Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. New Living Translation So they gave Jacob all their pagan idols and earrings, and he buried them under the great tree near Shechem. English Standard Version So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem. Berean Standard Bible So they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and all their earrings, and Jacob buried them under the oak near Shechem. King James Bible And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. New King James Version So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which was by Shechem. New American Standard Bible So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem. NASB 1995 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem. NASB 1977 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem. Legacy Standard Bible So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem. Amplified Bible So they gave Jacob all the [idols and images of the] foreign gods they had and the rings which were in their ears [worn as charms against evil], and Jacob buried them under the oak tree near Shechem. Christian Standard Bible Then they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and their earrings, and Jacob hid them under the oak near Shechem. Holman Christian Standard Bible Then they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and their earrings, and Jacob hid them under the oak near Shechem. American Standard Version And they gave unto Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hand, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. Contemporary English Version So everyone gave Jacob their idols and their earrings, and he buried them under the oak tree near Shechem. English Revised Version And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. GOD'S WORD® Translation So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods that they had in their possession as well as the earrings that they had on. Jacob buried these things under the oak tree near Shechem. Good News Translation So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods that they had and also the earrings that they were wearing. He buried them beneath the oak tree near Shechem. International Standard Version So they handed over to Jacob all their foreign gods on which they had been depending, along with the rings that they were wearing on their ears. Jacob buried them under the oak that grew near Shechem. Majority Standard Bible So they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and all their earrings, and Jacob buried them under the oak near Shechem. NET Bible So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods that were in their possession and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob buried them under the oak near Shechem New Heart English Bible So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their possession, and the rings that were in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak that was near Shechem. Webster's Bible Translation And they gave to Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and the ear-rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. World English Bible They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd they give to Jacob all the gods of the stranger that [are] in their hand, and the rings that [are] in their ears, and Jacob hides them under the oak which [is] by Shechem; Young's Literal Translation And they give unto Jacob all the gods of the stranger that are in their hand, and the rings that are in their ears, and Jacob hideth them under the oak which is by Shechem; Smith's Literal Translation And they will give to Jacob all the strange gods which are in their hand and the earrings which are in their ears, and Jacob will hide them under the turpentine tree which is in Shechem. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSo they gave him all the strange gods they had, and the earrings which were in their ears: and he buried them under the turpentine tree, that is behind the city of Sichem. Catholic Public Domain Version Therefore, they gave him all the foreign gods which they had, and the earrings which were in their ears. And then he buried them under the terebinth tree, which is beyond the city of Shechem. New American Bible They gave Jacob all the foreign gods in their possession and also the rings they had in their ears and Jacob buried them under the oak that is near Shechem. New Revised Standard Version So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak that was near Shechem. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo they gave to Jacob all the strange gods that were in their possession, and the earrings that were in their ears; and Jacob buried them under the oak which was by Shechem. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they gave to Yaquuv all their foreign gods that were in their hands and the earrings in their ears, and Yaquuv buried them under the Oak that was with Shekeem. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And they gave unto Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hand, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth which was by Shechem. Brenton Septuagint Translation And they gave to Jacob the strange gods, which were in their hands, and the ear-rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the turpentine tree which is in Secima, and destroyed them to this day. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jacob Returns to Bethel…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.… Cross References Exodus 32:2-4 So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” / Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. / He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” 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.” Judges 10:16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel. 1 Samuel 7:3-4 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.” / So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD. 2 Kings 23:4-6 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests second in rank, and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal, Asherah, and all the host of heaven. And he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel. / Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven. / He brought the Asherah pole from the house of the LORD to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem, and there he burned it, ground it to powder, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people. Isaiah 2:20 In that day men will cast away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold—the idols they made to worship. Isaiah 30:22 So you will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, saying to them, “Be gone!” 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.” Zephaniah 1:4-5 “I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all who dwell in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the names of the idolatrous and pagan priests— / those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom, Acts 19:18-19 Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds. / And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 2 Corinthians 6:16-17 What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” / “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” Galatians 4:8-9 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. / But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? Ephesians 5:11 Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Treasury of Scripture And they gave to Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. ear-rings. Exodus 32:2-4 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me… Judges 8:24-27 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) … Hosea 2:13 And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD. hid them. Exodus 32:20 And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. Deuteronomy 7:5,25 But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire… Isaiah 2:20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; the oak. Joshua 24:25,26 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem… Judges 9:6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem. Jump to Previous Buried Earrings Ear-Rings Ears Foreign Gods Hand Hands Hid Holy Jacob Oak Rings Shechem Strange Stranger Terebinth TreeJump to Next Buried Earrings Ear-Rings Ears Foreign Gods Hand Hands Hid Holy Jacob Oak Rings Shechem Strange Stranger Terebinth TreeGenesis 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 they gave Jacob all their foreign gods In the ancient Near East, polytheism was prevalent, and the possession of household gods, or "teraphim," was common. These idols were often seen as protective deities or symbols of prosperity. Jacob's family, having lived in Paddan-Aram, may have acquired these idols from their time with Laban, who himself was an idolater. The act of giving up these gods signifies a turning point for Jacob's household, a renunciation of idolatry, and a commitment to worship the one true God. This mirrors the call to monotheism that is central to the Abrahamic covenant. and all their earrings and Jacob buried them under the oak near Shechem Persons / Places / Events 1. JacobThe patriarch who leads his family in a spiritual renewal by removing foreign gods and purifying themselves. 2. Foreign gods Idols or deities that were not the God of Israel, which Jacob's family had acquired. 3. Earrings Likely associated with idolatry or pagan practices, these were also surrendered as part of the purification process. 4. Oak near Shechem A significant location where Jacob buried the foreign gods and earrings, symbolizing a break from past idolatry. 5. Shechem A city in Canaan, significant in the history of Israel, where Jacob's family had settled temporarily. Teaching Points Spiritual Renewal Requires ActionJacob's leadership in removing idols demonstrates that spiritual renewal often requires decisive action and tangible steps. Symbolic Acts of Repentance Burying the foreign gods under the oak symbolizes a complete break from past sins and a commitment to God. Community Purification The collective act of giving up idols and earrings shows the importance of communal purity and accountability in faith. Idolatry's Subtlety The presence of foreign gods among Jacob's family serves as a reminder of how easily idolatry can infiltrate our lives. Legacy of Faithfulness Jacob's actions set a precedent for future generations, emphasizing the importance of leaving a legacy of faithfulness to God.(4) Earrings.--Earrings seem to have been worn not so much for ornament as for superstitious purposes, being regarded as talismans or amulets. Hence it was from their earrings that Aaron made the golden calf (Exodus 32:2-4). The oak.--Not Abraham's oak-grove (Genesis 12:6), referred to probably in Judges 9:6; Judges 9:37--the Hebrew word in these three places being elon--but that under which Joshua set up his pillar of witness (Joshua 24:26), the tree being in both these places called allah, or elah, a terebinth. . . . Verse 4. - And they gave mate Jacob all the strange gods - Rosenmüller thinks these must have been many, since the historian would not otherwise have used the term כֹּל - which were in their hand (i.e. which they possessed), and all their earrings which were in their ears; - i.e. those employed for purposes of idolatrous worship, which were often covered with allegorical figures and mysterious sentences, and supposed to be endowed with a talismanic virtue (Judges 8:21; Isaiah 3:20; Hosea 2:13) - and Jacob hid them - having probably first destroyed them, since they do not appear to have been ever after sought for or resumed by the parties who gave them up (Hughes) - under the oak which was by Shechem. Whether the oak, or terebinth, under which Abraham once pitched his tent (Genesis 12:6), that beneath whose shade Joshua afterwards erected his memorial pillar (Joshua 24:26), the oak of the sorcerers (Judges 9:37), and the oak of the pillar at Shechem (Judges 9:6) were all the tree under which Jacob buried the images and earrings cannot with certainty be determined, though the probability is that they were.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So they gaveוַיִּתְּנ֣וּ (way·yit·tə·nū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5414: To give, put, set Jacob יַעֲקֹ֗ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every their אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that 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 and [all their] earrings, הַנְּזָמִ֖ים (han·nə·zā·mîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 5141: A ring (worn as an ornament) and Jacob יַעֲקֹ֔ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc buried וַיִּטְמֹ֤ן (way·yiṭ·mōn) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2934: To hide, conceal them under תַּ֥חַת (ta·ḥaṯ) Preposition Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of the oak הָאֵלָ֖ה (hā·’ê·lāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 424: An oak, other strong tree near עִם־ (‘im-) Preposition Strong's 5973: With, equally with Shechem. שְׁכֶֽם׃ (šə·ḵem) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 7927: Shechem -- 'ridge', a district in Northern Palestine, also a son of Hamor Links Genesis 35:4 NIVGenesis 35:4 NLT Genesis 35:4 ESV Genesis 35:4 NASB Genesis 35:4 KJV Genesis 35:4 BibleApps.com Genesis 35:4 Biblia Paralela Genesis 35:4 Chinese Bible Genesis 35:4 French Bible Genesis 35:4 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 35:4 They gave to Jacob all the foreign (Gen. 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