Genesis 35:5-8 as a whole shows God’s protective power over Jacob’s household, affirms the holiness of Bethel as the “house of God,” and reflects on the passing of an influential yet behind-the-scenes figure in Deborah.
As the family of Jacob sets out on their journey, the Scripture reveals that as they journeyed, there was a great terror upon the cities which were around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob (v. 5). In the aftermath of the violent episode involving the sons of Jacob at Shechem (Genesis 34Genesis 34 commentary), one might expect neighboring regions to seek retribution. Instead, these nearby communities experienced overwhelming fear, preventing them from attacking. The terror mentioned here highlights the power of God’s protection over Jacob’s household. All across the countryside, formidable barriers arose to shield this covenant family from potential danger. This demonstrates that God’s faithful hand accompanies His people, even when they are surrounded by threats or haunted by their own mistakes.
This moment underscores how God providentially brings about safety and security for those who walk according to His purposes, even when external circumstances appear dire. The text’s reference to a great terror is reminiscent of other moments in the biblical narrative where God instilled apprehension in the hearts of those who opposed His children (2 Kings 7:62 Kings 7:6 commentary). Such intervention verifies that God is sovereign over all events, directing the hearts and minds of every nation. For Jacob, who was born around 2006 BC to Isaac and Rebekah, this was yet another experience of God’s unwavering presence.
Moreover, these events reemphasize how Jacob's lineage would become a conduit for God's blessings to all nations (Genesis 12:3Genesis 12:3 commentary). Even though Jacob’s family was not perfect, God used them to continue the promises He first extended to Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham, in approximately the early second millennium BC. Jacob’s life journey—marked by internal family strife and external threats—demonstrates that God’s plan triumphs over adversity. Here, we see the power of that plan at work in protecting him despite his family’s recent misdeeds.
Arriving at their destination, the narrative explains that, Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him (v. 6). Luz, an ancient city, was renamed Bethel, meaning “house of God,” by Jacob following a divine encounter earlier in his life (Genesis 28:19Genesis 28:19 commentary). This location holds deep significance for Jacob, as it was here that he first experienced a direct revelation from God in a dream about a ladder reaching to heaven. In that prior meeting, God confirmed the promises of safety and blessing that were originally proclaimed to Jacob’s forefathers.
The land of Canaan, where Bethel stood, had been promised to Abraham’s descendants many generations prior. Jacob’s journey back to Bethel was an act of obedience, reflecting his desire to honor the vow he made to worship God there. By bringing his entire household to this holy place, he ensured that every member of his expanding family would be part of reestablishing covenant faithfulness. That faithfulness included the removal of foreign gods from their midst, a step recounted earlier in Genesis 35Genesis 35 commentary.
Jacob’s experiences within the land of Canaan foreshadow the eventual possession of this territory by his descendants. Though they would not take full control of it for centuries, every movement Jacob made in obedience was a symbolic precursor to that inheritance. Wandering through these lands under God’s protection served as a practical example of trust, demonstrating that the same God who calls His people also leads them to their ultimate destination.
Upon arriving, Jacob renewed his worship to the LORD, as Genesis 35:7Genesis 35:7 commentary says, he built an altar there, and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed Himself to him when he fled from his brother (v. 7). The name “El-bethel” means “God of the house of God,” highlighting the significance of this encounter and the nature of God’s presence at Bethel. It was a direct acknowledgment of the location’s spiritual importance in Jacob’s journey.
Jacob’s flight from his brother Esau occurred many years prior, around the early 1900s BC, when Jacob deceived Isaac to receive the family blessing. During that period, Bethel served as a sanctuary of divine comfort and assurance. By constructing an altar at the very spot where God once revealed Himself, Jacob honors the faithfulness that has guided him through the turbulence of many years. The altar, in ancient contexts, was not only a place of sacrifice but also a testimony to the personal and communal relationship with God.
This act of devotion looks forward to the way God meets believers in their deepest need, often in moments of surrender. Jacob’s altar reaffirms that God is the source of blessing and guidance. In Christian theology, moments such as these foreshadow our ultimate worship centered on Jesus, the One who reconciles humanity to God (Romans 5:10Romans 5:10 commentary). Altars, both literal and figurative, remind us that God’s revelation and deliverance culminate in His eternal provision for His people.
A significant and sorrowful event follows the building of the altar as, Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; it was named Allon-bacuth (v. 8). Deborah’s presence points back to Jacob’s mother, Rebekah, who was initially brought into the family as Isaac’s wife around the early 2000s BC. Having served as Rebekah’s close attendant for many years, Deborah’s death marks the passing of one who had witnessed the family’s journey from Paddan-aram to Canaan.
The name Allon-bacuth, meaning “oak of weeping,” underscores the sorrow felt by Jacob and his household. Though Deborah was not a prominent figure in many scenes, her death nonetheless symbolized the transition from one generation to the next. She had played a vital role in caring for Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, who was the bridge connecting the narratives of Abraham’s promise to the era of Jacob’s blessings.
Burial at Bethel further ties Deborah to the place of God’s presence. In ancient Israelite thought, the site of burial had spiritual and emotional significance, linking the deceased to the story of God’s people. This moment reminds believers that grief and honor can coexist when we reflect on those who served faithfully, especially those whose quiet diligence impacts families and promises across many generations.
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Genesis 35:5-8 meaning
As the family of Jacob sets out on their journey, the Scripture reveals that as they journeyed, there was a great terror upon the cities which were around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob (v. 5). In the aftermath of the violent episode involving the sons of Jacob at Shechem (Genesis 34Genesis 34 commentary), one might expect neighboring regions to seek retribution. Instead, these nearby communities experienced overwhelming fear, preventing them from attacking. The terror mentioned here highlights the power of God’s protection over Jacob’s household. All across the countryside, formidable barriers arose to shield this covenant family from potential danger. This demonstrates that God’s faithful hand accompanies His people, even when they are surrounded by threats or haunted by their own mistakes.
This moment underscores how God providentially brings about safety and security for those who walk according to His purposes, even when external circumstances appear dire. The text’s reference to a great terror is reminiscent of other moments in the biblical narrative where God instilled apprehension in the hearts of those who opposed His children (2 Kings 7:62 Kings 7:6 commentary). Such intervention verifies that God is sovereign over all events, directing the hearts and minds of every nation. For Jacob, who was born around 2006 BC to Isaac and Rebekah, this was yet another experience of God’s unwavering presence.
Moreover, these events reemphasize how Jacob's lineage would become a conduit for God's blessings to all nations (Genesis 12:3Genesis 12:3 commentary). Even though Jacob’s family was not perfect, God used them to continue the promises He first extended to Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham, in approximately the early second millennium BC. Jacob’s life journey—marked by internal family strife and external threats—demonstrates that God’s plan triumphs over adversity. Here, we see the power of that plan at work in protecting him despite his family’s recent misdeeds.
Arriving at their destination, the narrative explains that, Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him (v. 6). Luz, an ancient city, was renamed Bethel, meaning “house of God,” by Jacob following a divine encounter earlier in his life (Genesis 28:19Genesis 28:19 commentary). This location holds deep significance for Jacob, as it was here that he first experienced a direct revelation from God in a dream about a ladder reaching to heaven. In that prior meeting, God confirmed the promises of safety and blessing that were originally proclaimed to Jacob’s forefathers.
The land of Canaan, where Bethel stood, had been promised to Abraham’s descendants many generations prior. Jacob’s journey back to Bethel was an act of obedience, reflecting his desire to honor the vow he made to worship God there. By bringing his entire household to this holy place, he ensured that every member of his expanding family would be part of reestablishing covenant faithfulness. That faithfulness included the removal of foreign gods from their midst, a step recounted earlier in Genesis 35Genesis 35 commentary.
Jacob’s experiences within the land of Canaan foreshadow the eventual possession of this territory by his descendants. Though they would not take full control of it for centuries, every movement Jacob made in obedience was a symbolic precursor to that inheritance. Wandering through these lands under God’s protection served as a practical example of trust, demonstrating that the same God who calls His people also leads them to their ultimate destination.
Upon arriving, Jacob renewed his worship to the LORD, as Genesis 35:7Genesis 35:7 commentary says, he built an altar there, and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed Himself to him when he fled from his brother (v. 7). The name “El-bethel” means “God of the house of God,” highlighting the significance of this encounter and the nature of God’s presence at Bethel. It was a direct acknowledgment of the location’s spiritual importance in Jacob’s journey.
Jacob’s flight from his brother Esau occurred many years prior, around the early 1900s BC, when Jacob deceived Isaac to receive the family blessing. During that period, Bethel served as a sanctuary of divine comfort and assurance. By constructing an altar at the very spot where God once revealed Himself, Jacob honors the faithfulness that has guided him through the turbulence of many years. The altar, in ancient contexts, was not only a place of sacrifice but also a testimony to the personal and communal relationship with God.
This act of devotion looks forward to the way God meets believers in their deepest need, often in moments of surrender. Jacob’s altar reaffirms that God is the source of blessing and guidance. In Christian theology, moments such as these foreshadow our ultimate worship centered on Jesus, the One who reconciles humanity to God (Romans 5:10Romans 5:10 commentary). Altars, both literal and figurative, remind us that God’s revelation and deliverance culminate in His eternal provision for His people.
A significant and sorrowful event follows the building of the altar as, Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; it was named Allon-bacuth (v. 8). Deborah’s presence points back to Jacob’s mother, Rebekah, who was initially brought into the family as Isaac’s wife around the early 2000s BC. Having served as Rebekah’s close attendant for many years, Deborah’s death marks the passing of one who had witnessed the family’s journey from Paddan-aram to Canaan.
The name Allon-bacuth, meaning “oak of weeping,” underscores the sorrow felt by Jacob and his household. Though Deborah was not a prominent figure in many scenes, her death nonetheless symbolized the transition from one generation to the next. She had played a vital role in caring for Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, who was the bridge connecting the narratives of Abraham’s promise to the era of Jacob’s blessings.
Burial at Bethel further ties Deborah to the place of God’s presence. In ancient Israelite thought, the site of burial had spiritual and emotional significance, linking the deceased to the story of God’s people. This moment reminds believers that grief and honor can coexist when we reflect on those who served faithfully, especially those whose quiet diligence impacts families and promises across many generations.