Genesis 35:13 kjv

And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

Genesis 35:13 nkjv

Then God went up from him in the place where He talked with him.

Genesis 35:13 niv

Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him.

Genesis 35:13 esv

Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him.

Genesis 35:13 nlt

Then God went up from the place where he had spoken to Jacob.

Genesis 35 verses

Genesis 35 13 Meaning

This verse signifies the conclusion of a profound divine encounter between God and Jacob at Bethel. It explicitly states God's departure, His "going up" from Jacob, following a period of direct communication and covenant reaffirmation in that sacred place. It marks a moment of divine transcendence, where God, having delivered His word and blessing, withdraws from visible manifestation, emphasizing His sovereign will in both appearing and departing.

Genesis 35 13 Context

Genesis chapter 35 details a significant turning point in Jacob's life, fulfilling a vow he made at Bethel (Luz) decades earlier (Gen 28:20-22). God commanded Jacob to return to Bethel and build an altar there. Prior to this, Jacob instructs his household to purify themselves, discard foreign gods, and change their garments, highlighting the solemnity and sacred nature of the forthcoming encounter. At Bethel, God appears to Jacob, reiterates the renaming of Jacob to "Israel," and renews the Abrahamic covenant with him, promising him a multitude of nations and the land of Canaan. Jacob then sets up a pillar and pours a drink offering and oil on it, renaming the place "Bethel" ("house of God"). Verse 13 immediately follows this divine reaffirmation and Jacob's subsequent actions, marking God's departure after the powerful exchange. This entire sequence signifies the ongoing faithfulness of God to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob, establishing the foundational identity and inheritance of the people of Israel.

Genesis 35 13 Word analysis

• And God went up (וַיַּעַל אֱלֹהִים - wa·ya·'al Elohim):

  • וַיַּעַל (wa·ya·'al): A waw-consecutive perfect form of the verb עָלָה ('alah), meaning "to go up," "ascend," or "rise." This specific verbal form denotes a sequential action, emphasizing the immediate consequence or next step after the divine communication. Its usage here portrays a tangible, visual departure, suggesting God manifested in a form perceivable by Jacob. This mirrors divine descents mentioned elsewhere, such as God "coming down" onto Sinai (Exod 19).
  • אֱלֹהִים (Elohim): The generic but powerful Hebrew word for "God." In this context, it emphasizes God's sovereign and transcendent nature, the creator and supreme authority who reveals Himself and then departs at will. Its use throughout Genesis 35 underscores the God of creation's personal involvement with Jacob.
  • Significance: The phrase vividly portrays the visible withdrawal of the divine presence, a sign that the direct communication and blessing were complete. It emphasizes God's autonomy; He initiates contact and concludes it, leaving behind a profound impact. This is not God leaving forever, but leaving that specific form of encounter.

• from him (מֵעָלָיו - me'alav):

  • מֵעָלָיו (me'alav): Compound of מִן (min, "from") and עַל (al, "upon" or "above") plus the pronominal suffix יוֹ (-yo, "him"). Literally "from upon him" or "from his presence."
  • Significance: This signifies a direct, personal encounter. God's ascent is specifically from Jacob, emphasizing the direct interaction and the conclusion of this intimate moment. It’s not just God leaving the place, but leaving the personal interface with Jacob.

• in the place (בַּמָּקוֹם - bammaqom):

  • בַּמָּקוֹם (bammaqom): Consists of the preposition בְּ (be, "in" or "at"), the definite article הַ (ha, "the"), and the noun מָקוֹם (maqom, "place").
  • Significance: This highlights the specific geographic location, Bethel, which had been consecrated by Jacob and where he first experienced a dream of God's presence and angels ascending and descending (Gen 28). The phrase firmly ties this current event back to Jacob's previous vow and God's faithfulness to meet him there again, confirming its sacred status as a site of divine revelation.

• where He talked with him (אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר עִמּוֹ - asher dibber immo):

  • אֲשֶׁר (asher): A relative pronoun, meaning "who," "which," or "where."
  • דִּבֶּר (dibber): Piel perfect form of the verb דָּבַר (dabar), "to speak" or "to talk." The Piel stem emphasizes intensive or causative action.
  • עִמּוֹ (immo): Consists of עִם (im, "with") and the pronominal suffix וֹ (-o, "him").
  • Significance: This phrase underscores the essence of the encounter – direct, verbal communication. It signifies that God's ascent followed the completion of His discourse with Jacob, affirming His promises and covenant. It points to the preceding verses (Gen 35:11-12) where God pronounced His blessing, fruitfulness, and covenantal land promise to Jacob. It implies that everything God intended to say in that specific encounter had been said, and His word was delivered in full.

Genesis 35 13 Bonus section

The choice of "Elohim" throughout this chapter, rather than the covenant name "Yahweh," might signify God in His role as the mighty Creator and universal ruler, reinforcing the weight of His pronouncements to Jacob concerning nations and kings, extending beyond just Israel's lineage. The scene's echo of Genesis 17:22 (God departing from Abraham after speaking) reinforces a pattern of divine interaction and a recurring theme of covenant confirmation and completion in patriarchal narratives. This divine departure leaves Jacob, and by extension the reader, to ponder and respond to the significant words and blessings just delivered, emphasizing that divine encounters require human faithful response even after the visible presence of God departs.

Genesis 35 13 Commentary

Genesis 35:13 succinctly describes the final act of a pivotal divine revelation to Jacob at Bethel. Following God's explicit command to return there, Jacob's purification of his household, and God's powerful reaffirmation of the covenant, the verse portrays God "going up" from Jacob in the very place of their conversation. This departure is not abandonment but a profound statement of divine transcendence and the completion of a specific phase of interaction. God is sovereign; He chooses to manifest and to withdraw.

The act of "going up" echoes Jacob's initial dream at Bethel, where he saw angels "ascending and descending" a ladder, and God standing above it. Now, after God has "descended" to meet Jacob personally and powerfully, He "ascends" again. This imagery conveys God's distinctness from His creation while simultaneously emphasizing His ability to interact intimately with humanity. It underscores that while God graciously draws near, He ultimately remains above and beyond human comprehension. For Jacob, it sealed the promises he had received and marked a moment of profound personal and spiritual transformation, enabling him to move forward in his journey knowing the covenant was secured by divine decree.