Behold serves the same function as in verse 12. It is repeated often in dreams.

The LORD stood above it: the Revised Standard Version footnote gives the alternative meaning “beside him.” See also Good News Translation footnote. New Revised Standard Version has reversed Revised Standard Version and placed “beside him” in its text. This is the preferred position; the picture is of the LORD standing beside the sleeping Jacob. Some translators feel that it is necessary to emphasize for their readers that this appearance of the LORD is still within Jacob’s dream: “The LORD appeared in the dream and stood close to him” or “In that dream Jacob saw the LORD standing there….”

I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father: for the words I am the LORD, see 15.7. Since Abraham is not literally the father of Jacob, some translations prefer to say “your grandfather Abraham.” For the sense of the God of Abraham, see 26.24.

The land on which you lie: the promise of the land is now given to Jacob, as it had been to Abraham earlier. If taken literally this expression would mean only the ground where Jacob’s body is resting, but the sense is not so restricted. It may be necessary in some cases to say, for example, “I will give you and your descendants all this land, even where you are lying” or “I will give you and your descendants this land of Canaan on which you are lying.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Stay with him a while: a while is literally “some days,” a manner of speaking of an indefinite time. The length of time will be until your brother’s fury turns away. In some languages this thought is best expressed in figurative terms: for example, “until his heart becomes cool again,” “until his liver is no longer hot,” “until his innermost is calm again.” In other languages people naturally say “until he calms down” or “until he settles down.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

And your descendants shall be like the dust of the earth: for the comparison of numerous descendants with dust, see 13.16, where God gave this same promise to Abraham. See Good News Translation “specks of dust.”

You shall spread abroad: for a similar expression regarding extending the population, see Isa 54.3. The sense of the verb used here is “break out,” but the reference is to extending the territory or the borders of their country.

To the west … to the south: note that Good News Translation reduces this to “in all directions.” The Good News Translation model may be helpful for languages that use long, descriptive expressions for north, south, east, and west.

And by you and your descendants shall all the families of the earth bless themselves: the Hebrew wording is the same as in 12.3, where Revised Standard Version also translates “bless themselves.” See 12.3 for full discussion. See also 18.18.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Until you brother’s anger turns away: this line only substitutes a different term with the same meaning for fury in the previous line. Note that Good News Translation does not repeat this thought, and many translations will be able to do the same.

Forgets what you have done to him: that is, “until he forgets that you have taken the blessing away from him.”

Send, and fetch you from there: “I will send someone to bring you home again.”

Rebekah then asks a rhetorical question: Why should I be bereft of you both in one day? The assumption is that, if Jacob does not leave, Esau will kill him, and then others will avenge Jacob’s death by killing Esau; or in some parts of the world, it would be that the two brothers would fight and kill each other. Bereft (or bereaved) means to lose a relative through death. This question may need to be expressed as a negative wish; for example, “I don’t want to lose you both in one day.” If the thought of losing two sons is not clear, it may be possible to say, for example, “I don’t want to have you killed and then Esau killed as well. I would lose you both at the same time.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go: Behold serves to call Jacob’s attention to what the LORD is saying. Good News Translation says “Remember….” Other translations say “Listen!” or “Don’t you forget….” I am with you assures Jacob that the LORD accompanies or goes with him to guide, direct, and protect him. In some languages this may be rendered as a habitual present or future; that is, “I am always with you” or “I will always be with you.” Keep you means “guard,” “watch over,” “protect” you.

Bring you back to this land: as Jacob is traveling away from Canaan to Haran, this land again refers to Canaan, where he began his journey.

For I will not leave you until I have done that of which I have spoken to you: the LORD’s promise not to leave Jacob means that he will not abandon, forsake, depart from Jacob. Until I have done … should not be interpreted to mean that the LORD will leave Jacob after he has done what he had promised. Accordingly it may be necessary to translate, for example, “I will not leave you; I will do everything that I have promised to do.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

I am weary of my life: weary translates a verb meaning “disgust,” “loath,” “abhor.” Speiser translates “I am disgusted with life,” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “I am tired of life,” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “I am sick of living,” and Good News Translation “I am sick and tired.” We may also say, for example, “I can’t stand these … any longer.”

Because of the Hittite women: Hittite women is literally “daughters of Heth.” Rebekah’s disgust, as is evident from 26.35, is due not to Hittite women in general but to the wives Esau has married. Accordingly Good News Translation has translated “Esau’s foreign wives,” Bible en français courant “my Hittite daughters-in-law,” and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “these Hittites Esau has married.”

If Jacob marries one of … these: note that Good News Translation has supplied “also” in the “if” clause. Such as these means “like the women Esau has married” or “like the two who are here.”

One of the women of the land is literally “from the daughters of the land,” an expression that means “a local girl” or “a native woman.” The term for women should be one that is applicable to young women of marriageable age. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “one of these who live here in Canaan.”

The result clause is formulated as a rhetorical question, what good will my life be to me? which is literally “what is my life to me?” Translators may find this question needs to be answered, “No good at all,” or be expressed as a negative statement; for example, “my life won’t be worth a thing,” “my life will be worthless.” Bible en français courant translates “I will lose my last reason for living.” Note also Good News Translation.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Verse 15 completes the LORD’s speech to Jacob. In verses 16-17 Jacob reacts to his dream.

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said: in some languages it may be necessary to indicate to whom Jacob is speaking. As he is alone, it may be necessary to say “Jacob awoke and said to himself.” Another model translation says “When Jacob woke up he was thinking about his dream and said….”

Surely the LORD is in this place: Surely translates a Hebrew adverb that suggests that something unexpected has happened. As Driver says, “Jacob had been accustomed to associate Jehovah’s presence with the sacred spots at which his father had dwelt and worshiped, and is surprised to find Him here as well.” Good News Translation captures the thought well with an exclamation “The LORD is here!” Moffatt says “The Eternal must be here!” In this place refers to the place where Jacob spent the night.

I did not know it may need to be modified to say, for example, “and I did not know he was here.” In some translations this clause is placed first in Jacob’s words: “I didn’t know that the LORD was here, but truly he is!”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him: for called Jacob see suggestions on 27.1, 42. Blessed him is not used here in the sense of giving a formal blessing as was the case in 27.27-29. Blessed is mainly used as in chapter 27, but it is also used when greeting and saying farewell. See 26.31. No doubt the words of the greeting are in the form of a short prayer or wish for God’s protection and favor for the one being greeted. Some languages use such expressions for greetings; for example, “God be with you,” “God give you the day.” If the translator’s language uses such expressions, they may be used instead of the word “greet” (see Good News Translation). It is also possible that Isaac is here saying farewell to Jacob. In that case we may sometimes translate “Isaac called Jacob and gave him a farewell blessing.” Bible en français courant says “and gave him his good-bye.” It is clear that the narrator has given Isaac a friendly attitude toward Jacob in spite of Jacob’s deception of Isaac in chapter 27.

Charged translates the same verb as in 18.19 and has the meaning of “order,” “command,” “instruct.” What Isaac instructed Jacob not to do is contained in the words of the rest of this verse. Note that Good News Translation translates “told him”; Revised English Bible translates “gave him these instructions,” New Jerusalem Bible “gave him this order,” New International Version “commanded him.”

You shall not marry one of the Canaanite women is literally “You are not to take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.” “Take a wife” means to marry. Canaanite women should be expressed in the most natural form in the translator’s language. Good News Translation prefers “a Canaanite.” Women should be rendered by the term that applies to young women of marriageable age. Canaanite refers to the people in the land, country, or area where Isaac is living. We may also say “one of the native girls” or “one of the young women of this country.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .