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 .