Genesis 35:3
in Genesis 35Then let us arise and go to Bethel. I will build an altar there to God, who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; 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.
KJV
And let us arise, and go up to Beth–el; 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.
⋯
This verse in Genesis 35
Commentary
8 notes on this verseAnswered me in the day of my distress - Not only when he fled from the face of his brother, but more particularly when he was in his greatest strait at the brook of Jabbok.
This site's exposition
Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you
on Genesis 35:2-4
Rachel had taken her father's household gods at Genesis 31:19, and the household still carries foreign gods. The order runs get rid of them, purify yourselves, change your garments, which is the preparation Israel is given at Exodus 19:10 before God comes down. Clarke reads the earrings they hand over as charms consecrated to a god. Jacob buries the lot under the oak near Shechem.
This site's exposition
who answered me in my day of distress
Jacob's words answer the promise of Genesis 28:15, where God said He would be with him and watch over him wherever he went. The day of distress is the night of Genesis 32:7, when the same root describes his fear of Esau. The promise has held.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening5 voices
God appeared to him again, and confirmed the change of his name, and the covenant with him, ver 9-13. of which appearance Jacob made a grateful acknowledgement, ver. 14, 15.
quarantine:anchor (2026-07-29) — cites-ver-9/14-anchored-3-3
And dwell there - That is, Not only go himself, but take his family with him, that they might join with him in his devotions. Put away the strange Gods - Strange God's in Jacob's family! Could such a family, that was taught the knowledge of the Lord, admit them?
And let us arise and go up to Bethel,.... Thus prepared and purged, their tents clear of idols, their bodies washed with pure water, and their garments new, neat, and clean; all symbolical of inward purity, and of freedom from idolatry and evil works, as became those who go to the house of God, and are his worshippers, see Heb 10:
Doubtless this was his infirmity. Note, Those that are good themselves cannot always have those about them so good as they should be. In those families where there is a face of religion, and an altar to God, yet many times there is much amiss, and more strange gods than one would suspect.
Note, Masters of families, when they go up to the house of God, should bring their families with them. His family surrendered all they had that was idolatrous or superstitious,
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְנָק֥וּמָה | venakumah | so let us arise | H6965 → | 628 times |
| וְנַעֲלֶ֖ה | venaaleh | and we may go up | H5927 → | 890 times |
| בֵּֽית־ | beit- | Beth- | H1008 → | 142 times |
| אֵ֑ל | ʾel | -el | H1008 → | 142 times |
| וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־ | veeeseh- | so I may make | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| שָּׁ֣ם | sham | there | H8033 → | 834 times |
| מִזְבֵּ֗חַ | mizbeach | an altar | H4196 → | 401 times |
| לָאֵ֞ל | lael | to the God | H410 → | 241 times |
| הָעֹנֶ֤ה | haoneh | who answered | H6030 → | 331 times |
| אֹתִי֙ | ʾoti | <obj.> me | H853 → | 10935 times |
| בְּי֣וֹם | beyom | on [the] day of | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| צָֽרָתִ֔י | tzarati | distress my | H6869 → | 73 times |
| וַיְהִי֙ | vayhi | and he has been | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| עִמָּדִ֔י | ʾimadi | with me | H5978 → | 42 times |
| בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ | baderekh | on the journey | H1870 → | 707 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| הָלָֽכְתִּי׃ | halakheti | I have gone | H1980 → | 1546 times |
וְנָק֥וּמָהso let us arise
venakumahH6965 →628 times
וְנַעֲלֶ֖הand we may go up
venaalehH5927 →890 times
בֵּֽית־Beth-
beit-H1008 →142 times
אֵ֑ל-el
ʾelH1008 →142 times
וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־so I may make
veeeseh-H6213 →2628 times
שָּׁ֣םthere
shamH8033 →834 times
מִזְבֵּ֗חַan altar
mizbeachH4196 →401 times
לָאֵ֞לto the God
laelH410 →241 times
הָעֹנֶ֤הwho answered
haonehH6030 →331 times
אֹתִי֙<obj.> me
ʾotiH853 →10935 times
בְּי֣וֹםon [the] day of
beyomH3117 →2304 times
צָֽרָתִ֔יdistress my
tzaratiH6869 →73 times
וַיְהִי֙and he has been
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
עִמָּדִ֔יwith me
ʾimadiH5978 →42 times
בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְon the journey
baderekhH1870 →707 times
אֲשֶׁ֥רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
הָלָֽכְתִּי׃I have gone
halakhetiH1980 →1546 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 3:6in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
it leads to
- Proverbs 16:3
Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.
- Psalms 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.
- Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
- Jeremiah 10:23
I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.
- Proverbs 16:3
Through
Isaiah 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched;…
it leads to
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Psalms 66:12
You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us into abundance.
- Isaiah 41:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Genesis
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on Genesis; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.