Genesis 28:18
New International Version
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.

New Living Translation
The next morning Jacob got up very early. He took the stone he had rested his head against, and he set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it.

English Standard Version
So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.

Berean Standard Bible
Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it,

King James Bible
And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

New King James Version
Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it.

New American Standard Bible
So Jacob got up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had placed as a support for his head, and set it up as a memorial stone, and poured oil on its top.

NASB 1995
So Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on its top.

NASB 1977
So Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on its top.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Jacob rose early in the morning and took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on its top.

Amplified Bible
So Jacob got up early in the morning, and took the stone he had put under his head and he set it up as a pillar [that is, a monument to the vision in his dream], and he poured [olive] oil on the top of it [to consecrate it].

Christian Standard Bible
Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that was near his head and set it up as a marker. He poured oil on top of it

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that was near his head and set it up as a marker. He poured oil on top of it

American Standard Version
And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

Contemporary English Version
When Jacob got up early the next morning, he took the rock that he had used for a pillow and stood it up as a place of worship. Then he poured olive oil on the rock to dedicate it to God,

English Revised Version
And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had put under his head. He set it up as a marker and poured olive oil on top of it.

Good News Translation
Jacob got up early next morning, took the stone that was under his head, and set it up as a memorial. Then he poured olive oil on it to dedicate it to God.

International Standard Version
When Jacob got up early the next morning, he took the stone that he had used for his pillow, set it up as a pillar, drenched it with oil,

Majority Standard Bible
Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it,

NET Bible
Early in the morning Jacob took the stone he had placed near his head and set it up as a sacred stone. Then he poured oil on top of it.

New Heart English Bible
And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up as a standing-stone, and poured oil on top of it.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it.

World English Bible
Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on its top.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jacob rises early in the morning, and takes the stone which he has made his pillows, and makes it a standing pillar, and pours oil on its top,

Young's Literal Translation
And Jacob riseth early in the morning, and taketh the stone which he hath made his pillows, and maketh it a standing pillar, and poureth oil upon its top,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jacob will rise early in the morning, and take the stone which he put at his head, and will set it a pillar, and pour oil upon its head.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jacob, arising in the morning, took the stone, which he had laid under his head, and set it up for a title, pouring oil upon the top of it.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, Jacob, arising in the morning, took the stone which he had placed under his head, and he set it up as monument, pouring oil over it.

New American Bible
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head, set it up as a sacred pillar, and poured oil on top of it.

New Revised Standard Version
So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone which he had put for his pillow, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yaquuv arose at dawn and he took the stone that he had set as his pillow and he made it a monument and he poured oil on its top.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Jacob rose up in the morning, and took the stone he had laid there by his head, and he set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Stone of Bethel
18Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it, 19and he called that place Bethel, though previously the city had been named Luz.…

Cross References
Exodus 24:4
And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.

1 Samuel 7:12
Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

Joshua 4:20-24
And there at Gilgal Joshua set up the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan. / Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future, when your children ask their fathers, ‘What is the meaning of these stones?’ / you are to tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ ...

Judges 6:20-24
And the angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. / Then the angel of the LORD extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. And fire flared from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight. / When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he said, “Oh no, Lord GOD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!” ...

1 Kings 18:31-32
And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come and said, “Israel shall be your name.” / And with the stones, Elijah built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed.

2 Samuel 18:18
During his lifetime, Absalom had set up for himself a pillar in the King’s Valley, for he had said, “I have no son to preserve the memory of my name.” So he gave the pillar his name, and to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.

2 Kings 23:17
Then the king asked, “What is this monument I see?” And the men of the city replied, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things that you have done to the altar of Bethel.”

Hosea 12:4
Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there—

Isaiah 19:19
In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the center of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD near her border.

1 Chronicles 16:26
For all the gods of the nations are idols, but it is the LORD who made the heavens.

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

John 1:51
Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Acts 7:16
Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.

Romans 9:33
as it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”

1 Peter 2:4-8
As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, / you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. / For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it.

rose up.

Genesis 22:3
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

Psalm 119:60
I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

and took.

set it.

Genesis 31:13,45
I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred…

Genesis 35:14,20
And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon…

Joshua 24:26,27
And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD…

poured.

Leviticus 8:10-12
And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them…

Numbers 7:1
And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;

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Early Head Jacob Maketh Morning Oil Pillar Pillow Pillows Placed Poured Poureth Riseth Rose Standing Stone Top
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Early Head Jacob Maketh Morning Oil Pillar Pillow Pillows Placed Poured Poureth Riseth Rose Standing Stone Top
Genesis 28
1. Isaac blesses Jacob, and sends him to Padan-aram.
6. Esau marries Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael.
10. Jacob journeys, and has a vision of a ladder.
18. The stone of Bethel.
20. Jacob's vow.














Early the next morning
This phrase indicates a sense of urgency and purpose in Jacob's actions. The Hebrew word for "early" (שָׁכַם, shakham) often implies diligence and eagerness. Jacob's immediate response to his dream signifies the importance of the divine encounter he experienced. In a spiritual sense, it reminds believers of the importance of responding promptly to God's revelations and guidance in their lives.

Jacob took the stone
The stone, initially used as a pillow, becomes a significant symbol. In Hebrew culture, stones often represented strength and permanence. By taking the stone, Jacob acknowledges the sacredness of the place where God communicated with him. This act can inspire Christians to recognize and cherish the moments and places where they encounter God's presence.

that he had placed under his head
This detail emphasizes the personal nature of Jacob's experience. The stone was not just any stone; it was the one he used for rest. It symbolizes the transformation of the ordinary into the sacred. For believers, it serves as a reminder that God can use the mundane aspects of life to reveal His divine purposes.

and he set it up as a pillar
Setting up the stone as a pillar was a common ancient practice to mark significant events or places. The Hebrew word for "pillar" (מַצֵּבָה, matzevah) suggests a memorial or a witness. Jacob's action signifies his desire to remember and honor the encounter with God. It encourages Christians to establish spiritual markers in their lives to commemorate God's faithfulness and guidance.

He poured oil on top of it
Pouring oil was an act of consecration and dedication. In the Hebrew tradition, oil symbolized the Holy Spirit, blessing, and sanctification. By anointing the stone, Jacob dedicates the place to God, acknowledging His presence and promises. This act of consecration serves as a powerful reminder for believers to dedicate their lives and actions to God, seeking His blessing and guidance in all they do.

(18) Jacob . . . took the stone . . . and set it up for a pillar.--In so doing, Jacob's object was to mark the spot where so important a communication had been made to him. But besides its use as a memorial, it would enable him to identify the place upon his return, and pay there his vows. And as oil was the symbol of the dedication of a thing to holy uses, he pours oil upon the top of it.

Verse 18. - And Jacob rose up early in the morning (cf. Genesis 19:27; Genesis 22:3), and took the stone that he had put for his pillows (vide supra), and set it up for a pillar - literally, set it up, a pillar (or something set upright, hence a statue or monument); not as an object of worship, a sort of fetish, but as a memorial of the vision (Calvin, Keil, Murphy; cf. Genesis 31:45; Genesis 35:14; Joshua 4:9, 20; 14:26; 1 Samuel 7:12) - and poured oil upon the top of it. Quasi signum consecrationis (Calvin), and not because he regarded it as in itself invested with any degree of sanctity. The worship of sacred stones (Baetylia), afterwards prevalent among the Greeks, Romans, Hindoos, Arabs, and Germans, though by some (Kuenen, Oort; vide 'The Bible for Young People,' vol. 1. p. 231) regarded as one of the primeval forms of worship among the Hebrews, was expressly interdicted by the law of Moses (cf. Exodus 22:24; Exodus 34:13; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 12:3; Deuteronomy 16:22). It was probably a heathen imitation of the rite here recorded, though by some authorities (Keil, Knobel, Lange) the Baetylian worship is said to have been connected chiefly with meteoric stones which were supposed to have descended from some divinity; as, e. g., the stone in Delphi sacred to Apollo; that in Emesa, on the Orontes, consecrated to the sun; the angular rock at Pessinus in Phrygia worshipped as hallowed by Cybele; the black stone in the Kaaba at Mecca believed to have been brought from heaven by the angel Gabriel (vide Kalisch in /Gee). That the present narrative was a late invention, "called into existence by a desire" on the part of the priests and prophets of Yahweh (Jehovah) "to proclaim the high antiquity of the sanctuary at Bethel, and to make a sacred stone harmless" ('The Bible for Young People,' vol. 1. p. 231), is pure assumption. The circumstance that the usage here mentioned is nowhere else in Scripture countenanced (except in Genesis 35:14, with reference to this same pillar) forms a sufficient pledge of the high antiquity of the narrative (vied Havernick's 'Introd.,' § 20).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Early
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם (way·yaš·kêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7925: To load up, to start early in the morning

the next morning,
בַּבֹּ֗קֶר (bab·bō·qer)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

Jacob
יַעֲקֹ֜ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

took
וַיִּקַּ֤ח (way·yiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

the stone
הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ (hā·’e·ḇen)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 68: A stone

that
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

he had placed
וַיָּ֥שֶׂם (way·yā·śem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

under his head,
מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֔יו (mə·ra·’ă·šō·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4763: A place at the head, head place

and he set it up
שָׂ֣ם (śām)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

as a pillar.
מַצֵּבָ֑ה (maṣ·ṣê·ḇāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4676: Something stationed, a column, an idol

He poured
וַיִּצֹ֥ק (way·yi·ṣōq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3332: To pour out, to melt, cast as metal, to place firmly, to stiffen, grow hard

oil
שֶׁ֖מֶן (še·men)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8081: Grease, liquid, richness

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

top of it,
רֹאשָֽׁהּ׃ (rō·šāh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7218: The head


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OT Law: Genesis 28:18 Jacob rose up early in the morning (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 28:17
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