Genesis 28:15

Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — God speaks to Jacob in a dream at Bethel, the night he fled from Esau. This is the closing verse of a three-verse divine address (vv. 13–15) that moves from land to seed to personal presence.

The words — שָׁמַר (shamar, "to guard, protect") is the verb of military vigilance, not passive companionship; it frames the promise as active watchfulness over a man in motion.

The thread — The "I am with you / I will not leave you" formula recurs in Joshua 1:5, Isaiah 41:10, and Jeremiah 1:19, each time addressing a person facing opposition or fear. The "bring back" (הָשִׁיב) element ties directly to the land promise in v. 14.

Why it lands — The promise is made to a fugitive who has just stolen his brother's blessing, not to a man in a position of strength. It asks the reader to hold that God's commitment to presence and return is not contingent on the recipient's worthiness.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Cross-references

Joshua 1:5 No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Jeremiah 1:19 They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Genesis 26:24 and that night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.”
Genesis 31:3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”
Psalms 121:5 The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is the shade on your right hand.
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
Genesis 26:3 Stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham.
Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.