The last wish is so that I come again to my father’s house in peace. Jacob asks that he be able to return home safely. It should be noticed that, aside from asking for food and clothing, each of these requests is set forth in the promises made to Jacob by the LORD in verse 15.

Having stated his wishes or requests to the LORD, Jacob promises to do three things in return. The first is the LORD shall be my God. Here again Jacob addresses the LORD in the third person, which must often be shifted to second person by saying, for example, “you will be my God,” or in many cases “you will be the God I will serve [worship].”

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 .