Genesis 35:8 kjv

But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.

Genesis 35:8 nkjv

Now Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the terebinth tree. So the name of it was called Allon Bachuth.

Genesis 35:8 niv

Now Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died and was buried under the oak outside Bethel. So it was named Allon Bakuth.

Genesis 35:8 esv

And Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. So he called its name Allon-bacuth.

Genesis 35:8 nlt

Soon after this, Rebekah's old nurse, Deborah, died. She was buried beneath the oak tree in the valley below Bethel. Ever since, the tree has been called Allon-bacuth (which means "oak of weeping").

Genesis 35 verses

Genesis 35 8 Meaning

Genesis 35:8 records the death and burial of Deborah, Rebekah's long-serving nurse, and the naming of her burial site as Allon-bachuth, "Oak of Weeping." This event, seemingly a small detail in the larger narrative of Jacob's journey, profoundly impacts the patriarchal household, marking a moment of shared grief and acknowledging the loyalty and significance of a non-familial member within their close-knit community. It occurs just as Jacob, following divine instruction, returns to Bethel, a pivotal covenant site in his life.

Genesis 35 8 Context

The death of Deborah occurs in Genesis chapter 35, a pivotal point in Jacob's journey. Having escaped Laban and reconciled with Esau, Jacob is now commanded by God to return to Bethel, the "House of God," where he first encountered the Lord and made a vow (Gen 28:10-22). This chapter details Jacob's purification of his household (removing foreign gods and earrings, Gen 35:2-4) before arriving at Bethel, emphasizing a renewal of covenant and dedication to God. Amidst this significant spiritual journey and national identity formation for the burgeoning Israel, the verse briefly but powerfully interjects a personal tragedy: the loss of an aged and beloved household member. This unexpected detail highlights that life, even on a divine path, is marked by both blessings and sorrows, triumphs and losses.

Genesis 35 8 Word analysis

• And Deborah (וַתָּמָת דְּבֹרָה, vatamot Devorah):

  • וַתָּמָת (vatamot): "And she died." The waw consecutive imperfect shows sequential narrative flow. It's a direct, declarative statement of her death, a common phrase for demise.
  • דְּבֹרָה (Devorah): Means "bee." It is remarkable that Rebekah's nurse is named and remembered. This is the first and only explicit mention of Deborah in Genesis, yet her detailed obituary implies significant affection and respect from Jacob's family. Her name itself signifies diligence and community, perhaps reflecting her long service. The biblical narrator deems her death worthy of record, underscoring her importance to the matriarchal line and, by extension, to Jacob's household.

• Rebekah’s nurse (מֵינֶקֶת רִבְקָה, menekhet Rivqah):

  • מֵינֶקֶת (menekhet): "Nurse." A noun indicating a wet nurse or one who fosters a child. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a nurse was often much more than a caregiver; she could be a lifelong companion, confidante, and surrogate mother, frequently remaining with the household into old age. This designation highlights her intimate and deep-rooted connection to the matriarch Rebekah and therefore to Jacob's own lineage, despite not being a direct blood relative. It suggests her probable arrival with Rebekah from Mesopotamia when she married Isaac.
  • רִבְקָה (Rivqah): Rebekah. Jacob's mother, Isaac's wife. This association underlines Deborah's role as a link to an earlier generation of matriarchs and their past.

• died (וַתָּמָת, vatamot): (Already analyzed with Deborah).

• and she was buried (וַתִּקָּבֵר, vattikkavēr):

  • The passive form "she was buried" emphasizes the action performed upon her, likely by members of Jacob's household, signifying proper funerary rites and respect in their culture. Burial was a vital practice for honoring the dead in the ancient world.

• below Bethel (תַּחַת בֵּית־אֵל, takhat Bet-El):

  • תַּחַת (takhat): "Below," "under," "beneath." Indicates a geographical position relative to the more famous landmark or settlement of Bethel. It suggests a site on lower ground, perhaps indicating a prominent and easily accessible place of burial outside the main habitated area.
  • בֵּית־אֵל (Bet-El): "House of God." The specific site of Jacob's pivotal dream and vow (Gen 28). Burying her here anchors this personal loss to a divinely significant place, illustrating how personal events unfold within the grand scope of God's covenant journey.

• under an oak (תַּחַת הָאַלּוֹן, takhat ha'allon):

  • תַּחַת (takhat): (Already analyzed with Bethel).
  • הָאַלּוֹן (ha'allon): "The oak." The definite article "the" suggests this was a well-known, perhaps ancient or particularly prominent oak tree, serving as a distinct natural landmark. In the ancient Near East, certain trees, especially oaks (Hebrew: allon or elah), could be long-lived and were often associated with significant locations or even sacred sites (e.g., Abraham's altars under oaks in Mamre, Gen 13:18). Here, it serves as a natural monument for the grave. It implicitly stands in contrast to the use of such trees in pagan cults, serving simply as a place marker.

• and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth (וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ אַלּוֹן בָּכוּת, vayyiqra shemo Allon-Bachut):

  • וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ (vayyiqra shemo): "And its name was called." This Hebrew idiom emphasizes the lasting designation and communal recognition of the site's name, signifying its memorialization. Naming places after events was a common practice in Genesis, rooting experiences in the landscape.
  • אַלּוֹן בָּכוּת (Allon-Bachut): "Oak of Weeping." The naming reflects the profound sorrow experienced by Jacob's family upon Deborah's death. It speaks to the depth of affection and respect held for her, suggesting that she was more than a servant, but a beloved and integral member of their migrating family. The public naming of a place after weeping underscores communal mourning.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse": This combination highlights the specific identity and crucial lifelong bond of a seemingly secondary character, giving her prominence by association with the matriarch. It implicitly informs us about her advanced age and long service within the family, likely accompanying Rebekah from Nahor and thus linking to the patriarchs' Mesopotamian origins.
  • "buried below Bethel under an oak": The specific geographical details tie this personal event to a major covenant location. It also shows a common ancient burial practice using natural markers. The repetition of "under" emphasizes the precise location.
  • "the name of it was called Allon-bachuth": This phrase, typical in Genesis, formally registers the significance of the event. The "Oak of Weeping" forever marks this place of deep lamentation, cementing the collective memory of this particular sorrow within Jacob's household and connecting human emotion to the very landscape.

Genesis 35 8 Bonus section

• The Uniqueness of Deborah's Account: It's striking that of all the unnamed servants throughout the patriarchal narratives, Rebekah's nurse is uniquely identified and given a named burial place. This indicates an unusual level of affection and respect from the family, signifying she was considered more than a servant; perhaps an honorary elder or even a beloved foster-mother figure to Rebekah, and consequently to her descendants.
• A Matriarchal Link: Deborah's survival into Jacob's adult life and return from Padan-aram suggests her advanced age, possibly being near a century old. She represents a direct, living link to the matriarch Rebekah and the very beginnings of Isaac and Rebekah's family unit, further connecting Jacob to his past. Her death symbolizes the fading of an earlier generation.
• Preceding a Divine Reaffirmation: The specific timing of Deborah's death just before God reaffirms His covenant with Jacob at Bethel (Gen 35:9-15) is notable. It shows that personal sorrow and significant divine encounters often occur concurrently or in close succession in the journey of faith. Life is a tapestry woven with both joy and lament, sacred instructions and earthly grief.
• The Significance of "Oak": While oaks in some cultures were pagan sacred sites, in the biblical context, they often serve as enduring natural landmarks for important events (e.g., Gen 12:6, Gen 13:18). Here, the Oak of Weeping, marked by human grief and affection, stands as a stark contrast to pagan uses, grounding the sacred not in the tree itself but in the human emotion and memorialization occurring there.

Genesis 35 8 Commentary

Genesis 35:8, though brief, offers a poignant and often overlooked glimpse into the domestic life of the patriarchal family during a monumental stage of their covenant journey. The death and burial of Deborah, Rebekah’s aged and faithful nurse, underscores the deeply personal dimension intertwined with the divine unfolding of God's plan for Jacob (now Israel). Her unexpected presence and the depth of mourning evident in the naming of "Allon-bachuth," the "Oak of Weeping," speak volumes about the intricate bonds within these ancient households, where loyalty and long service could foster affections akin to family ties.

This verse teaches that even when moving in direct obedience to God’s command and on the cusp of significant covenant renewal (as seen in Gen 35:9-15), life does not become immune to personal loss and grief. It’s a powerful reminder that sorrow is a part of the human experience, even for those chosen by God. The detailed commemoration of her grave demonstrates the value placed on human life and faithful service, extending respect even to those who were not direct blood kin but contributed significantly to the family's welfare. This moment of shared tears around a grave before a great divine encounter grounds the narrative in raw human emotion, showing that true spiritual growth acknowledges both joyful obedience and the pains of human existence.