Genesis 28:20

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jacob addresses God directly at Bethel, framing his request for protection and provision as a formal pledge rather than a private monologue.

The words — נֶדֶר (Neder) designates a binding vow, while אִם־ (im) establishes the conditional syntax that structures the entire statement.

The thread — The conditional vow pattern appears in 2 Samuel 15:8, and the Bethel location resurfaces in Genesis 31:13 when God references Jacob’s earlier pillar anointing and solemn pledge.

Why it lands — The text records Jacob stipulating that God’s presence and material provision must precede his declaration of divine allegiance, establishing a conditional framework for his future worship.

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

וַיִּדַּ֥רva/i.yi.Darand/ he vowed יַעֲקֹ֖בya.'a.KoJacob נֶ֣דֶרNe.dera vow לֵאמֹ֑רle./Mor<to>/ saying אִם־'im-if יִהְיֶ֨הyih.Yehhe will be אֱלֹהִ֜ים'E.lo.HimGod עִמָּדִ֗י'i.ma.D/iwith/ me וּשְׁמָרַ֙נִי֙u./she.ma.Ra./niand/ he will protect/ me בַּדֶּ֤רֶךְba./De.rekhon the/ journey הַזֶּה֙ha./Zeh<the>/ this אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich אָנֹכִ֣י'a.no.KhiI הוֹלֵ֔ךְho.Lekh[am] going וְנָֽתַן־ve./na.tan-and/ he will giveלִ֥יl/ito <the>/ meלֶ֛חֶםLe.chemfood לֶאֱכֹ֖לle./'e.Kholto/ eat וּבֶ֥גֶדu./Ve.gedand/ clothing לִלְבֹּֽשׁ׃li/l.Boshto/ wear

King James Version

And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

Cross-references

1 Timothy 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
2 Samuel 15:8 For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur of Aram, saying: ‘If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.’”
Genesis 31:13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up, leave this land at once, and return to your native land.’”
Psalms 66:13 I will enter Your house with burnt offerings; I will fulfill my vows to You—
John 1:16 From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.
Judges 11:30 Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand,
Psalms 56:12 Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You.
Psalms 61:8 Then I will ever sing praise to Your name and fulfill my vows day by day.
Psalms 76:11 Make and fulfill your vows to the LORD your God; let all the neighboring lands bring tribute to Him who is to be feared.
Psalms 116:14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people.

People named

Jacob