Jacob's Return to Bethel

Genesis 35

At God's command Jacob leads his household back to Bæthel, where they put away their foreign gods and he builds an altar; there God appears to him again, confirms the name Israel, and repeats the promises given to Abraam and Isaac. On the journey Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin near Ephratha, and the chapter closes with a list of Jacob's twelve sons and the death and burial of Isaac at a hundred eighty years.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTHEN God said to Jacob, arise and go to the place Bethel and dwell there. And erect there an altar to the God who appeared to thee, when thou wast fleeing from the face of thy brother Esau.

BrentonAnd God said to Jacob, Arise, go up to the place, Bæthel, and dwell there; and make there an altar to the God that appeared to thee, when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

GreekΕἶπε δὲ ὁ Θεὸς πρὸς Ἰακὼβ, ἀναστὰς ἀνάβηθι εἰς τὸν τόπον Βαιθὴλ, καὶ οἴκει ἐκεῖ· καὶ ποίησον ἐκεῖ θυσιαστήριον τῷ Θεῷ τῷ ὀφθέντι σοι, ἐν τῷ ἀποδιδράσκειν σε ἀπὸ προσώπου Ἡσαῦ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου.

KJVAnd God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

JPSAnd God said unto Jacob: ‘Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there; and make there an altar unto God, who appeared unto thee when thou didst flee from the face of Esau thy brother.’

ThomsonThereupon Jacob said to his family and to all who were with him, Put away the strange gods which are with you and purify yourselves and change your garments;

BrentonAnd Jacob said to his house, and to all that were with him, Remove the strange gods that are with you from the midst of you, and purify yourselves, and change your clothes.

GreekΕἶπε δὲ Ἰακὼβ τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς μετʼ αὐτοῦ, ἄρατε τοὺς θεοὺς τοὺς ἀλλοτρίους τοὺς μεθʼ ὑμῶν ἐκ μέσου ὑμῶν, καὶ καθαρίσθητε, καὶ ἀλλάξατε τὰς στολὰς ὑμῶν.

KJVThen Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

JPSThen Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him: ‘Put away the strange gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments;

Thomson—

BrentonAnd let us rise and go up to Bæthel, and let us there make an altar to God who hearkened to me in the day of calamity, who was with me, and preserved me throughout in the journey, by which I went.

GreekΚαὶ ἀναστάντες ἀναβῶμεν εἰς Βαιθὴλ, καὶ ποιήσωμεν ἐκεῖ θυσιαστήριον τῷ Θεῷ τῷ ἐπακούσαντί μου ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεως, ὃς ἦν μετʼ ἐμοῦ, καὶ διέσωσέ με ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, ᾗ ἐπορεύθην.

KJVAnd let us arise, and go up to Bethel; 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.

JPSand 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.’

Thomsonand let us arise and go to Bethel and build there an altar to the God Who hearkened to me in a day of distress—Who was with me and preserved me in the way in which I went. So they gave Jacob the strange gods, which were in their hands and the ear rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them in the pine grove, which was in the country of the Sekimites and destroyed them even to this day.

BrentonAnd they gave to Jacob the strange gods, which were in their hands, and the ear-rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the turpentine tree which is in Secima, and destroyed them to this day.

GreekΚαὶ ἔδωκαν τῷ Ἰακὼβ τοὺς θεοὺς τοὺς ἀλλοτρίους, οἳ ἦσαν ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτῶν, καὶ τὰ ἐνώτια τὰ ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶν αὐτῶν· καὶ κατέκρυψεν αὐτὰ Ἰακὼβ ὑπὸ τὴν τερέβινθον τὴν ἐν Σηκίμοις· καὶ ἀπώλεσεν αὐτὰ, ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας.

KJVAnd they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

JPSAnd they gave unto Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hand, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth which was by Shechem.

ThomsonThen Israel removed from the country of the Sekimites; and a terror of God was on all the cities around them, so that they did not pursue the children of Israel.

BrentonSo Israel departed from Secima, and the fear of God was upon the cities round about them, and they did not pursue after the children of Israel.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξῇρεν Ἰσραὴλ ἐκ Σηκίμων· καὶ ἐγένετο φόβος Θεοῦ ἐπὶ τὰς πόλεις τὰς κύκλῳ αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐ κατεδίωξαν ὀπίσω τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd 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.

ThomsonAnd when Jacob came to Louza which is in the land of Chanaan, the same is Baithel, he and all the people who were with him,

BrentonAnd Jacob came to Luza, which is in the land of Chanaan, which is Bæthel, he and all the people that were with him.

GreekἮλθε δὲ Ἰακὼβ εἰς Λουζὰ ἥ ἐστιν ἐν γῇ Χαναὰν, ἥ ἐστι Βαιθὴλ, αὐτὸς, καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς, ὃς ἦν μετʼ αὐτοῦ.

KJVSo Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.

JPSSo Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan—the same is Beth-el—he and all the people that were with him.

Thomsonhe built there an altar, and called the name of the place Baithel; because God appeared to him there, when he was fleeing from the face of his brother Esau.

BrentonAnd he built there an altar, and called the name of the place Bæthel; for there God appeared to him, when he fled from the face of his brother Esau.

GreekΚαὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐκεῖ θυσιαστήριον, καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τόπου, Βαιθήλ· ἐκεῖ γὰρ ἐφάνη αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς, ἐν τῷ ἀποδιδράσκειν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ προσώπου Ἡσαῦ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

JPSAnd he built there an altar, and called the place El-beth-el, because there God was revealed unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

ThomsonAnd Debbora the nurse of Rebekka, died and was buried under the Oak below Baithel. So Jacob called its name Oak of mourning.

BrentonAnd Deborrha, Rebecca's nurse, died, and was buried below Bæthel under the oak; and Jacob called its name, The Oak of Mourning.

GreekἈπέθανε δὲ Δεβόῤῥα, ἡ τρόφος Ῥεβέκκας, καὶ ἐτάφη κατώτερον Βαιθὴλ ὑπὸ τὴν βάλανον· καὶ ἐκάλεσεν Ἰακὼβ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς, βάλανος πένθους.

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

JPSAnd Deborah Rebekah’s nurse died, and she was buried below Beth-el under the oak; and the name of it was called Allon-bacuth.

ThomsonAnd God appeared to Jacob again at Louza after he came from Syrian Mesopotamia, and God blessed him

BrentonAnd God appeared to Jacob once more in Luza, when he came out of Mesopotamia of Syria, and God blessed him.

GreekὬφθη δὲ ὁ Θεὸς τῷ Ἰακὼβ ἔτι ἐν Λουζᾷ, ὅτε παρεγένετο ἐκ Μεσοποταμίας τῆς Συρίας· καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτὸν ὁ Θεὸς.

KJVAnd God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.

JPSAnd God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him.

Thomsonand God said to him, Thy name shall no more be called Jacob; but Israel shall be thy name. So he called his name Israel.

BrentonAnd God said to him, Thy name shall not be called Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name; and he called his name Israel.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς, τὸ ὄνομά σου οὐ κληθήσεται ἔτι Ἰακὼβ, ἀλλʼ Ἰσραὴλ ἔσται τὸ ὄνομά σου· καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAnd God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.

JPSAnd God said unto him: ‘Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name’; and He called his name Israel.

ThomsonAnd God said to him, I am thy God. Increase and multiply. Of thee shall be nations and collections of nations; and kings shall spring from thy loins.

BrentonAnd God said to him, I am thy God; increase and multiply; for nations and gatherings of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins.

GreekΕἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς, ἐγὼ ὁ Θεός σου· αὐξάνου, καὶ πληθύνου· ἔθνη καὶ συναγωγαὶ ἐθνῶν ἔσονται ἐκ σοῦ, καὶ βασιλεῖς ἐκ τῆς ὀσφύος σου ἐξελεύσονται.

KJVAnd God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

JPSAnd God said unto him: ‘I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

ThomsonAnd this land, which I gave to Abraham and Isaak, I have given to thee. To thee it shall belong: and to thy seed after thee I will give this land.

BrentonAnd the land which I gave to Abraam and Isaac, I have given it to thee; and it shall come to pass that I will give this land also to thy seed after thee.

GreekΚαὶ τὴν γῆν, ἣν ἔδωκα Ἁβραὰμ καὶ Ἰσαὰκ, σοὶ δέδωκα αὐτήν· σοὶ ἔσται· καὶ τῷ σπέρματί σου μετὰ σὲ δώσω τῆν γῆν ταύτην.

KJVAnd the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

JPSand the land which I gave unto Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.’

ThomsonAnd when God ascended from him—from the place where He had spoken with him,

BrentonAnd God went up from him from the place where he spoke with him.

GreekἈνέβη δὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ ἐκ τοῦ τόπου, οὗ ἐλάλησε μετʼ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

JPSAnd God went up from him in the place where He spoke with him.

ThomsonJacob set up a pillar—a stone pillar in the place where God spoke to him; and he made a libation thereon and poured oil upon it.

BrentonAnd Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God spoke with him, even a pillar of stone; and offered a libation upon it, and poured oil upon it.

GreekΚαὶ ἔστησεν Ἰακὼβ στήλην ἐν τῷ τόπῳ, ᾧ ἐλάλησε μετʼ αὐτοῦ ὁ Θεὸς, στήλην λιθίνην· καὶ ἔσπεισεν ἐπʼ αὐτὴν σπονδὴν, καὶ ἐπέχεεν ἐπʼ αὐτὴν ἔλαιον.

KJVAnd Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

JPSAnd Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He spoke with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink-offering thereon, and poured oil thereon.

ThomsonAnd Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Baithel [House of God].

BrentonAnd Jacob called the name of the place in which God spoke with him, Bæthel.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσεν Ἰακὼβ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τόπου, ἐν ᾧ ἐλάλησε μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ ὁ Θεὸς, Βαιθήλ.

KJVAnd Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.

JPSAnd Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Beth-el.

ThomsonAnd Jacob removed from Baithel and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Gader. And when he was near Chabratha on the way to Ephratha, Rachel was taken in labour and had a hard delivery.

Brenton[And Jacob removed from Bæthel, and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Gader,] and it came to pass when he drew nigh to Chabratha, to enter into Ephratha, Rachel travailed; and in her travail she was in hard labour.

GreekἈπάρας δὲ Ἰακὼβ ἐκ Βαιθὴλ, ἔπηξε τὴν σκηνὴν αὐτοῦ ἐπέκεινα τοῦ πύργου Γαδέρ· ἐγένετο δὲ ἡνίκα ἤγγισεν εἰς Χαβραθὰ τοῦ ἐλθεῖν εἰς τὴν Ἐφραθᾶ, ἔτεκε Ῥαχήλ· καὶ ἐδυστόκησεν ἐν τῷ τοκετῷ.

KJVAnd they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

JPSAnd they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was still some way to come to Ephrath; and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

ThomsonAnd when she was in the sharp pangs of child birth, the midwife said to her, Courage; for this also is a son for thee.

BrentonAnd it came to pass in her hard labour, that the midwife said to her, Be of good courage, for thou shalt also have this son.

GreekἘγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ σκληρὼς αὐτὴν τίκτειν, εἶπεν αὐτῇ ἡ μαῖα, θάρσει, καὶ γὰρ οὗτός σοι ἐστὶν υἱός.

KJVAnd it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.

JPSAnd it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the mid-wife said unto her: ‘Fear not; for this also is a son for thee.’

ThomsonAnd just as she was departing (for she died) she called his name Son of my sorrow; but his father called his name Benjamin [son of strength].

BrentonAnd it came to pass in her giving up the ghost (for she was dying), that she called his name, The son of my pain; but his father called his name Benjamin.

GreekἘγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ ἀφιέναι αὐτὴν τὴν ψυχὴν, ἀπέθνησκε γὰρ, ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, υἱὸς ὀδύνης μου· ὁ δὲ πατὴρ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, Βενιαμίν.

KJVAnd it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

JPSAnd it came to pass, as her soul was in departing—for she died—that she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.

ThomsonAnd Rachel died and was buried in the race ground of Ephratha, which is Bethlehem.

BrentonSo Rachel died, and was buried in the way of the course of Ephratha, this is Bethleem.

GreekἈπέθανε δὲ Ῥαχὴλ, καὶ ἐτάφη ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ τοῦ ἱπποδρόμου Ἐφραθᾶ· αὕτη ἐστὶ Βηθλεέμ.

KJVAnd Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

JPSAnd Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath—the same is Beth-lehem.

ThomsonAnd Jacob erected a pillar over her grave. The same is the pillar of Rachel’s grave even to this day.

BrentonAnd Jacob set up a pillar on her tomb; this is the pillar on the tomb of Rachel, until this day.

GreekΚαὶ ἔστησεν Ἰακὼβ στήλην ἐπὶ τοῦ μνημείου αὐτῆς· αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ στήλη ἐπὶ τοῦ μνημείου Ῥαχὴλ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.

KJVAnd Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

JPSAnd Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave; the same is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

ThomsonNow the sons of Jacob were twelve.

BrentonAnd it came to pass when Israel dwelt in that land, that Ruben went and lay with Balla, the concubine of his father Jacob; and Israel heard, and the thing appeared grievous before him. And the sons of Jacob were twelve.

GreekἘγένετο δὲ ἡνίκα κατῴκησεν Ἰσραὴλ ἐν τῇ γῇ ἐκείνῃ, ἐπορεύθη Ῥουβὴν, καὶ ἐκοιμήθη μετὰ Βαλλὰς, τῆς παλλακῆς τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ Ἰακώβ· καὶ ἤκουσεν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ πονηρὸν ἐφάνη ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ. Ἦσαν δὲ οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰακὼβ, δώδεκα.

KJVAnd it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

JPSAnd it came to pass, while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

ThomsonThe sons of Leia, Reuben, Jacob’s first-born, Symeon, Levi, Juda, Issachar, Zabulon:

BrentonThe sons of Lea, the first-born of Jacob; Ruben, Symeon, Levi, Judas, Issachar, Zabulon.

GreekΥἱοὶ Λείας, πρωτότοκος Ἰακὼβ, Ῥουβὴν, Συμεὼν, Λευὶ, Ἰούδας, Ἰσσάχαρ, Ζαβουλών.

KJVThe sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:

JPSthe sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s first-born, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun;

Thomsonand the sons of Rachel, Joseph and Benjamin;

BrentonAnd the sons of Rachel; Joseph and Benjamin.

GreekΥἱοὶ δὲ Ῥαχὴλ, Ἰωσὴφ, καὶ Βενιαμίν.

KJVThe sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:

JPSthe sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin;

Thomsonand the sons of Balla, Rachel’s handmaid, Dan and Nephthalim:

BrentonAnd the sons of Balla, the hand-maid of Rachel; Dan and Nephthalim.

GreekΥἱοὶ δὲ Βαλλᾶς παιδίσκης Ῥαχὴλ, Δαν, καὶ Νεφθαλείμ.

KJVAnd the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:

JPSand the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid: Dan and Naphtali;

Thomsonand the sons of Zelpha, Leia’s handmaid, Gad and Aser. These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Syrian Mesopotamia.

BrentonAnd the sons of Zelpha, the hand-maid of Lea; Gad and Aser. These are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Mesopotamia of Syria.

GreekΥἱοὶ δὲ Ζελφᾶς παιδίσκης Λείας, Γὰδ, καὶ Ἀσήρ· οὗτοι υἱοὶ Ἰακὼβ, οἳ ἐγένοντο αὐτῷ ἐν Μεσοποταμίᾳ τῆς Συρίας.

KJVAnd the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.

JPSand the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, that were born to him in Paddan-aram.

ThomsonThen Jacob went to his father Isaak, to Mambre, a city of the plain, the same is Chebron in the land of Chanaan, where Abraham and Isaak had sojourned.

BrentonAnd Jacob came to Isaac his father to Mambre, to a city of the plain; this is Chebron in the land of Chanaan, where Abraam and Isaac sojourned.

GreekἮλθε δὲ Ἰακὼβ πρὸς Ἰσαὰκ τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ εἰς Μαμβρῆ, εἰς πόλιν τοῦ πεδίου· αὕτη ἐστὶ Χεβρὼν ἐν γῇ Χαναὰν, οὗ παρῴκησεν Ἁβραὰμ καὶ Ἰσαάκ.

KJVAnd Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

JPSAnd Jacob came unto Isaac his father to Mamre, to Kiriatharba—the same is Hebron—where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

ThomsonNow the days which Isaak lived were one hundred and eighty years.

BrentonAnd the days of Isaac which he lived were an hundred and eighty years.

GreekἘγένοντο δὲ αἱ ἡμέραι Ἰσαὰκ, ἃς ἔζησεν, ἔτη ἑκατὸν ὀγδοήκοντα.

KJVAnd the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.

JPSAnd the days of Isaac were a hundred and fourscore years.

ThomsonAnd Isaak, fainting away, died and was added to his race being an old man and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

BrentonAnd Isaac gave up the ghost and died, and was laid to his family, old and full of days; and Esau and Jacob his sons buried him.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκλείπων Ἰσαὰκ ἀπέθανε, καὶ προσετέθη πρὸς τὸ γένος αὐτοῦ πρεσβύτερος καὶ πλήρης ἡμερῶν· καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν Ἡσαῦ καὶ Ἰακὼβ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

JPSAnd Isaac expired, and died, and was gathered unto his people, old and full of days; and Esau and Jacob his sons buried him.