifying a nurturing, sustaining, all-providing God (who is self-sufficient).
      • Possibly from shadad (שדד), meaning "to be powerful" or "to overpower," conveying irresistible power and omnipotence.
      • Another view links it to Akkadian šadu ("mountain"), suggesting "God of the Mountain," implying immutability, strength, or association with sacred high places.
    • This specific name was particularly associated with the patriarchal period as the one who blessed and made fruitful (Gen 17:1, 28:3). It signifies God's ability to overcome natural limitations and fulfill impossible promises of numerous offspring.
• "be fruitful": Hebrew: peru (פרו). A direct command and a blessing, echoing the very first command given to humanity in creation (Gen 1:28). It emphasizes numerical increase.
• "and multiply": Hebrew: rebu (רבו). Conveys the sense of becoming abundant, vast, or great in number. Often used in conjunction with peru to emphasize expansive growth.
• "a nation": Hebrew: goy (גוי). Refers to an ethnic group, people, or nation. In this context, it primarily refers to the nation of Israel as a unified entity, fulfilling the promise of Abraham (Gen 12:2).
• "and a company of nations": Hebrew: uqehal goyim (וקהל גוים).
  • 'Qehal' (קהל): Meaning "assembly," "company," "congregation," or "community."
  • 'Goyim' (גוים): Plural of goy, "nations" or "peoples."
  • This phrase indicates a multitude of diverse peoples, possibly suggesting that descendants would not just form one nation but could expand into multiple distinct groups (e.g., Edomites, various Arabian tribes, or the future division of Israel itself). More broadly, it points to the vast extent and diverse nature of Jacob's (Israel's) progeny, which could extend to include nations spiritually related to Abraham.
• "shall come from you": Implies direct lineage and physical descent, indicating the fulfillment of the promise through Jacob's immediate biological family line.
• "and kings": Hebrew: melakhim (מלכים). Explicitly states that royal figures will emerge from Jacob's line. This is a crucial addition to the previous patriarchal blessings (cf. Gen 17:6 where kings are promised to Abraham), setting the stage for the future Israelite monarchy and ultimately the Davidic dynasty.
• "shall come from your loins": Hebrew: yecheltzu mime'aikeha (יחלצו ממעיכה).
  • 'Loins' ('me'aikeha', ממעיכה): A poetic and common idiom in Hebrew for one's direct descendants or offspring originating from one's body.
  • 'Yecheltzu' (יחלצו): "They shall come forth" or "they shall be brought forth."
  • This phrase underscores the biological reality of the promise's fulfillment through Jacob himself, reinforcing the direct, genealogical nature of the blessing.

Words-group analysis:

• "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply": The divine name 'El Shaddai, the All-Powerful Sustainer, immediately precedes the command/blessing of fruitfulness. This pairing assures Jacob that God has the supreme power to enable the immense proliferation promised, despite any personal or historical obstacles. It’s God’s nature underpinning His covenant promises.
• "a nation and a company of nations shall come from you": This phrase highlights two distinct, yet related, aspects of the progeny. "A nation" refers to the specific nation of Israel, established as a unique people chosen by God. "A company of nations" indicates the immense scale and possibly diverse character of Jacob's overall descendants, implying influence beyond just one political entity or the inclusion of various tribes and peoples, hinting at a global scope or multiple derived entities.
• "and kings shall come from your loins": This specific mention of kings elevates the promise from mere numerous descendants to one of sovereignty and enduring leadership within the promised lineage. It points towards the establishment of a future monarchy in Israel and critically lays the groundwork for the Davidic covenant and the ultimate Kingship of the Messiah, Jesus.

Genesis 35 11 Bonus section

• Bethel's Significance: This promise occurs at Bethel, previously named Luz, a site of divine encounter and covenant establishment (Gen 28:10-22). God revisiting Jacob here signifies His faithfulness to prior vows and reassures Jacob that His promises transcend human failings or immediate threats. It re-consecrates Jacob and his family's purpose in God's plan.
• Prophetic Pattern: The phrases "be fruitful and multiply," "a nation and a company of nations," and "kings" are not merely demographic predictions but establish a recurring pattern in biblical prophecy that culminates in the universal and spiritual kingship of Jesus Christ. The "company of nations" can be seen in light of Gentiles being grafted into Abraham's spiritual lineage through faith in Christ.
• Emphasis on Divine Initiative: Throughout this passage, it is God who appears, God who speaks, God who reiterates the blessings. Jacob does not initiate this encounter, highlighting the sovereign, unilateral nature of God's covenant with His chosen people.
• Polemics against Paganism: In a world filled with local, often powerless, deities or fertility gods, the revelation of 'El Shaddai as the source of limitless fruitfulness, national identity, and kingship underscored the unique power, sovereignty, and faithfulness of the One True God. Unlike capricious deities, 'El Shaddai's promises are assured.

Genesis 35 11 Commentary

Genesis 35:11 marks a profound covenantal re-affirmation for Jacob at Bethel, a place of prior divine encounter. Following Jacob's difficult return to the land, amidst cleansing and re-establishment, God unequivocally reaffirms the Abrahamic covenant with him, solidifying his new identity as "Israel." The revelation of "I am God Almighty" ('El Shaddai) is paramount, reminding Jacob of God's all-sufficient power to fulfill the seemingly impossible. This title, consistent with earlier patriarchal promises, guarantees His capacity to make fertile and to sustain against all odds. The triple promise unfolds: immense fruitfulness (numerous descendants), the formation of a great nation (Israel) but also a "company of nations" (a multi-faceted and extensive lineage, perhaps encompassing allied or descended peoples, or even later prophetic expansions to spiritual offspring), and significantly, the explicit inclusion of "kings" emerging from his direct lineage. This declaration is pivotal, not just for the literal population of Israel but for the later Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7) and ultimately for the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, who reigns as the promised King from Jacob's line. The promise moves beyond personal blessings to a national and royal destiny, signaling God's faithfulness and enduring plan for humanity through this chosen line. It also contrasts the singular, powerful God's promise with polytheistic beliefs, where lesser deities offered limited power or fertility.