Bible Glide

Genesis 35

Genesis 35 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Genesis 35 marks a turning point for Jacob as he returns to Bethel, obeys God, and leads his household to put away idols. The chapter also records God's renewed blessing, Rachel's death after Benjamin's birth, the listing of Jacob's sons, and Isaac's death.

Read in ReaderShare Passage

What happens in Genesis 35?

God tells Jacob to go up to Bethel and build an altar. Jacob prepares his household, removes foreign gods, and travels under God's protection. At Bethel, God appears again, confirms Jacob's new name Israel, and repeats promises of fruitfulness, nations, and land. Jacob sets up a memorial there. The chapter then moves to Rachel's painful childbirth, the birth of Benjamin, and Rachel's death and burial near Ephrath. It closes with a family record of Jacob's sons, Reuben's sin with Bilhah, Jacob's return to Isaac at Hebron, and Isaac's death at 180 years old.

This chapter follows the conflict and uncertainty of Genesis 34 and shows Jacob returning to a place of earlier encounter with God. It also gathers major threads from the patriarchal story: covenant promise, family growth, and the passing of one generation as another moves forward. The chapter bridges Jacob's household journey with the closing years of Isaac.

Themes to notice

  • Renewed worshipJacob responds to God's word by cleansing his household and rebuilding altar-centered faith.
  • Covenant promiseGod confirms Jacob as Israel and repeats the promise of land, descendants, and kings.
  • Joy and griefBenjamin's birth and Rachel's death sit beside family records and Isaac's final days.

Questions for Genesis 35

  • Why does Jacob tell his household to remove foreign gods before going to Bethel?
  • What is the significance of God changing Jacob's name to Israel in this chapter?
  • How do the births, deaths, and family records in Genesis 35 shape the story of Jacob's family?

Read the full text of Genesis 35 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Genesis 35

Jacob Returns to Bethel

1Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

2So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments.3Then let us arise and go to Bethel. I will build an altar there to God, who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.”

4So they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and all their earrings, and Jacob buried them under the oak near Shechem.5As they set out, a terror from God fell over the surrounding cities, so that they did not pursue Jacob’s sons.6So Jacob and everyone with him arrived in Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan.7There Jacob built an altar, and he called that place El-bethel, because it was there that God had revealed Himself to Jacob as he fled from his brother.8Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under the oak below Bethel. So Jacob named it Allon-bachuth.

9After Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him.10And God said to him, “Though your name is Jacob, you will no longer be called Jacob. Instead, your name will be Israel.” So God named him Israel.11And God told him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you.12The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”

13Then God went up from the place where He had spoken with him.14So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God had spoken with him—a stone marker—and he poured out a drink offering on it and anointed it with oil.15Jacob called the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.

Benjamin Born, Rachel Dies

16Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult.17During her severe labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you are having another son.”

18And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.19So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).20Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.

The Sons of Jacob

21Israel again set out and pitched his tent beyond the Tower of Eder.22While 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:

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

24The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

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

26And 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.

The Death of Isaac

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

28And Isaac lived 180 years.29Then 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.

Keep studying

Save notes and ask about Genesis 35

Create a free account to keep highlights and notes across devices, or open Bible Glide Chat with this passage already attached.

Create Free AccountAsk About This Passage