Genesis 35: Back to Bethel

God told Jacob to go to Bethel and build an altar. Jacob told his household to put away their foreign gods, and they buried them. God protected them on the journey. At Bethel, God appeared to Jacob again, confirmed his new name Israel, and repeated the covenant promises. On the way to Bethlehem, Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. Later Isaac died at 180 years old, and Esau and Jacob buried him together.

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Read Genesis 35

World English Bible · 29 verses

¹ God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Let’s arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ He built an altar there, and called the place El Beth El; because there God was revealed to him, when he fled from the face of his brother.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel.” He named him Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out of your body.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your offspring after you I will give the land.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ God went up from him in the place where he spoke with him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spoke with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him “Bethel”.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for now you will have another son.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ Israel traveled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s servant): Dan and Naphtali.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ The days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ Isaac gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Genesis 35 · Preschool

God Answers

Name Date

Color the altar Jacob built. Jacob said thank you to God for always being with him!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

Let’s arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.”

Genesis 35:3 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Ask: When has God helped you? Say a thank-you prayer together.

Open Grade 3 on its own page

Genesis 35 · Grade 3

God Keeps His Word

Name Date

Read the Story

God told Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother. Jacob told his household, Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. They gave him their idols and earrings, and he buried them under the oak near Shechem. A terror from God fell on the cities around them, so no one chased them.

At Bethel Jacob built an altar. God appeared to him again and blessed him, saying, Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel. God said, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. He promised that kings would come from Jacob and that the land given to Abraham and Isaac would be his. Jacob set up a stone pillar and poured a drink offering and oil on it.

As they traveled toward Ephrath (Bethlehem), Rachel had hard labor. She named her son Ben-oni, but Jacob named him Benjamin. Rachel died and was buried on the way, and Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. Jacob now had twelve sons. Isaac died at 180 years old, and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Memory Verse

Let’s arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.”

Genesis 35:3 (WEB)

Answer the Questions

What three things did Jacob tell his household to do?
How did God protect them on their journey?
What name did God confirm for Jacob?
What did Jacob name Rachel's son?
How old was Isaac when he died?

Story Order

Write what happened in each box.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

When can you worship God with your family?
How can you keep a promise to God?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Genesis 35 · Grade 5

Returning to Bethel

Name Date

Read and Think

Genesis 35 follows the disaster at Shechem with a call to renewal: Arise, go up to Bethel. God calls Jacob back to the place of his first encounter and his unfulfilled vow. Jacob's response is a family reformation: Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. Jacob testifies that God answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went. The idols are buried, and God's protection surrounds them.

At Bethel, God appears again, confirming Jacob's new name, Israel, and restating the covenant in language that echoes Genesis 1 and 17: I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out of your body. The land promise passes to Jacob and his offspring. Jacob sets up a pillar, as he had years before, and pours out a drink offering in worship.

The chapter then records three deaths: Deborah, Rebekah's nurse; Rachel, who dies near Bethlehem after naming her son Ben-oni, which means son of my sorrow; and Isaac, at 180 years old. Jacob renames his son Benjamin, which means son of my right hand, turning sorrow into hope. The twelve sons are listed, completing the family of Israel. Esau and Jacob together bury their father, a sign of their reconciliation. In the New Testament, Matthew recalls Rachel weeping (Matthew 2:18) in the story of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem.

Show What You Know

What did Jacob's family reformation include?
How did Jacob describe God in verse 3?
What does God's promise of kings point forward to?
How did Jacob turn sorrow into hope in naming Benjamin?
What shows that Esau and Jacob were reconciled?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

IsraelpillarBethelBenjaminGod

Genesis 35 follows the disaster at Shechem with a call to renewal: Arise, go up to .
calls Jacob back to the place of his first encounter and his unfulfilled vow.
Jacob sets up a , as he had years before, and pours out a drink offering in worship.
Jacob renames his son , which means son of my right hand, turning sorrow into hope.
The twelve sons are listed, completing the family of .

Think About It

Jacob testified about how God helped him. What could you testify about God's help in your life?
Is there a promise to God you need to keep? What would going back to Bethel look like for you?

Memory Verse

Let’s arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.”

Genesis 35:3 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What might you need to clear out of your life to worship God fully?
How can you keep your promises to God?
How can you lean on God when you feel sad?

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Genesis 35: Back to Bethel

Read Genesis 35

Worksheets

God Answers

Prayer

Take It Home

Thank You, God

Trace the Words

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Mini Maze

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Back to Bethel

Trace the Words

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Jacob Goes to Bethel

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God Keeps His Word

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Story Order

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Clean Hearts for Worship

Read and Think

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Prayer

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Returning to Bethel

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

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Prayer

Take It Home

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