Focused Passage

Genesis 35:16-29

God Calls Jacob Back to Bethel, Purifies His House, Renews the Covenant, and Marks the Passing of a Generation

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

16 Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult.

17 During her severe labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you are having another son.”

18 And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.

19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).

20 Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.

21 Israel again set out and pitched his tent beyond the Tower of Eder.

22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:

23 The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

24 The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

25 The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.

26 And the sons of Leah’s maidservant Zilpah were Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

27 Jacob returned to his father Isaac at Mamre, near Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed.

28 And Isaac lived 180 years.

29 Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 16

Original words

Later, they set out וַיִּסְעוּ֙ H5265 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural from מִבֵּ֣ית H1008 Preposition Bethel אֵ֔ל H1008 Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular and while they were וַֽיְהִי־ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular still ע֥וֹד H5750 Adverb some distance כִּבְרַת־ H3530 Noun - feminine singular construct . . . הָאָ֖רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular . . . לָב֣וֹא H935 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct from Ephrath אֶפְרָ֑תָה H672 Noun - proper - feminine singular Rachel רָחֵ֖ל H7354 Noun - proper - feminine singular began to give birth וַתֵּ֥לֶד H3205 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular and her labor בְּלִדְתָּֽהּ׃ H3205 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular was difficult וַתְּקַ֥שׁ H7185 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Verse 17

Original words

During וַיְהִ֥י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular her severe בְהַקְשֹׁתָ֖הּ H7185 Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular labor בְּלִדְתָּ֑הּ H3205 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular the midwife הַמְיַלֶּ֙דֶת֙ H3205 Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular said וַתֹּ֨אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular to her לָ֤הּ Preposition | third person feminine singular Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb be afraid תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י H3372 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction you לָ֖ךְ Preposition | second person feminine singular are having זֶ֥ה H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular another גַם־ H1571 Conjunction son בֵּֽן׃ H1121 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

And וַיְהִ֞י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular with her last בְּצֵ֤את H3318 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct breath נַפְשָׁהּ֙ H5315 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction she was dying מֵ֔תָה H4191 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular she named וַתִּקְרָ֥א H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular . . . שְׁמ֖וֹ H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular vvv him בֶּן־ H1126 Preposition Ben-oni אוֹנִ֑י H1126 Noun - proper - masculine singular But his father וְאָבִ֖יו H1 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular called קָֽרָא־ H7121 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular him ל֥וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular Benjamin בִנְיָמִֽין׃ H1144 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Ben-oni could mean son of my sorrow or son of my strength.
  • Benjamin means son of my right hand.
Verse 19

Original words

So Rachel רָחֵ֑ל H7354 Noun - proper - feminine singular died וַתָּ֖מָת H4191 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular and was buried וַתִּקָּבֵר֙ H6912 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular on the way בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ H1870 Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct to Ephrath אֶפְרָ֔תָה H672 Noun - proper - feminine singular (that is הִ֖וא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular . . . בֵּ֥ית H1035 Preposition Bethlehem) לָֽחֶם׃ H1035 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 20

Original words

Jacob יַעֲקֹ֛ב H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular set up וַיַּצֵּ֧ב H5324 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular a pillar מַצֵּבָ֖ה H4676 Noun - feminine singular on her עַל־ H5921 Preposition grave קְבֻרָתָ֑הּ H6900 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular it הִ֛וא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular marks מַצֶּ֥בֶת H4678 Noun - feminine singular construct Rachel’s רָחֵ֖ל H7354 Noun - proper - feminine singular tomb קְבֻֽרַת־ H6900 Noun - feminine singular construct to עַד־ H5704 Preposition this day הַיּֽוֹם׃ H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 21

Original words

Israel again יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular set out וַיִּסַּ֖ע H5265 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and pitched וַיֵּ֣ט H5186 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular his tent אָֽהֳלֹ֔ה H168 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular beyond מֵהָ֖לְאָה H1973 Preposition-m | Adverb - לְמִגְדַּל־ H4029 Preposition the Tower of Eder עֵֽדֶר׃ H4029 Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 22

Original words

While וַיְהִ֗י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular was living בִּשְׁכֹּ֤ן H7931 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct in that הַהִ֔וא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singular region בָּאָ֣רֶץ H776 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Reuben רְאוּבֵ֔ן H7205 Noun - proper - masculine singular went in וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ H1980 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and slept with וַיִּשְׁכַּ֕ב֙ H7901 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker his father’s אָבִ֑֔יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular concubine פִּילֶ֣גֶשׁ H6370 Noun - feminine singular construct Bilhah בִּלְהָ֖ה֙ H1090 Noun - proper - feminine singular and Israel יִשְׂרָאֵֽ֑ל פ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . וַיִּֽהְי֥וּ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural heard about it וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Jacob had יַעֲקֹ֖ב H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular twelve שְׁנֵ֥ים H8147 Number - md . . . עָשָֽׂר׃ H6240 Number - masculine singular sons בְנֵֽי־ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct
Verse 23

Original words

The sons בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Leah לֵאָ֔ה H3812 Noun - proper - feminine singular were Reuben רְאוּבֵ֑ן H7205 Noun - proper - masculine singular the firstborn בְּכ֥וֹר H1060 Noun - masculine singular construct of Jacob יַעֲקֹ֖ב H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular Simeon וְשִׁמְעוֹן֙ H8095 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Levi וְלֵוִ֣י H3878 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Judah וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה H3063 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Issachar וְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר H3485 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular and Zebulun וּזְבוּלֻֽן׃ H2074 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

The sons בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Rachel [were] רָחֵ֔ל H7354 Noun - proper - feminine singular Joseph יוֹסֵ֖ף H3130 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Benjamin וּבִנְיָמִֽן׃ H1144 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 25

Original words

The sons וּבְנֵ֤י H1121 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct of Rachel’s רָחֵ֔ל H7354 Noun - proper - feminine singular maidservant שִׁפְחַ֣ת H8198 Noun - feminine singular construct Bilhah [were] בִלְהָה֙ H1090 Noun - proper - feminine singular Dan דָּ֖ן H1835 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Naphtali וְנַפְתָּלִֽי׃ H5321 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 26

Original words

And the sons וּבְנֵ֥י H1121 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct of Leah’s לֵאָ֖ה H3812 Noun - proper - feminine singular maidservant שִׁפְחַ֥ת H8198 Noun - feminine singular construct Zilpah זִלְפָּ֛ה H2153 Noun - proper - feminine singular [were] Gad גָּ֣ד H1410 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Asher וְאָשֵׁ֑ר H836 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular These אֵ֚לֶּה H428 Pronoun - common plural are the sons בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Jacob יַעֲקֹ֔ב H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular who אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative were born יֻלַּד־ H3205 Verb - QalPass - Perfect - third person masculine singular to him ל֖וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular in בְּפַדַּ֥ן H6307 Preposition Paddan-aram אֲרָֽם׃ H758 Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 27

Original words

Jacob יַעֲקֹב֙ H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular returned וַיָּבֹ֤א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition his father אָבִ֔יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Isaac יִצְחָ֣ק H3327 Noun - proper - masculine singular at Mamre מַמְרֵ֖א H4471 Noun - proper - feminine singular vvv קִרְיַ֣ת H7153 near Kiriath-arba הָֽאַרְבַּ֑ע H7153 Noun - proper - feminine singular (that is הִ֣וא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular Hebron) חֶבְר֔וֹן H2275 Noun - proper - feminine singular where אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative Abraham אַבְרָהָ֖ם H85 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Isaac וְיִצְחָֽק׃ H3327 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular had stayed גָּֽר־ H1481 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular . . . שָׁ֥ם H8033 Adverb
Verse 28

Original words

And Isaac יִצְחָ֑ק H3327 Noun - proper - masculine singular lived וַיִּֽהְי֖וּ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural . . . יְמֵ֣י H3117 Noun - masculine plural construct 180 מְאַ֥ת H3967 Number - feminine singular construct . . . וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים H8084 Conjunctive waw | Number - common plural . . . שָׁנָֽה׃ H8141 Noun - feminine singular years שָׁנָ֖ה H8141 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 29

Original words

Then [he] יִצְחָ֤ק H3327 Noun - proper - masculine singular breathed his last וַיִּגְוַ֨ע H1478 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and died וַיָּ֙מָת֙ H4191 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and was gathered וַיֵּאָ֣סֶף H622 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition his people עַמָּ֔יו H5971 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular old זָקֵ֖ן H2205 Adjective - masculine singular and full וּשְׂבַ֣ע H7649 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular construct of years יָמִ֑ים H3117 Noun - masculine plural And his sons בָּנָֽיו׃פ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Esau עֵשָׂ֥ו H6215 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Jacob וְיַעֲקֹ֖ב H3290 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular buried him וַיִּקְבְּר֣וּ H6912 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural - אֹת֔וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.