Genesis 46:2 kjv

And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

Genesis 46:2 nkjv

Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob!" And he said, "Here I am."

Genesis 46:2 niv

And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, "Jacob! Jacob!" "Here I am," he replied.

Genesis 46:2 esv

And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here I am."

Genesis 46:2 nlt

During the night God spoke to him in a vision. "Jacob! Jacob!" he called. "Here I am," Jacob replied.

Genesis 46 verses

Genesis 46 2 Meaning

The verse describes God’s direct communication with Jacob, also known as Israel, during the night through a vision. This divine encounter occurs as Jacob embarks on his journey to Egypt with his family, addressing him personally and emphatically with the repetition of his birth name, "Jacob, Jacob." It signifies a pivotal moment of divine reassurance and guidance for Jacob amidst a profound life transition.

Genesis 46 2 Context

Genesis chapter 46 records Jacob's move from Canaan to Egypt, a momentous journey instigated by the famine and Joseph's position as governor. After an emotional reunion with Joseph, Jacob must decide whether to leave the land God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and himself. Before fully committing to the journey and going beyond Beersheba, a significant patriarchal site, Jacob pauses. It is during this crucial period of reflection and potential apprehension that God intervenes directly in verse 2, confirming His presence and assuring Jacob of His plan for his family in Egypt. Historically, migrating from the promised land was a major decision that would typically indicate a loss of blessing or faith; thus, God’s explicit directive transforms this journey into an act of obedience and faith. This context underscores the vital importance of this divine encounter, legitimizing the sojourn in Egypt and setting the stage for the Israelites' growth into a nation.

Genesis 46 2 Word analysis

• And God: Hebrew Elohim (אֱלֹהִים). This general but powerful name for God signifies His supreme authority and might. In this context, given the covenant promises, it clearly refers to the God of Abraham and Isaac, who is YHWH, acting directly and powerfully in Jacob's life.
• spoke: Hebrew va'yomer (וַיֹּאמֶר). This emphasizes a direct, active, and verbal communication from God, not an internal thought or a mere prompting. It denotes a clear and authoritative utterance.
• to Israel: Hebrew el Yisra'el (אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵל). This is Jacob's new name, bestowed upon him after wrestling with God (Gen 32:28). It signifies his transformed identity as "one who strives with God" or "prince of God." Addressing him by this name acknowledges his covenant relationship and spiritual maturity.
• in the visions: Hebrew b'mar'ot (בְּמַרְאֹת). The plural form of mar'eh (מַרְאֶה), meaning "sight" or "vision." This suggests a clear, discernible prophetic experience, possibly involving multiple vivid scenes or strong impressions, rather than a mere unconscious dream. It's a mode of direct divine revelation, signifying truth and clarity.
• of the night: Hebrew ha'laylah (הַלַּיְלָה). Night is a common time for God to communicate in Scripture, often because it is a time of rest and quietness, making one more receptive to spiritual insights, or because it can symbolize distress, darkness, and then God's revelation brings light and comfort.
• and said: Hebrew va'yomer. The repetition of "and said" reinforces the clarity and emphasis of God's message, showing a direct transition from the medium (visions of the night) to the spoken content.
• Jacob, Jacob: Hebrew Ya'akov Ya'akov (יַעֲקֹב יַעֲקֹב). The immediate and repetitive calling of his original name is highly significant. It serves multiple purposes:
  • Intimacy and urgency: A double calling is a literary device used to get immediate and focused attention, signaling a message of profound importance or an intimate, personal address (e.g., Abraham, Moses, Samuel).
  • Acknowledging the person: It bypasses his covenant name ("Israel") momentarily, addressing the human Jacob, with all his fears, weaknesses, and past history. This ensures that the message resonates with Jacob on a very personal and emotional level.
  • Evoking identity: It perhaps reminds him of who he still is by nature – the "supplanter" or one who holds the heel, still prone to doubt and in need of divine guidance, even as he has become "Israel." It shows God knows him fully.

• Words-group analysis:
  • "And God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night": This phrase highlights God's initiative in reaching out to His covenant person through a recognized and direct method of divine revelation. It establishes that the subsequent message is a clear, divine communication, not Jacob's own musings or fear. The use of "Israel" affirms God's commitment to the covenant despite Jacob's momentary fears or past failings.
  • "and said, Jacob, Jacob": This striking phrase encapsulates the personal and empathetic nature of God's interaction. While Jacob is "Israel," God addresses the deeply personal "Jacob" within, the one facing profound decision and potential anxiety. This repeated calling draws his complete attention and signifies that God is keenly aware of Jacob's inner state and is speaking directly to his heart to assuage his fears and grant him peace about the journey.

Genesis 46 2 Bonus section

The location of this divine appearance, Beersheba, is particularly significant. It was a place where Abraham dug wells and called upon the name of the Lord (Gen 21:31-33), and where Isaac also experienced God's blessing and appearance (Gen 26:23-25). For Jacob to pause here and receive divine confirmation before proceeding reinforces the continuity of God's covenant promises across generations and establishes a historical anchor for his journey into Egypt. This connection underscores that the move to Egypt, though outside the immediate promised land, was sanctioned by the same faithful God who had guided his fathers, thereby affirming that this departure was part of God’s grand design for His people and not a deviation from it.

Genesis 46 2 Commentary

Genesis 46:2 is a moment of profound divine engagement with Jacob. As Jacob hesitates on the threshold of Egypt, a land historically associated with both refuge and potential spiritual danger, God sovereignly intervenes. The "visions of the night" provide the perfect conduit for this communication, a space for private and deeply personal revelation to Jacob, reminding him that God’s oversight extends even to the decisions he finds difficult. The direct, urgent call, "Jacob, Jacob," bypasses his elevated covenant name "Israel" to speak to the anxious man who left Beersheba, assuring him of divine approval for his journey. This encounter reconfirms God's covenant faithfulness and guiding hand, emphasizing that this move to Egypt is not a step away from God's promise but an integral part of His plan for Israel's growth and ultimate return to the land of promise. This passage serves as a powerful reminder that God leads His people even in the uncertain paths, turning potential fears into acts of faithful obedience.