Genesis 35:5
in Genesis 35As they set out, a terror from God fell over the surrounding cities, so that they did not pursue Jacob’s sons.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they journeyed: and a terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.
KJV
And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.
⋯
This verse in Genesis 35
Commentary
6 notes on this verseAnd the terror of God was upon the cities - Though the Canaanites were much exasperated against the sons of Jacob for their barbarous usage of the Shechemites; yet they were so restrained by a divine power, that they could not take this fair opportunity to avenge their neighbours quarrel. God governs the world more by secret terrors on men's minds than we are aware of.
This site's exposition
a terror from God fell over the surrounding cities
on Genesis 35:5-7
Jacob had said at Genesis 34:30 that he and his household would be destroyed, and a terror from God answers that fear. The surrounding cities do not pursue. He builds the altar he was told to build and calls the place El-bethel, the God of the house of God. The name fastens to the One who met him there.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Note, The way of duty is the way of safety. While there was sin in Jacob's house, he was afraid of his neighbours; but now that the strange gods were put away, and they were all going together to Bethel, his neighbours were afraid of him.
And they journeyed,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
the terror of God was upon the cities--There was every reason to apprehend that a storm of indignation would burst from all quarters upon Jacob's family, and that the Canaanite tribes would have formed one united plan of revenge. But a supernatural panic seized them; and thus, for the sake of the "heir of the promise," the protecting shield of Providence was specially held over his family.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
The terror of God - A supernatural awe sent by the Almighty, was upon the cities that were round about, so that they were not molested in their departure. This could be owing to nothing less than the especial providence of God.
The words behind it
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּסָּ֑עוּ | vaiyisau | and they set out | H5265 → | 146 times |
| וַיְהִ֣י׀ | vayhi | and it was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| חִתַּ֣ת | chitat | [the] terror of | H2847 → | |
| אֱלֹהִ֗ים | ʾelohim | God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הֶֽעָרִים֙ | hearim | the cities | H5892 → | 1090 times |
| אֲשֶׁר֙ | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם | sevivoteihem | [were] around them | H5439 → | 336 times |
| וְלֹ֣א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| רָֽדְפ֔וּ | radefu | people pursued | H7291 → | 143 times |
| אַחֲרֵ֖י | ʾacharei | after | H310 → | 715 times |
| בְּנֵ֥י | benei | [the] sons of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יַעֲקֹֽב׃ | yaako | Jacob | H3290 → | 350 times |
וַיִּסָּ֑עוּand they set out
vaiyisauH5265 →146 times
וַיְהִ֣י׀and it was
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
חִתַּ֣ת[the] terror of
chitatH2847 →
אֱלֹהִ֗יםGod
ʾelohimH430 →2601 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
הֶֽעָרִים֙the cities
hearimH5892 →1090 times
אֲשֶׁר֙which
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם[were] around them
sevivoteihemH5439 →336 times
וְלֹ֣אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
רָֽדְפ֔וּpeople pursued
radefuH7291 →143 times
אַחֲרֵ֖יafter
ʾachareiH310 →715 times
בְּנֵ֥י[the] sons of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
יַעֲקֹֽב׃Jacob
yaakoH3290 →350 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
Exodus 23:27I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn and run.
it leads to
- Exodus 15:14–16
The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the dwellers of Philistia.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Deuteronomy 2:25
This very day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon all the nations under heaven. They will hear the reports of you and tremble in anguish because of you.”
- Deuteronomy 11:25
No man will be able to stand against you; the LORD your God will put the fear and dread of you upon all the land, wherever you set foot, as He has promised you.
- Deuteronomy 7:23
But the LORD your God will give them over to you and throw them into great confusion, until they are destroyed.
- Psalms 18:40
You have made my enemies retreat before me; I put an end to those who hated me.
- Exodus 15:14–16
Through
Exodus 34:24For I will drive out the nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the LORD your…
it leads to
- Psalms 78:55
He drove out nations before them and apportioned their inheritance; He settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.
- Exodus 33:2
And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
- 1 Chronicles 4:10
And Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only You would bless me and enlarge my territory! May Your hand be with me and keep me from harm, so that I will…
- Psalms 78:55
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Genesis
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; 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.