Interpreters recognize that verse 13 does not fit well in its present position in the Hebrew text. However, most translations keep it at this position. The information in verse 13 refers back to the events recorded in 28.18-22.

I am the God of Bethel: God of Bethel may be a title; however, the Septuagint and the ancient Targum translate “The God who appeared to you at Bethel.” See Good News Translation. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, which rates the Hebrew as a {B}, recommends translating as “the God of Bethel.” Modern versions are divided. For example, New English Bible follows the Septuagint, but Revised English Bible follows the Hebrew text. New Revised Standard Version follows Revised Standard Version and adds a note, “Hebrew uncertain.” To clarify the phrase of Bethel, the Handbook recommends following Good News Translation, and for those translations that use footnotes, to add the Revised Standard Version form in a note.

Anointed a pillar: see the wording used in 28.18. For vow see 28.20.

The remainder of verse 13 repeats the command given to Jacob in Gen 31.3.

Now arise, go forth from this land: for comments on arise in this context, see 13.17. Go forth means to “depart from,” “leave,” “go back.”

Land of your birth is literally “land of your kindred.” The same Hebrew word is rendered “kindred” in verse 3 and may be translated the same way here as it was there. In some languages there is a common term or expression for the place where a person was born or the place that is regarded as the home of a clan, and this may be appropriate in this context; for example, “go back to your own country” or “… to the place where you belong.”

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 .