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Genesis 35

ScriptureDepth's study of Genesis 35

“God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel.” He named him Israel.”

Genesis 35:10

God speaks to Jacob, declaring that he is now Israel, which defines his identity and sets the foundation for the future nation descending from him.

What Genesis 35 is about

In Genesis chapter 35, God commands Jacob to return to Bethel, the place where Jacob first encountered the divine. As Jacob obeys, he instructs his household to put away foreign gods and purify themselves, illustrating the importance of dedicating one's life to the one true God. Upon their journey, God protects Jacob and his family, striking fear into the cities around them to prevent them from pursuing Jacob's clan.

The chapter emphasizes the fulfillment of God's promises, as He reaffirms the covenant made with Jacob, declaring him as the father of nations and promising land to his descendants. Additionally, the chapter recounts the death of Rachel during childbirth and the subsequent burial of Jacob's beloved wife, highlighting themes of loss and God's sovereignty in times of grief.

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Genesis 35 at a glance

  1. Genesis 35:1–4God's Command to Jacob
  2. Genesis 35:5–8Journey to Bethel and Protection
  3. Genesis 35:9–14God Renames Jacob
  4. Genesis 35:15–19Rachel's Death and Burial
  5. Genesis 35:20–22Reuben's Sin
  6. Genesis 35:23–27Jacob's Sons Listed
  7. Genesis 35:28–29Isaac's Death

Key verse: Genesis 35:10

One thing to notice

In verses 4 and 14, Jacob interacts with physical symbols representing his commitments to God. He instructs his household to 'Put away the foreign gods' and later sets up a 'pillar of stone' after an encounter with God. This shows his intentional acts of worship and remembrance.

Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.

Chapter text

Read Genesis 35 (WEB)

God's Command to Jacob Genesis 35:1–4

Verse 1. God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.” Verse 2. Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, change your garments. Verse 3. Let us arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.” Verse 4. They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

Journey to Bethel and Protection Genesis 35:5–8

Verse 5. They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob. Verse 6. So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. Verse 7. He built an altar there, and called the place El Beth El; because there God was revealed to him, when he fled from the face of his brother. Verse 8. Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth.

God Renames Jacob Genesis 35:9–14

Verse 9. God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him. Verse 10. God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel.” He named him Israel. Verse 11. God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out of your body. Verse 12. The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your offspring after you will I give the land.” Verse 13. God went up from him in the place where he spoke with him.

Verse 14. Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spoke with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it.

Rachel's Death and Burial Genesis 35:15–19

Verse 15. Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him “Bethel”. Verse 16. They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor. Verse 17. When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for now you will have another son.” Verse 18. As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin. Verse 19. Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).

Reuben's Sin Genesis 35:20–22

Verse 20. Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. Verse 21. Israel traveled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder. Verse 22. While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.

Jacob's Sons Listed Genesis 35:23–27

Verse 23. The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Verse 24. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. Verse 25. The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s servant): Dan and Naphtali. Verse 26. The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram. Verse 27. Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners.

Isaac's Death Genesis 35:28–29

Verse 28. The days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years. Verse 29. Isaac gave up the spirit, and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him.

World English Bible (public domain)

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Main themes in Genesis 35

Divine Command and Obedience

In Genesis 35, God commands Jacob to 'Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there' (v. 1). Jacob responds to this command by instructing his household to 'put away the foreign gods' and 'purify yourselves' (v. 2). The chapter shows Jacob's obedience as he leads his family to Bethel, where he builds an altar to God, signifying his commitment to follow divine instruction.

Covenant and Promise

In Genesis 35, God reaffirms the covenant with Jacob by renaming him Israel, stating, 'Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel' (v. 10). This renaming is accompanied by the promise that 'a nation and a company of nations will be from you' (v. 11). The chapter details the continuity of God's covenant, connecting Jacob's descendants to the land promised to Abraham and Isaac (vv. 12-13).

Loss and Mourning

Genesis 35 includes the death of Rachel, who dies during childbirth, and is mourned by Jacob. She names her son Benoni before her death, but Jacob renames him Benjamin (v. 18). The chapter also notes the burial of Rachel on the way to Ephrath, where Jacob sets up a pillar on her grave, indicating his sorrow and the significance of this loss (v. 20).

Purity in Worship

Genesis 35 highlights purity in worship when Jacob commands his household to 'put away the foreign gods' (v. 2). This command precedes their preparation to build an altar at Bethel, where God had previously appeared to Jacob. The act of burying the foreign gods under an oak signifies a decisive break from idolatry as they focus on worshiping the one true God.

Chapter outline

How Genesis 35 unfolds

  1. Genesis 35:1–4 God's Command to Jacob

    God commands Jacob to go to Bethel and build an altar there, recalling how He appeared to Jacob when he fled from Esau (vv. 1-2). Jacob instructs his household to remove foreign gods and purify themselves before the journey.

  2. Genesis 35:5–8 Journey to Bethel and Protection

    As Jacob and his family travel, a terror from God falls on surrounding cities, preventing them from pursuing Jacob (v. 5). They reach Bethel, where Jacob builds an altar and names the place El Beth El (vv. 6-7).

  3. Genesis 35:9–14 God Renames Jacob

    God appears to Jacob again, renaming him Israel and affirming the promise of descendants and land (vv. 9-12). Jacob sets up a stone pillar and anoints it, marking the location of God's revelation (vv. 13-14).

  4. Genesis 35:15–19 Rachel's Death and Burial

    Rachel goes into hard labor during travel and names her son 'Benoni' before dying; Jacob renames him 'Benjamin' (vv. 16-18). Rachel is buried near Ephrath, and Jacob marks her grave (v. 19).

  5. Genesis 35:20–22 Reuben's Sin

    Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, commits an act of incest with Bilhah, Jacob's concubine, which Jacob hears about (v. 22). This incident illustrates the moral complexities within Jacob's family.

  6. Genesis 35:23–27 Jacob's Sons Listed

    Jacob's sons are listed, noting 'Reuben', 'Simeon', 'Levi', 'Judah', 'Issachar', 'Zebulun', 'Joseph', 'Benjamin', 'Dan', 'Naphtali', 'Gad', and 'Asher' (vv. 23-26). Jacob then goes to Isaac at Mamre, where Abraham and Isaac lived (v. 27).

  7. Genesis 35:28–29 Isaac's Death

    Isaac lives to be one hundred eighty years old before he 'gave up the spirit' and died, being 'gathered to his people' (v. 28). His sons, 'Esau' and 'Jacob', bury him (v. 29).

Key verses

  • Genesis 35:10God speaks to Jacob, declaring that he is now Israel, which defines his identity and sets the foundation for the future nation descending from him.

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Study questions

Questions for studying Genesis 35

SummarizeObserveInterpretApply

Uses your daily Ask questions.

  1. observeIn v1, what specific command does God give to Jacob regarding Bethel?
  2. observeWhat does Jacob tell his household to do in v2 before they go to Bethel?
  3. interpretIn vv. 10-11, why does God change Jacob's name to Israel and what implications does this have?
  4. interpretIn v20, what might the act of Jacob setting up a pillar on Rachel's grave signify?
  5. applyWhen have you felt called to 'put away the foreign gods' in your life, as Jacob instructs in v2?

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Genesis 35: frequently asked questions

What is Genesis 35 about?+
In Genesis chapter 35, God commands Jacob to return to Bethel, the place where Jacob first encountered the divine. As Jacob obeys, he instructs his household to put away foreign gods and purify themselves, illustrating the importance of dedicating one's life to the one true God.
What is the key verse in Genesis 35?+
Genesis 35:10: “God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel.” He named him Israel.”
What are the main themes of Genesis 35?+
The main themes of Genesis 35 are Divine Command and Obedience, Covenant and Promise, Loss and Mourning, Purity in Worship.

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Study Notes