New International Version So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. New Living Translation So Jacob told everyone in his household, “Get rid of all your pagan idols, purify yourselves, and put on clean clothing. English Standard Version So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. Berean Standard Bible So 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. Berean Literal Bible And Jacob said to his house and to all who were with him, “Remove the foreign gods that are in your⁺ midst, and purify yourselves, and change your⁺ garments. King James Bible Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: New King James Version And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. New American Standard Bible So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Remove the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; NASB 1995 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; NASB 1977 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments; Legacy Standard Bible So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you and cleanse yourselves and change your garments; Amplified Bible Then Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the [idols and images of] foreign gods that are among you, and ceremonially purify yourselves and change [into fresh] clothes; Berean Annotated Bible So Jacob (he grasps the heel) 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. Christian Standard Bible So Jacob said to his family and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your clothes. Holman Christian Standard Bible So Jacob said to his family and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your clothes. American Standard Version Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments: Contemporary English Version Jacob said to his family and to everyone else who was traveling with him: Get rid of your foreign gods! Then make yourselves acceptable to worship God and put on clean clothes. English Revised Version Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments: GOD'S WORD® Translation So Jacob said to his family and those who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods which you have, wash yourselves until you are ritually clean, and change your clothes. Good News Translation So Jacob said to his family and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods that you have; purify yourselves and put on clean clothes. International Standard Version Jacob announced to his household and to everyone with him, "Throw away the foreign gods that you've kept among you, purify yourselves, and change your clothes. NET Bible So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods you have among you. Purify yourselves and change your clothes. New Heart English Bible Then Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods that you have among you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. Webster's Bible Translation Then Jacob said to his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo 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. World English Bible Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Jacob says to his household, and to all who [are] with him, “Turn aside the gods of the stranger which [are] in your midst, and cleanse yourselves, and change your garments; Berean Literal Bible And Jacob said to his house and to all who were with him, “Remove the foreign gods that are in your⁺ midst, and purify yourselves, and change your⁺ garments. Young's Literal Translation And Jacob saith unto his household, and unto all who are with him, 'Turn aside the gods of the stranger which are in your midst, and cleanse yourselves, and change your garments; Smith's Literal Translation And Jacob will say to his house, and to all which are with him, Put away the strange gods which are among you, and be cleansed and change your garments. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Jacob having called together all his household, said: Cast away the strange gods that are among you, and be cleansed and change your garments. Catholic Public Domain Version In truth, Jacob, having called together all his house, said: “Cast away the foreign gods that are in your midst and be cleansed, and also change your garments. New American Bible So Jacob told his household and all who were with him: “Get rid of the foreign gods among you; then purify yourselves and change your clothes. New Revised Standard Version So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your clothes; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and cleanse yourselves, and change your garments; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Yaquuv said to the sons of his house and to every one of his people, “Send out the foreign gods that are among you and be purified and change your garments, OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him: 'Put away the strange gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments; Brenton Septuagint Translation And Jacob said to his house, and to all that were with him, Remove the strange gods that are with you from the midst of you, and purify yourselves, and change your clothes. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Jacob Returns to Bethel1Then 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.”… Cross References So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, Genesis 18:19 For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.” Deuteronomy 6:7 And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Joshua 24:23 “Now, therefore,” he said, “get rid of the foreign gods among you and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” 1 Samuel 7:3 Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” Purify yourselves James 4:8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. and change your garments. Zechariah 3:4-5 So the angel said to those standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes!” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have removed your iniquity, and I will clothe you with splendid robes.” / Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So a clean turban was placed on his head, and they clothed him, as the angel of the LORD stood by. Isaiah 52:1 Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you. Joshua 24:14-15 Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. / But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” Exodus 20:3-4 You shall have no other gods before Me. / You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. Deuteronomy 6:14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you. Judges 10:15-16 “We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!” / So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel. 2 Kings 17:33-34 They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away. / To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel. Isaiah 2:18-20 and the idols will vanish completely. / Men will flee to caves in the rocks and holes in the ground, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth. / In that day men will cast away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold—the idols they made to worship. Ezekiel 20:7-8 And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’ / But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt. Hosea 14:3 Assyria will not save us, nor will we ride on horses. We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’ to the work of our own hands. For in You the fatherless find compassion.” Treasury of Scripture Then Jacob said to his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: unto his. Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Psalm 101:2-7 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart… strange. Genesis 31:19,34 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's… Exodus 20:3,4 Thou shalt have no other gods before me… Exodus 23:13 And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth. clean. Genesis 35:22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: Genesis 34:2,24,25 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her… Exodus 19:10,14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, … Jump to Previous Change Clean Cleanse Clothes Clothing Foreign Garments Gods Household Jacob Midst Purify Rid Strange Stranger Turn YourselvesJump to Next Change Clean Cleanse Clothes Clothing Foreign Garments Gods Household Jacob Midst Purify Rid Strange Stranger Turn YourselvesGenesis 35 1. God commands Jacob to go to Bethel.2. He purges his house of idols. 6. He builds an altar at Bethel. 8. Deborah dies at Allon Bacuth. 9. God blesses Jacob at Bethel. 10. Jacob Named Israel. 16. Rachel travails of Benjamin, and dies in the way to Edar. 22. Reuben lies with Bilhah. 23. The sons of Jacob. 27. Jacob comes to Isaac at Hebron. 28. The age, death, and burial of Isaac. So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, Jacob acted as the spiritual head of an extended household that included his family, servants, and others under his care. As he prepared to return to Bethel, where God had first appeared to him, he called everyone connected with his household to renewed devotion. Gen 18:19 For I have chosen him, so that he will… “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Idols had entered the camp through the influence of surrounding peoples and through possessions taken from Shechem. Jacob required their complete removal, recognizing that worship of the Lord could not be joined with pagan practices. Jos 24:23 “Now, therefore,” he said, “get rid of the foreign gods… Purify yourselves Those traveling to Bethel were to cleanse themselves in preparation for appearing before God. The outward act represented repentance and separation from defilement associated with idolatry. Jas 4:8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.… and change your garments. Clean garments marked a fresh beginning as the household left behind its former practices. Jacob led them to approach God with outward and inward readiness for worship. Zec 3:4-5 So the angel said to those standing before him… Persons / Places / Events 1. JacobThe patriarch of the Israelite tribes, Jacob is the central figure in this passage. He is leading his family back to Bethel, a place of significant spiritual encounter with God. 2. Jacob's Household This includes his wives, children, and servants. They are instructed by Jacob to rid themselves of foreign gods and purify themselves. 3. Foreign Gods These are idols or deities worshiped by people outside of the covenant community. Jacob's command to remove them signifies a return to exclusive worship of Yahweh. 4. Purification A ritual act of cleansing, often involving washing and changing clothes, symbolizing a spiritual renewal and dedication to God. 5. Bethel A significant location in Jacob's life where he previously encountered God. It represents a place of divine promise and covenant. Teaching Points Call to HolinessJust as Jacob instructed his household to purify themselves, believers today are called to live holy lives, setting aside anything that competes with their devotion to God. Exclusive Worship The removal of foreign gods underscores the importance of worshiping God alone. Believers must examine their lives for modern-day idols that may distract from their relationship with God. Spiritual Renewal Changing garments symbolizes a fresh start and a renewed commitment to God. Christians are encouraged to regularly seek spiritual renewal through repentance and dedication. Leadership in Faith Jacob's role as a spiritual leader in his family highlights the responsibility of leading others in faith and setting an example of devotion to God. Returning to God Bethel represents a return to a place of spiritual significance. Believers are reminded to return to their spiritual roots and remember God's faithfulness in their lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 35:2?2. Why did Jacob instruct his household to "get rid of the foreign gods"? 3. How can we identify and remove "foreign gods" in our own lives today? 4. What does Genesis 35:2 teach about purity before approaching God? 5. How does Genesis 35:2 connect with the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3? 6. What steps can we take to "purify ourselves" in our spiritual journey? 7. Why did Jacob instruct his household to discard foreign gods in Genesis 35:2? 8. What do "foreign gods" symbolize in Genesis 35:2? 9. How does Genesis 35:2 relate to the concept of monotheism? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 35? (2) Strange gods.--Besides Rachel's teraphim, many, probably, of the persons acquired by Jacob at Haran were idolaters, and had brought their gods with them. Besides these, the numerous men and women who formed the"tafs" of the Shechemites were certainly worshippers of false deities. The object, then, of this reformation was not merely to raise Jacob's own family to a higher spiritual state, but also to initiate the many heathen belonging to their households into the true religion. Outward rites of purification and changes of garment were to accompany the religious teaching given, because of their symbolical value; and we can well believe that much deep and earnest religious feeling would be evoked by the solemnities which accompanied this drawing near of the whole tribe to God. This reformation is also interesting as being the first of a long series of such acts constantly recurring in the history of Israel; and especially it is parallel to the sanctification of the people at Sinai. There, also, there was the initiation not merely of the lineal Israel, but also of the mixed multitude, into the true religion--for Jacob's family had then grown into a nation; and there, also, symbolical washings were enjoined (Exodus 19:10-14). These subsequently were still practised under the Law, and grew into the baptism by which we are now admitted into the Church of Christ.Verses 2, 3. - Then Jacob said unto his household (i.e. those more immediately belonging to his family), and to all that were with him (referring probably to the captured Shechemites), Put away the strange gods - literally, the gods of the stranger, including most likely the teraphim of Laban, which Rachel still retained, and other objects of idolatrous worship, either brought by Jacob's servants from Mesopotamia, or adopted in Canaan, or perhaps possessed by the captives - that are among you, and be clean, - literally, cleanse yourselves. The word is that which afterwards describes the purifications of the law (Numbers 19:11, 12; Leviticus 14:4; Leviticus 15:13). Aben Ezra interprets it as meaning that they washed their bodies; and Michaelis views the rite as a kind of baptism, signifying their adoption of the true religion of Jehovah - a quasi baptism of repentance, like that afterwards preached by John (vide 'Suppl.,' p. 1000) - and change your garments. The directions here given are very similar to those which were subsequently issued at Sinai (Exodus 19:10), and were meant to symbolize a moral and spiritual purification of the mind and heart. And let us arise, and go to Bethel. "This is obviously not the first time Jacob acquainted his family with the vision at Bethel (Inglis). And I will make there an altar unto God, - El is probably employed because of its proximity to and connection with Bethel, or house of El, and the intended contrast between the El of Bethel and the strange Elohim which Jacob's household were commanded to put away (cf. Quarry, p. 512) - who answered me in the day of my distress, - this seems to imply that Jacob prayed at Bethel before he slept, if it does not refer to his supplication before meeting, Esau (Genesis 32:9) - and was with me in the way which I went. This language clearly looks back to Bethel (vide Genesis 28:20). Genesis 35:2 records Jacob leading his household in wholehearted repentance: abandoning idols, pursuing purity, and adopting outward signs of inward change. The verse teaches that genuine worship requires decisive separation from sin, intentional cleansing, and visible commitment to walk in newness of life—principles that echo throughout both Testaments and remain essential for every believer today. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So Jacobיַעֲקֹב֙ (ya·‘ă·qōḇ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc told וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say his household בֵּית֔וֹ (bê·ṯōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1004: A house and all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every who אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that were with him, עִמּ֑וֹ (‘im·mōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 5973: With, equally with “Get rid of הָסִ֜רוּ (hā·si·rū) Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 5493: To turn aside the foreign הַנֵּכָר֙ (han·nê·ḵār) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5236: That which is foreign, foreignness gods אֱלֹהֵ֤י (’ĕ·lō·hê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative that אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that are among you. בְּתֹכְכֶ֔ם (bə·ṯō·ḵə·ḵem) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre Purify yourselves וְהִֽטַּהֲר֔וּ (wə·hiṭ·ṭa·hă·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 2891: To be clean or pure and change וְהַחֲלִ֖יפוּ (wə·ha·ḥă·lî·p̄ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 2498: To slide by, to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce, change your garments. שִׂמְלֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (śim·lō·ṯê·ḵem) Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural Strong's 8071: A dress, a mantle Additonal Resources Genesis 35:2 Blue Letter BibleGenesis 35:2 Bible Gateway Genesis 35:2 Bible.com Genesis 35:2 NIV |
    |