And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I [am] the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
13. the Lord stood ] Lit. “was set, established, stationed,” LXX , Vulg. “innixum.” The appearance of Jehovah is mentioned, but not described.
above it ] Better, probably, as R.V. marg., beside him. Both renderings are possible. We should perhaps prefer that of the margin. The preposition is the same as in the account of the appearance of the three men to Abraham, Gen 18:2 (“Lo, three men stood over against him”). On the other hand, the versions LXX , Lat. and Syr. Pesh., render as R.V. text. But the substance of Gen 28:13-15 is a personal revelation to Jacob. It is distinct from the vision of Gen 28:12, which, on a great and impressive scale, taught the general lesson of the union between earth and heaven. There is, therefore, reason for preferring the personal allusion, either “beside him,” or “over (i.e. bending over) him.” Jacob is lying down: Jehovah is standing by him. Jacob is made to realize the ever-protecting Presence, at his side, or watching over him.
and said ] The blessing of Jacob consists of (1) the Divine personal revelation; (2) the promise of the land ( Gen 28:13); (3) the multiplication of his descendants ( Gen 28:14); (4) the world’s blessing through his seed ( Gen 28:14); (5) the personal promise of Presence and Protection ( Gen 28:15).
thy father ] i.e. thy ancestor. Abraham’s name is mentioned as that of the first recipient of the Divine promise.
the land ] The renewal of the promise to Abraham, Gen 13:14-16.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 13. I am the Lord God of Abraham] Here God confirms to him the blessing of Abraham, for which Isaac had prayed, Ge 28:3-4.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
13. The Lord stood above it, andsaidThat Jacob might be at no loss to know the purport of thevision, he heard the divine voice; and the announcement of His name,together with a renewal of the covenant, and an assurance of personalprotection, produced at once the most solemnizing and inspiritingeffect on his mind.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And behold, the Lord stood above it,…. Ordering, directing, and overruling all things in Providence, for the glory of his name and the good of his people; and may signify, as the ladder may be a figure of Christ, that Jehovah the Father, is above him, as man and Mediator, and makes himself known in and by him, and delivers out all his blessings and promises through him, both temporal and spiritual, and such as follow:
and said, I [am] the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: their covenant God and Father in Christ, who had made promises unto them, and bestowed blessings upon them; and the same was and would continue to be the God of Jacob, which is strongly intimated:
the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; meaning not that small pittance of land only on which his body then lay, and which it covered, but all the land of which it was a part, even the whole land of Canaan; hereby entailing it on him and his seed, and so explaining and confirming the blessing of his father Isaac; and by which it appears, that all that had been done was under a divine direction, and according to the will of God.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
13. I am the Lord God of Abraham. This is the third point which, I said, was to be noticed: for mute visions are cold; therefore the word of the Lord is as the soul which quickens them. The figure, therefore, of the ladder was the inferior appendage of this promise; just as God illustrates and adorns his word by external symbols, that both greater clearness and authority may be added to it. Whence also we prove that sacraments in the Papacy are frivolous, because no voice is heard in them which may edify the soul. We may therefore observe, that whenever God manifested himself to the fathers, he also spoke, lest a mute vision should have held them in suspense. Under the name יהוה Jehovah God teaches that he is the only Creator of the world, that Jacob might not seek after other gods. But since his majesty is in itself incomprehensible, he accommodates himself to the capacity of his servant, by immediately adding, that he is the God of Abraham and Isaac. For though it is necessary to maintain that the God whom we worship is the only God; yet because when our senses would aspire to the comprehension of his greatness, they fail at the first attempt; we must diligently cultivate that sobriety which teaches us not to desire to know more concerning him than he reveals unto us; and then he, accommodating himself to our weakness, according to his infinite goodness, sill omit nothing which tends to promote our salvation. And whereas he made a special covenant with Abraham and Isaac, proclaiming himself their God, he recalls his servant Jacob to the true source of faith, and retains him also in his perpetual covenant. This is the sacred bond of religion, by which all the sons of God are united among themselves, when from the first to the last they hear the same promise of salvation, and agree together in one common hope. And this is the effect of that benediction which Jacob had lately received from his father; because God with his own mouth pronounces him to be the heir of the covenant, lest the mere testimony of man should be thought illusive.
The land whereon thou liest. We read that the land was given to his posterity; yet he himself was not only a stranger in it to the last, but was not permitted even to die there. Whence we infer, that under the pledge or earnest of the land, something better and more excellent was given, seeing that Abraham was a spiritual possessor of the land, and contented with the mere beholding of it, fixed his chief regard on heaven. We, may observe, however, that the seed of Jacob is here placed in opposition to the other sons of Abraham, who, according to the flesh, traced their origin to him, but were cut off from the holy people: yet, from the time when the sons of Jacob entered the land of Canaan, they had the perpetual inheritance unto the coming of Christ, by whose advent the world was renewed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
13. The Lord stood A personal visional revelation of Jehovah . The Targum of Onkelos reads: “The glory of the Lord stood above . ” It was a theophany that impressed Jacob with a fearful awe . Gen 28:17.
The land to thy seed Compare the same promise made to Abraham in Gen 13:15; Gen 15:18.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 28:13. The Lord Jehovah; the second Divine Person, He who had always manifested himself to the Patriarchs. The words, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed, might perhaps be read with as much propriety, to thee, EVEN to thy seed: see ch. Gen 13:15. Nothing can be conceived more majestic than this declaration, on the part of the Almighty; and to Jacob, nothing could be more consolatory and refreshing. The benediction given to Jacob was applied in after-times among the Jews by those who wished a numerous posterity to any one: “God bless you as he blessed Jacob, and make your offspring like to his.”
REFLECTIONS.We have here Jacob on his journey to Syria. Night approaching, he bethinks himself of a lodging. Observe,
1. He had a hard bed and a cold pillow for weary bones to rest upon: but he had God’s blessing and care over him, and then he could sleep in peace.
2. His dream, his sacred vision, made up for all the inconveniences of his lodging: Angelic Hosts watched over him. These are the ministering spirits, who, though unseen, still minister to the heirs of salvation. He had left his home and his friends, but God appeared for him, let down his ladder of Grace, and opened to him the gate of heaven. Note; Christ is this ladder: no man cometh to the Father, but by him.
3. God’s promise: a confirmation to him and his seed of the covenant made to Abraham; and moreover, an assurance of protection and provision wheresoever he went. Note; If God be our guardian, no danger can come nigh us.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Is not this a beautiful type of the Lord Jesus? Are not all revelations of God to man, made through the medium of Jesus Christ? Joh 1:18 . Did not this ladder represent the constancy of the communication kept open between the Lord and his people? The top reaching to heaven, representing the divine nature of Christ; and the bottom resting on the earth, his human nature. And the angels of God ascending and descending, do they not confirm that scripture, Heb 1:14 ? And throw a light upon that precious declaration of Jesus, Joh 1:51 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 28:13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I [am] the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
Ver. 13. I am the Lord God of Abraham, &c. ] What an honour is this to Abraham, that God was not ashamed to be called his and his son’s God! Eusebius the historian, was called Eusebius Pamphili, for the love that was between him and the martyr Pamphilus, as St Jerome testifieth. “Friend to Sir Philip Sidney,” is engraven upon a nobleman’s a tomb in this kingdom, as one of his titles. Behold the goodness of God, stooping so low as to style himself “the God of Abraham”; and Abraham again, “the friend of God.”
a The old Lord Brook.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the LORD = Jehovah.
above it. The Hebrew accent (zark’a) emphasizes this as meaning “beside him” (Compare Gen 18:2, where ‘al is rendered “by”). It is not the angels, but the Divine faithfulness and promise, which mark “this place” (verses: Gen 28:16, Gen 28:17) and make it “the house of God”.
to thee. As He had said to Abraham (Gen 13:15) and to Isaac (Gen 26:3). See note on Gen 50:24.
will I. Note the “shalls” and “wills” in this and all these repetitions of Jehovah’s covenant.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Lord stood: Gen 35:1, Gen 35:6, Gen 35:7, Gen 48:3
I am: Gen 15:1, Gen 17:6, Gen 17:7, Gen 26:24, Gen 31:42, Gen 32:9, Gen 46:3, Exo 3:6, Exo 3:15, Exo 3:16, Mat 22:32, Heb 11:16
the land: Gen 28:4, Gen 12:7, Gen 13:15, Gen 35:12, Gen 35:15, Gen 35:17, Psa 105:11, Eze 37:24, Eze 37:25, Act 7:5
Reciprocal: Gen 15:18 – Unto thy Gen 24:12 – O Lord Gen 30:25 – and to Gen 31:3 – land Gen 31:29 – the God Gen 32:12 – I will Gen 32:29 – blessed Gen 34:30 – and I shall Gen 35:3 – who answered Gen 35:9 – General Gen 46:1 – unto Gen 48:4 – Behold I Gen 49:25 – the God Gen 50:24 – sware Exo 6:8 – to give Exo 32:13 – I will multiply Exo 33:1 – the land Deu 1:8 – which Deu 6:10 – land Deu 9:5 – that he may Deu 29:13 – he may be Deu 34:4 – This is the land Jos 21:43 – General 1Ki 3:5 – in a dream 1Ch 16:13 – ye seed 1Ch 16:16 – which he made 1Ch 16:18 – Unto thee 1Ch 28:9 – the God Psa 105:9 – General Isa 44:8 – have declared Jer 32:22 – which Eze 28:25 – to my Eze 47:14 – lifted up mine hand Mic 7:20 – General Hab 3:9 – according Zec 3:6 – the Mal 1:2 – yet I Mat 1:1 – the son of Abraham Mar 12:26 – I am Luk 20:37 – when Act 7:32 – Then Gal 3:16 – to Heb 11:9 – the heirs
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
28:13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I [am] the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee {e} will I give it, and to thy seed;
(e) He felt the force of this promise only by faith: for all his life he was a stranger in this land.