Genesis 35:14 kjv

And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

Genesis 35:14 nkjv

So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it.

Genesis 35:14 niv

Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.

Genesis 35:14 esv

And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it.

Genesis 35:14 nlt

Jacob set up a stone pillar to mark the place where God had spoken to him. Then he poured wine over it as an offering to God and anointed the pillar with olive oil.

Genesis 35 verses

Genesis 35 14 Meaning

Genesis 35:14 describes Jacob's profound act of worship and memorial after God reaffirms His covenant with him at Bethel. He establishes a standing stone (pillar) at the very site of divine communication. This physical monument is then consecrated through two ancient ritual actions: pouring a drink offering and anointing it with oil. These actions signify Jacob's grateful response to God's faithfulness, his fulfillment of an earlier vow made at this same location, and the setting apart of this place as holy due to God's presence and spoken word.

Genesis 35 14 Context

Genesis 35 is a pivotal chapter for Jacob, marking a significant return to his spiritual roots and the land of promise. Following God's command in verse 1 for Jacob to return to Bethel (where God had previously appeared to him in Gen 28), Jacob takes proactive steps to cleanse his household of foreign gods (v.2-4). After journeying and experiencing divine protection from surrounding peoples (v.5), Jacob arrives at Bethel, building an altar there and naming the place El-Bethel, acknowledging God's revelation (v.7). The chapter then describes a momentous, direct appearance of God to Jacob (v.9), where God reaffirms the covenant promises first made to Abraham and Isaac, confirms Jacob's new name "Israel," and blesses him with fruitfulness and the promise of land (v.10-12). Genesis 35:14 is Jacob’s immediate, reverent response to this powerful and deeply reassuring second divine encounter at Bethel, acting upon and intensifying his earlier commitment made in Genesis 28:18-22. It solidifies the sacredness of the site as a permanent memorial of God’s covenant faithfulness.

Genesis 35 14 Word Analysis

• And Jacob (וַיַּצֵּב יַעֲקֹב - vayyatsev Ya'aqov):
  • vayyatsev (from נָצַב natsav): "and he set up," "stood up," or "established." This verb indicates a deliberate and resolute action. It conveys a sense of permanence and an intentional act of marking or dedicating. It highlights Jacob’s initiative in worship following God’s revelation.
  • Ya'aqov (יַעֲקֹב): Jacob's personal name, meaning "supplanter" or "heel-grabber." Although God just formally changed his name to Israel in v.10, the text continues to use "Jacob" for him here, perhaps emphasizing the person fulfilling his earlier vow, connecting the present act to his past identity and experience.
• set up a pillar (מַצֵּבָה - matsebah):
  • matsebah: A "standing stone" or "monument." In the ancient Near East, matsebot were used as markers, memorials, or cultic stones. While pagan cultures often associated matsebot with idol worship or fertility rites, Jacob's actions consecrate it to the Lord as a memorial of God's presence and covenant. It serves not as an object of worship but as a visible witness to a divine encounter, reminding future generations. It stands in contrast to the forbidden pillars mentioned in later Israelite law (e.g., Deu 16:22) because its purpose here is worship of Yahweh alone, as a memorial, not a deity.
• in the place where he had spoken with him (בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר אִתּוֹ - bammaqom asher dibber 'itto):
  • bammaqom: "in the place," specifically referring to Bethel, "House of God." The emphasis is on the location consecrated by God’s presence and revelation, not an arbitrary spot.
  • asher dibber 'itto: "where He (God) had spoken with him." This highlights the divine initiative. Jacob is responding to God's word and presence, making this not just a human act but a sanctification in response to God’s direct communication. It is a holy site because God chose to speak there.
• a pillar of stone (מַצֶּבֶת אָבֶן - matseveth 'aven):
  • matseveth: Repetition of the root for "pillar," confirming its nature.
  • 'aven: "stone." This redundancy explicitly states the material, reinforcing the durable, tangible, and unyielding nature of the monument. It makes it clear it is a substantial marker made from rock, symbolizing the unchangeable nature of God's promises.
• and he poured a drink offering on it (וַיַּסֵּךְ עָלֶיהָ נֶסֶךְ - vayyassekh 'aleha nesech):
  • vayyassekh (from נָסַךְ nasakh): "and he poured out," specifically used for libations. This indicates a complete dedication.
  • nesech: A "drink offering" or "libation." Typically wine or other liquid. In ancient Israel and the wider Near East, drink offerings were an act of worship, symbolizing thanksgiving, devotion, or covenant sealing. Here, it is a spontaneous, heartfelt act of worship by Jacob before the formal Mosaic law prescribed such offerings (e.g., Num 15:5). It's an act of giving back to God what was His, or as a petition, or a symbol of life poured out in devotion.
• and he poured oil on it (וַיִּצֹק עָלֶיהָ שֶׁמֶן - vayyitssoq 'aleha shemen):
  • vayyitssoq (from יָצַק yatsaq): "and he poured" (often specifically for viscous liquids or molten materials).
  • shemen: "oil," typically olive oil. Oil was a common symbol of consecration, anointing, and divine blessing. It signified setting apart something or someone as holy, embodying God's presence or Spirit. This act echoes Jacob’s original anointing of the pillar in Gen 28:18, emphasizing renewed dedication and confirmation of the sacredness of the site. It is an act of purification and sanctification.

Words-group analysis:

• "Jacob set up a pillar...a pillar of stone": The deliberate repetition and specification highlight the monument's permanence and significance as a witness to God's act and Jacob's response. It is a visible marker of a sacred encounter, designed to endure.
• "in the place where he had spoken with him": This phrase attributes the sacredness of the location solely to God's prior divine revelation and communication. Jacob is not inventing a holy site but responding to where God has already made Himself known. This underlines God's initiative in the covenant.
• "he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it": These two distinct, parallel actions emphasize a complete and multi-faceted act of consecration and worship. The pouring signifies total dedication. The drink offering indicates an act of thanksgiving or devotion, while the oil signifies consecration, setting apart, and acknowledging the divine presence. The combination expresses the depth of Jacob's reverence and gratitude, mirroring elements later codified in the Mosaic law for Tabernacle rituals.

Genesis 35 14 Bonus section

The specific sequence and repetition of actions in Genesis 35:14 hold deep theological significance. The fact that Jacob performs these acts again at Bethel (recall Gen 28:18) after a fresh encounter with God speaks to the idea of covenant renewal and deepening spiritual understanding. His initial act was an individual vow in a time of desperation; this second act, however, comes from a more mature and prosperous Jacob, following a divine initiative to reaffirm the covenant and his new identity as "Israel." This suggests a richer, more profound response to God's persistent grace and promises. It implies that spiritual markers and acts of worship are not one-time events but can be reaffirmed and deepened over a lifetime of faith, echoing the concept of progressive sanctification. The choice of two liquid offerings, one a general drink offering and the other specific oil, suggests a holistic and thorough consecration, symbolizing that every part of Jacob's being and the place is dedicated to the Lord.

Genesis 35 14 Commentary

Genesis 35:14 captures Jacob's profound spiritual response to a pivotal encounter with God. This verse details the final step in fulfilling his vow from Genesis 28:20-22, made at the very same place after his first divine dream. God's reaffirmation of the covenant, the changing of Jacob's name to Israel, and the promise of land and descendants invigorate Jacob's faith. In response, he does not simply leave the place; he actively commemorates God’s faithfulness.

The act of setting up a stone pillar serves as an enduring monument, a visible reminder for all future generations of the divine encounter and God's unwavering promises. This pillar is not an idol, but a witness to a relationship with the one true God, differentiating Jacob's worship from the pagan practices of his time. The pouring of a drink offering, likely wine, symbolizes a heartfelt dedication and thanksgiving, expressing devotion by returning a valuable commodity to the Lord. This act, together with the pouring of oil, functions as an intensified anointing and consecration, reaffirming the sacredness of the ground where God had appeared. The oil further represents the setting apart of the place as holy, permeated by God's Spirit and presence.

Jacob's actions in this verse represent mature faith. Unlike his previous hasty departure after his initial Bethel experience, this return involves a purification of his household (v.2-4) and a deliberate, structured act of worship in direct response to God's renewed covenant promises (v.9-12). It underscores the principle that true faith often leads to outward acts of devotion, memorializing God’s goodness and affirming one's commitment. These spontaneous acts of worship by patriarchs laid foundations for the structured worship seen in the Mosaic Law, demonstrating humanity's innate desire to worship the divine and respond to divine revelation.

Examples for practical usage today might include:

• Acknowledging specific moments of God's clear intervention in one's life.
• Creating memorials (not idols, but reminders) of God's faithfulness (e.g., journaling, dedicating specific items, holding annual thanksgiving).
• Fulfilling vows made to God in times of desperation or breakthrough.
• Engaging in acts of worship that symbolize dedication and consecration in response to God’s continued presence and promises in our lives.