Genesis 28

1 Later, Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, instructing him, “Don’t marry a wife from the local Canaanite women.ISV — Genesis 28:1

2 Instead, get up, travel to Paddan-aram, ^{a28:2 Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia} and visit the household of Bethuel, your mother’s father. Marry one of Laban’s daughters, since he’s your mother’s brother.ISV — Genesis 28:2

3 May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful so that your descendants ^{b28:3 Lit. that you} become a whole group of people.ISV — Genesis 28:3

4 May he give you and your descendants the blessings that he gave Abraham. May you possess the land where you have lived ^{c28:4 Lit. land of your journeying} that God gave to Abraham.”ISV — Genesis 28:4

5 So Isaac sent Jacob off toward Paddan-aram ^{d28:5 Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia} to visit Bethuel’s son Laban, the Aramean ^{e28:5 In later centuries this region would be called Syria} and brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.ISV — Genesis 28:5

6 Esau noticed that after Isaac had blessed Jacob as he was sending him off to Paddan-aram ^{f28:6 Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia} to marry a wife from there, he had instructed Jacob, ^{g28:6 Lit. him} “Don’t marry a Canaanite woman.”ISV — Genesis 28:6

7 After Jacob had obeyed his father and mother’s instructions to set out for Paddan-aram, ^{h28:7 Paddan-aram was located in northwest Mesopotamia}ISV — Genesis 28:7

8 Esau realized ^{i28:8 Lit. saw} that Canaan women didn’t please his father Isaac,ISV — Genesis 28:8

9 so he went to Abraham’s son Ishmael and married Ishmael’s daughter Mahalath, who was the sister of Nebaioth.ISV — Genesis 28:9

10 Meanwhile, Jacob had left ^{j28:10 Lit. went out from} Beer-sheba and was on his way to Haran.ISV — Genesis 28:10

11 He reached a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun was setting. He found a stone there, used it for a pillow, ^{k28:11 Lit. for his head.} and slept there for the night,ISV — Genesis 28:11

12 when he had a dream! He saw a raised highway that had been built with its ending point on earth and its beginning point in heaven. God’s angels were ascending and descending on it.ISV — Genesis 28:12

13 And there was the LORD, standing above it and telling Jacob, “I am the LORD God of your grandfather Abraham. I’m Isaac’s God, too. I’m giving you and your descendants the ground on which you’re sleeping.ISV — Genesis 28:13

14 Your descendants are going to become like the dust of the earth and spread out to the west, east, north, and south. All the families of the earth ^{l28:14 Or land} will be blessed through you and your descendants.ISV — Genesis 28:14

15 Now pay attention! I’m here with you, and I’m going to be watching over you wherever you go. I’m going to bring you back to this land, because I won’t ever leave you until I’ve accomplished what I’ve promised about you.”ISV — Genesis 28:15

16 Then Jacob woke up during the night ^{m28:16 Lit. woke from his sleep} and told himself, ^{n28:16 The Heb. lacks to himself} “Surely, the LORD is in this place and I never knew it!”ISV — Genesis 28:16

17 In mounting terror, he cried out, “How scary this place is! This is nothing less than God’s house and the gateway to heaven!”ISV — Genesis 28:17

18 When Jacob got up early the next morning, he took the stone that he had used for his pillow, ^{o28:18 Lit. for his head} set it up as a pillar, drenched it with oil,ISV — Genesis 28:18

19 and named ^{p28:19 Lit. called the name of} the place Beth-el, although previously ^{q28:19 Lit. at the first} the city had been named Luz.ISV — Genesis 28:19

20 Then he made this solemn vow: ^{r28:20 Lit. vowed a vow} “If God remains with me, watches over me throughout this journey that I’m taking, gives me food to eat and clothes to wear,ISV — Genesis 28:20

21 and returns me safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God,ISV — Genesis 28:21

22 this stone that I’ve erected in the form of a pillar will be God’s house, and I’ll give you a tenth of everything that you give to me.”ISV — Genesis 28:22