Jacob Sent to Paddan-aram
Genesis 27:41-28:9
Gen.27.41 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישטם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- הברכה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ברכו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אביו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בלבו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- יקרבו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ימי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- אבל: CONJ
- אבי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ואהרגה: VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אחי: NOUN,m,pl,suff
Parallels
- Gen.27.36 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the same episode: Esau again expresses anger and charges Jacob with deception and loss of the blessing—the same motive that in v.41 becomes explicit hatred and intent to kill.
- Gen.26.34-35 (structural): Earlier family conflict—Esau's marriages cause grief to Isaac and Rebekah and set the background of sibling discord that culminates in v.41.
- Gen.37.4-20 (thematic): Joseph's brothers likewise hate him for a perceived advantage and conspire to kill him—parallel pattern of fraternal jealousy and murderous intent.
- Gen.4.5-8 (thematic): Cain's murder of Abel is the archetype of sibling hatred leading to fratricide; thematically parallels Esau's declared plan to kill Jacob out of envy/anger.
- 1 John 3:12 (allusion): New Testament allusion to Cain as the example of hating and killing a brother; conceptually parallels Esau's hostile intent toward Jacob.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Esau bore a grudge against Jacob over the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, Let the days of mourning for my father draw near; then I will kill Jacob my brother.
- And Esau bore a grudge against Jacob over the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said in his heart, Let the days of mourning for my father draw near; then I will kill Jacob my brother.
Gen.27.42 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויגד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- לרבקה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בנה: NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF,3,f,sg
- הגדל: ADJ,m,sg,def
- ותשלח: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ותקרא: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ליעקב: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg
- בנה: NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF,3,f,sg
- הקטן: ADJ,m,sg,def
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- הנה: PART
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אחיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- מתנחם: VERB,hitpael,ptc,3,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- להרגך: PREP+VERB,hif,inf+2m-suf
Parallels
- Gen.27:41 (structural): Immediate narrative context: Esau vows to kill Jacob after Isaac's blessing, prompting Rebekah's warning in 27:42.
- Gen.28:1-5 (structural): Isaac directs Jacob to depart to Paddan‑aram to find a wife and escape Esau's anger—fulfills Rebekah's instruction to flee.
- Gen.32:7-8 (thematic): Later Jacob fears Esau's approach and prepares for possible violence—recurrent motif of threat from Esau and precautionary measures.
- Gen.37:18-20 (thematic): Joseph's brothers plot to kill him out of jealousy—parallel motif of sibling rivalry escalating into a lethal threat.
- Matt.2:13 (thematic): Joseph is warned in a dream and instructed to flee to save Jesus from a death plot—typological parallel of urgent flight to preserve life.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah, and she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, Behold, Esau your brother is consoling himself about you—planning to kill you.
- And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah; and she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, Behold, Esau your brother is comforting himself about you by planning to kill you.
Gen.27.43 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועתה: CONJ
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- שמע: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בקלי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
- וקום: CONJ+VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- ברח: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- לבן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחי: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- חרנה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
Parallels
- Gen.28:10 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel — Jacob actually 'arises and flees' to Haran, directly fulfilling Rebekah's instruction to go to Laban.
- Gen.29:4-14 (structural): Continuation of the same sequence: Jacob's arrival in Haran and his meeting with Laban's family (Rachel), showing the outcome of the instructed flight.
- Exod.2:15 (thematic): Moses flees to Midian after killing an Egyptian; shares the motif of sudden flight to a foreign region to escape imminent danger or punishment.
- 1 Sam.19:11-12 (thematic): David's escape from Saul (with Michal's help) reflects the theme of urgent flight for personal safety from a hostile pursuer, paralleling Rebekah's command to Jacob to flee.
Alternative generated candidates
- And now, my son, listen to my voice, and arise, flee for yourself to Laban my brother, to Haran.
- And now, my son, listen to my voice; arise, flee for yourself to Laban my brother, to Haran.
Gen.27.44 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישבת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- עמו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אחדים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- עד: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- תשוב: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,f,sg
- חמת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- אחיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 27:43-45 (verbal): Immediate context: Rebekah tells Jacob to flee to Laban and remain with him 'until your brother's anger turns away'—same situation and wording as v.44.
- Genesis 31:20 (thematic): Jacob flees secretly from Laban to escape conflict/hostility; both passages portray flight to another household as refuge from a relative's wrath.
- 1 Samuel 20:33-34 (thematic): Saul's fierce anger against David and David's subsequent flight/hiding illustrate the motif of escaping a kinsman's or ruler's wrath and remaining hidden until danger passes.
- Exodus 2:15-22 (thematic): Moses flees to Midian and stays there after Pharaoh seeks his life; similar pattern of leaving one's home and staying with another until a threatened anger/justice subsides.
- Proverbs 15:1 (allusion): Proverbial saying that a 'soft answer turns away wrath' connects conceptually to the idea in Gen 27:44 of waiting until another’s anger has 'turned away'—both address the pacification or passing of anger.
Alternative generated candidates
- And stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away,
- And dwell with him some days until your brother’s fury turns back.
Gen.27.45 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- עד: PREP
- שוב: ADV
- אף: ADV
- אחיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- ממך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- ושכח: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשית: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- ושלחתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- ולקחתיך: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg+2ms
- משם: PREP
- למה: ADV
- אשכל: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg
- גם: ADV
- שניכם: PRON,2,m,du
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
Parallels
- Gen.27.43 (verbal): Immediate narrative parallel — Rebekah's command to Jacob to flee from Esau to her brother Laban, providing the same motive (fear of Esau's revenge) and the same proposed solution.
- Gen.28:5-7 (structural): Later repetition of the sending motif — Isaac (and the family) sends Jacob to Paddan‑aram to take a wife from Rebekah’s kin (Laban), echoing the relocation for safety and family strategy.
- Gen.31:1-3 (thematic): Jacob's later flight from Laban when relations become dangerous — continues the theme of fleeing family/household conflict and divine guidance to relocate for safety.
- Exod.2:11-15 (thematic): Moses flees to Midian after killing an Egyptian to avoid vengeance — a parallel motif of leaving one’s home to escape retribution and find refuge with strangers/relatives.
- Gen.4:13-16 (thematic): Cain’s fear of being killed and his resulting exile — an earlier instance of fraternal violence, fear of revenge, and forced departure from homeland.
Alternative generated candidates
- until your brother’s anger turns away from you and he forgets what you did to him; then I will send and fetch you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?
- Until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send and take you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?
Gen.27.46 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- רבקה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- יצחק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קצתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,f,sg
- בחיי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,poss
- מפני: PREP
- בנות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- חת: NOUN,m,sg,const
- אם: CONJ
- לקח: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מבנות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- חת: NOUN,m,sg,const
- כאלה: DEM,f,pl
- מבנות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- למה: ADV
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- חיים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Gen.27:43 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel: Rebekah's complaint in 27:46 is followed by her command in 27:43 (and its fulfillment) to send Jacob to her brother Laban—action taken to avoid a wife from the local Canaanite/Hethite women.
- Gen.28:1-2 (verbal): Isaac explicitly repeats the concern: he charges Jacob not to take a wife from the Canaanite women and sends him to Paddan-aram, echoing Rebekah’s objection to local (Hethite) wives.
- Gen.24:3-4 (thematic): Precedent passage: Abraham’s instruction to seek a wife from his own kin rather than from the Canaanites—a theme picked up in Rebekah’s aversion to Hethite women and the plan to find a kin-wife for Jacob.
- Deut.7:3-4 (thematic): Legal-theological parallel: the prohibition against intermarriage with the nations of the land and the warning that such marriages lead Israel astray resonates with Rebekah’s fear of local wives.
- Ezra 9:2; Ezra 10:2 (thematic): Postexilic lament over Israelite intermarriage with foreign women mirrors Rebekah’s distress and the concern that marriages to local/foreign women threaten covenant identity.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, like these, from the daughters of the land, why should I live?
- And Rebekah said to Isaac, I loathe my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth like these, from the daughters of the land, what is life to me?
Gen.28.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- יצחק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויברך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- ויצוהו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg+PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- תקח: VERB,qal,imperfect,2,m,sg
- אשה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מבנות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- כנען: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Gen.24:3-4 (thematic): Abraham charges his servant to secure a wife for Isaac not from the Canaanites — parallels Isaac’s prohibition to Jacob against taking a Canaanite wife (same concern for endogamous marriage within the family line).
- Gen.26:34-35 (thematic): Reports that Esau married Hittite women and that they were a grief to Isaac and Rebekah; provides the immediate background and motive for Isaac’s prohibition to Jacob.
- Gen.28:2-5 (structural): The immediate continuation of the command: Isaac sends Jacob to Paddan-aram to take a wife from Laban’s family and pronounces the Abrahamic blessing — expands and specifies the prohibition in v.1.
- Gen.35:2-3 (thematic): Later Jacob instructs his household to put away foreign gods and separate from foreign wives before going to Bethel — echoes the theme of separation from Canaanite marriage and loyalty to the covenantal line.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and commanded him and said to him, You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan.
- And Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him and said to him, You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan.
Gen.28.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- קום: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- פדנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ארם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ביתה: NOUN,m,sg,suff-3,f,sg
- בתואל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אבי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אמך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- וקח: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- משם: PREP
- אשה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מבנות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לבן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחי: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- אמך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Gen.24:3-4 (verbal): Abraham's explicit instruction to his servant to find a wife for Isaac from his relatives — same kin‑marriage motif and commission to seek a wife from the household of the father's people.
- Gen.27:43-45 (thematic): Rebekah urges Jacob to flee Esau and go to her brother Laban in Paddan‑aram — provides the immediate motive and family connection behind Jacob's departure.
- Gen.29:1-14 (structural): Narrative of Jacob's arrival in Paddan‑aram, meeting Rachel and securing a wife from Laban's household — the fulfillment and continuation of the command in 28:2.
- Gen.31:3 (allusion): God's later command to Jacob to return to the land of his fathers echoes the earlier movement to and from Laban's household, framing the departure in 28:2 within Jacob's broader migratory destiny.
Alternative generated candidates
- Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel the father of your mother, and take for yourself from there a wife from the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.
- Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father, and take for yourself from there a wife from the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother.
Gen.28.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- שדי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יברך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אתך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- ויפרך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- וירבך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- והיית: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- לקהל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עמים: NOUN,pl,m,abs
Parallels
- Gen.12:2-3 (thematic): God's promise to Abraham to make his offspring a great nation and to bless the peoples — the same covenantal promise of multiplication and blessing that Jacob receives here.
- Gen.17:6 (verbal): God's pledge to make Abraham 'exceedingly fruitful' and to 'make nations' from him — closely parallels the language of fruitfulness and becoming many peoples.
- Gen.26:4 (verbal): God's promise to Isaac that his descendants will be multiplied and that 'in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed' — repeats the same blessing and progeny language given within the patriarchal covenant.
- Gen.35:11 (verbal): God's later word to Jacob: 'A nation and a company of nations shall be of you,' which echoes Gen 28:3's promise that Jacob will become a multitude of peoples.
- Gen.1:28 (verbal): The Creation mandate 'Be fruitful and multiply' shares the key verb and concept of fruitfulness and multiplication found in the blessing of Gen 28:3.
Alternative generated candidates
- May El Shaddai bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become an assembly of peoples.
- And El Shaddai bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and you shall become an assembly of peoples.
Gen.28.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ברכת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- אברהם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- ולזרעך: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- אתך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- לרשתך: VERB,qal,inf+pref:PREP+sfx:PRON,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מגריך: NOUN,m,pl,construct+PRON,2,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לאברהם: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Gen.12:7 (verbal): God promises the land to Abram's offspring—same basic wording and promise of land to Abraham's seed as in Gen 28:4.
- Gen.17:8 (verbal): Reiterates the grant of the land to Abraham and his seed as an everlasting possession; language and covenantal promise closely mirror Gen 28:4.
- Gen.13:15-17 (verbal): God again assures Abram that the visible land will be given to him and his descendants—same inheritance formula ('to you and your seed').
- Gal.3:16 (allusion): Paul cites the promise to Abraham's 'seed' and interprets 'seed' singularly as Christ, alluding to the covenant language about Abraham's offspring in passages like Gen 28:4.
- Gal.3:29 (thematic): Links being 'Christ's' with being Abraham's seed and heirs of the promise, applying the blessing/inheritance motif of Gen 28:4 to believers in Christ.
Alternative generated candidates
- And may he give to you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your seed with you, that you may possess the land of your sojournings, which God gave to Abraham.
- And may he give to you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your seed with you, to possess the land of your sojournings which God gave to Abraham.
Gen.28.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישלח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יצחק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- פדנה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ארם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- לבן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בתואל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הארמי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- אחי: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- רבקה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אם: CONJ
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ועשו: VERB,qal,impv,2,pl
Parallels
- Genesis 28:2 (verbal): Almost identical instruction: Isaac commands Jacob to go to Paddan‑aram to take a wife from Laban, repeating the same destination and family names.
- Genesis 27:43-45 (thematic): Rebekah urges Jacob to flee to her brother Laban in Paddan‑aram to escape Esau’s wrath—this motive explains why Jacob is sent away.
- Genesis 29:1-14 (structural): Narrative continuation: Jacob arrives in Haran/Paddan‑aram, meets Rachel and Laban, and the marriage events that follow unfold there.
- Genesis 31:18-21 (thematic): Jacob’s flight from Laban back to Canaan echoes the earlier movement to Laban’s household—reverses the journey and highlights family conflict and migration theme.
- Genesis 24:29-31 (allusion): Earlier introduction of Laban and Bethuel in the story of Rebekah’s marriage; establishes Laban as Rebekah’s kin and the family connection invoked in 28:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Isaac sent Jacob, and he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.
- And Isaac sent Jacob, and he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.
Gen.28.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וירא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- ברך: VERB,qal,inf,NA,NA,NA,NA
- יצחק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ושלח: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- פדנה: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- ארם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לקחת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- משם: PREP
- אשה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בברכו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg+PRON,3,m,sg
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- ויצו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- לא: PART_NEG
- תקח: VERB,qal,imperfect,2,m,sg
- אשה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מבנות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- כנען: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 27:27-29 (quotation): The blessing of Isaac on Jacob (words and promises) that 28:6 refers back to — the immediate blessing whose effects (and favoritism) lead to Jacob's departure and Esau's reaction.
- Genesis 26:34-35 (thematic): Reports Esau’s earlier marriages to the daughters of Canaan and the grief they caused Isaac and Rebekah, providing background for the prohibition against Canaanite wives.
- Genesis 27:46 (structural): Rebekah’s command to Jacob to flee to Paddan-aram to Laban (to find a wife) — the narrative move that 28:6 summarizes as Isaac sending Jacob to Paddan-aram.
- Genesis 29:15-30 (structural): Jacob’s eventual arrival in Paddan-aram and marriages to Laban’s daughters (Leah and Rachel), the fulfillment of the instruction in 28:6 to seek a wife there.
- Deuteronomy 7:3-4 (thematic): Later Mosaic law prohibiting intermarriage with Canaanite women echoes the warning in 28:6 ("not to take a wife from the daughters of Canaan"), showing continuity in concern about Canaanite marriages.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to take for himself from there a wife, and as he blessed him he commanded him, saying, You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan.
- And Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to take for himself from there a wife, and in blessing him he charged him, saying, You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan.
Gen.28.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישמע: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- אביו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- אמו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- פדנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ארם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Gen.27:43-45 (structural): Immediate narrative cause: Rebekah directs Jacob to flee to her brother Laban in Paddan–aram to escape Esau’s threat, explaining why Jacob obeys his parents and departs.
- Gen.28:8-9 (thematic): Contrasting episode in the same context: Esau’s foreign marriages displease Isaac and Rebekah, highlighting Jacob’s obedience to his parents in leaving for Paddan–aram to find a family bride.
- Gen.24:3-4 (thematic): Parental arrangement to obtain a wife from the family/kinsmen in Mesopotamia (Aram); parallels the motif of a son going to his father’s kin to secure a spouse at the parents’ direction.
- Gen.31:3 (structural): Later divine command to Jacob to ‘return to the land of your fathers’ from Paddan–aram; connects the move to and from Paddan–aram as a recurring structural theme in Jacob’s life.
- Prov.1:8 (thematic): Wisdom literature injunction to ‘hear your father’s instruction’ — a general moral parallel to Jacob’s obedience to his father and mother in departing as they commanded.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Jacob obeyed his father and his mother and went to Paddan-aram.
- And Jacob listened to his father and to his mother, and went to Paddan-aram.
Gen.28.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וירא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- רעות: ADJ,f,pl,abs
- בנות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- כנען: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- יצחק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אביו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
Parallels
- Gen.26:34-35 (verbal): Earlier report that Esau took Hittite wives who were a grief to Isaac and Rebekah—directly parallels the statement that Canaanite women were evil in Isaac's eyes.
- Gen.27:46 (thematic): Rebekah’s complaint about the ‘daughters of Heth’ and her insistence that Jacob not marry such women echoes Isaac’s disapproval of Canaanite women and motivates sending Jacob away.
- Gen.28:1-2 (structural): Isaac’s command to Jacob to not take a Canaanite wife and to go to Paddan-aram reflects the same parental objection to Canaanite marriages described here.
- Deut.7:3-4 (thematic): The law forbids intermarriage with Canaanite peoples because foreign wives might lead Israel to other gods—provides the broader theological rationale behind Isaac’s disapproval of Canaanite women.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan were displeasing in the eyes of Isaac his father.
- And Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan were displeasing in the eyes of Isaac his father.
Gen.28.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- ישמעאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- מחלת: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- בת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- ישמעאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אברהם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחות: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נביות: NOUN,prop,m,pl,abs
- על: PREP
- נשיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs,3,m
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- לאשה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Gen.28:8 (structural): Immediate narrative link — the preceding verse explains Esau's motive (that his Canaanite wives displeased his parents) and sets up his going to Ishmael to take Mahalath.
- Gen.26:34-35 (thematic): Earlier statement that Esau had taken Hittite wives who displeased Isaac and Rebekah; provides background for the problem Esau seeks to remedy by marrying Ishmael's daughter.
- Gen.36:2-4 (verbal): Genealogical parallel that lists Esau's wives and identifies ‘Basemath’ as Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth — a naming-variant that corresponds to Mahalath in 28:9.
- Gen.25:12-16 (verbal): Ishmael’s genealogy listing his sons (including Nebajoth); confirms the identity of Nebajoth mentioned in 28:9 and situates Mahalath within Ishmael’s family line.
- Gen.24:3-4 (thematic): Abraham’s command to seek a wife for Isaac from his own kin illustrates the cultural preference for endogamous marriage that explains why Esau turns to Ishmael (a relative) rather than Canaanite women.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, the sister of Nebaioth, in addition to his wives, as a wife for himself.
- And Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, sister of Nebaioth, in addition to his wives, to himself for a wife.
And Esau bore a grudge against Jacob over the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill Jacob my brother. And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah; and she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, Behold, Esau your brother is comforting himself about you by planning to kill you. And now, my son, listen to my voice; arise, flee to Laban my brother, to Haran. And stay with him some days until your brother's fury turns back.
Until your brother's anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you did to him; then I will send and take you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day? And Rebekah said to Isaac, I loathe my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth like these, from the daughters of the land, what is life to me? And Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and commanded him and said to him, You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan.
Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel the father of your mother, and take for yourself from there a wife from the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother. And may El Shaddai bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and may you become an assembly of peoples. And may he give to you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your seed with you, for you to possess the land of your sojournings which God gave to Abraham. And Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau. And Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to take for himself from there a wife, and in blessing him he commanded him, saying, You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. And Jacob listened to his father and to his mother, and went to Paddan-aram. And Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan were displeasing in the eyes of Isaac his father. And Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath, daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, sister of Nebaioth, in addition to his wives, to be his wife.