Genesis 35:3 kjv

And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.

Genesis 35:3 nkjv

Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone."

Genesis 35:3 niv

Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone."

Genesis 35:3 esv

Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone."

Genesis 35:3 nlt

We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone."

Genesis 35 verses

Genesis 35 3 Meaning

Genesis 35:3 records Jacob's directive to his household to journey to Bethel, the "House of God." His intention is to build an altar there as an act of worship and fulfillment of the vow he made to God decades earlier. Jacob explicitly acknowledges God's faithful intervention: "who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went," expressing personal testimony of God's responsiveness and continuous presence throughout his arduous life journey. This verse signifies Jacob's decisive commitment to God, emphasizing spiritual renewal and covenant remembrance after a period of worldly compromise.

Genesis 35 3 Context

Genesis chapter 35 marks a crucial turning point in Jacob's life. Following the traumatic events at Shechem (Gen 34), God commands Jacob in verse 1 to "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God." This divine instruction initiates a pilgrimage of purification and renewed covenant. In verse 3, Jacob echoes this divine command to his household, making it a communal call to action after requiring them to purify themselves from foreign gods and ritual defilement (Gen 35:2). The historical context reveals the patriarch's deep-rooted understanding of vows made to God, and the need for a specific, set-apart place for worship in a nomadic culture surrounded by polytheistic Canaanite practices. This return to Bethel symbolizes Jacob's spiritual maturation from the wrestling "supplanter" to "Israel," the one who struggles with God. It also underscores the importance of obeying God's specific commands, especially after times of moral compromise or spiritual stagnation.

Genesis 35 3 Word analysis

• And let us arise (וְנָקוּמָה - və·na·qu·mah): From the root קוּם (qum), meaning "to rise, stand up, establish." The cohortative (first person plural, "let us") suggests a decisive and collective action, initiated by Jacob as the patriarch but requiring communal participation. It implies an internal decision and preparation to act in obedience, reflecting Jacob's commitment after God's direct command in verse 1.
• and go up (וְנַעֲלֶה - və·na·‘ă·leh): From the root עָלָה (‘alah), meaning "to go up, ascend." This is also a cohortative. The geographical location of Bethel was generally higher than surrounding areas, making the physical ascent symbolic of a spiritual pilgrimage—a journey towards higher spiritual ground and closer communion with God.
• to Bethel (בֵּית־אֵל - Bêth-'Ēl): Literally "House of God." This is the sacred site where Jacob experienced his profound dream-vision and first encounter with God (Gen 28:10-22), and where he made his solemn vow. Returning to Bethel signifies a re-consecration, a return to foundational faith, and fulfillment of that earlier promise. It embodies God's presence and faithful dealings with Jacob.
• and I will make there an altar (וְאֶעֱשֶׂה־שָּׁם מִזְבֵּחַ - və·’e‘ĕ·seh-shām miz·bê·aḥ):
  • I will make (‘e‘ĕseh): From the root עָשָׂה (‘asah), "to do, make, prepare." This denotes active and intentional worship.
  • altar (mizbeakh): A structure for sacrifice and communion, signifying worship, consecration, thanksgiving, and memorializing God's acts. It is the visible embodiment of Jacob's vow fulfillment (Gen 28:22) and an act of direct allegiance to God.
• unto God (לָאֵל - la’El): Refers specifically to the God, El, the Mighty One, who revealed Himself to Jacob. This specific designation highlights singular worship and acts as a subtle polemic against the polytheism and idols that Jacob's household had just removed (Gen 35:2). It distinguishes the God of Abraham and Isaac from the many local deities of Canaan.
• who answered me (הָעֹנֶה אֹתִי - hā·‘ō·neh ’ō·ṯî): Present participle, "the One answering." This emphasizes God's consistent and responsive nature. It is a personal testimony from Jacob, referring to numerous instances where God heard and intervened in his life.
• in the day of my distress (בְּיוֹם צָרָתִי - bə·yōm ṣā·rā·ṯî): Literally "in the day of my narrowness" or "affliction." This refers to specific perilous moments, most notably Jacob's flight from Esau (Gen 27-28), his fear before encountering Esau (Gen 32), and potentially even the recent anxiety stemming from the Shechem incident (Gen 34). It underscores God's deliverance in times of genuine peril.
• and was with me (וַיְהִי עִמָּדִי - way·hî ‘im·mā·ḏî): Perfect tense, emphasizing completed past action with continuing presence. This reiterates God's initial promise to Jacob (Gen 28:15) and confirms His faithful, continuous, and protective presence throughout Jacob's complex and challenging journey. God's with-ness is a foundational truth of the covenant.
• in the way which I went (בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר הָלָכְתִּי - ba·de·reḵ ’ă·šer hā·lāḵ·tî): Refers to Jacob's entire life journey from Paddan Aram, implying every step and circumstance. This acknowledges God's consistent guidance and providence, affirming that God was not only present in the "days of distress" but in every single "way" or path taken.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Let us arise and go up to Bethel": This phrase combines movement and destination, signifying a conscious, unified act of pilgrimage toward a sacred space, driven by obedience to God and spiritual purpose. It represents an intentional reorientation.
• "And I will make there an altar unto God": This emphasizes the purpose of the journey—active worship and covenant renewal. Building an altar is a public declaration of allegiance to the one true God, a direct response to His faithfulness, and an act of thanksgiving and dedication.
• "Who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went": This serves as Jacob's personal and communal rationale for the journey. It's a dual acknowledgment of God's responsive help during acute crises and His continuous, steadfast presence and guidance through all phases of life, even the mundane. It grounds the act of worship in past experiences of divine faithfulness.

Genesis 35 3 Bonus section

• The journey to Bethel signifies not just a return to a geographical location, but a return to spiritual foundations, mirroring the spiritual principle that believers often need to "return to their first love" (Rev 2:4) and the foundational truths of their faith when they have drifted or become complacent.
• Jacob's personal testimony, "who answered me... and was with me," is vital. True worship is often fueled by personal experience of God's intervention and continuous presence. It makes faith tangible and authentic, providing a strong witness for his household and for us.
• The immediate preceding context of purification (Gen 35:2) reveals a crucial sequence: genuine worship and encounter with God are predicated upon separation from defilement and idols. Jacob recognized that approaching the holy God required holiness from His people.
• This act of going to Bethel prepares Jacob for further divine revelation. Immediately following his arrival and altar building, God appears to Jacob again, reiterates His covenant, and confirms his new name, "Israel" (Gen 35:9-12), solidifying Jacob's transformed identity in a renewed covenant relationship.

Genesis 35 3 Commentary

Genesis 35:3 encapsulates the profound significance of intentional worship rooted in grateful remembrance. After years of journeying, settling, and facing various trials, Jacob leads his household in fulfilling a decades-old vow made at Bethel. This is more than a mere religious duty; it's a deeply personal confession and a public declaration of God's unchanging character. Jacob explicitly praises God as "the one who answered me in the day of my distress" – recalling critical moments like his flight from Esau – and the God who "was with me in the way which I went," acknowledging divine presence throughout his wandering and often difficult life. This act of building an altar, having already commanded his household to purify themselves (Gen 35:2), symbolizes complete surrender and spiritual realignment. It underscores that true worship requires purification and is a response to God's unfailing faithfulness, offering Him the praise due for His active presence, protection, and provision in every season of life. For the Christian, it echoes the call to continually return to the "house of God" – be it communal worship or personal devotion – with gratitude for Christ's ultimate deliverance from sin and His constant presence through the Holy Spirit.