And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.

GENESIS 28:5KJV
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Genesis 28:5 (KJV)

What does Genesis 28:5 mean?

Genesis 28:5 describes how Isaac sent his son Jacob away to Padanaram, instructing him to go to Laban, the son of Bethuel, who was Rebekah’s brother. This verse sets up Jacob’s journey to his relatives in a distant land, emphasizing the family connections and the reason for his departure.

In this scene, Isaac is speaking and acting as Jacob’s father, sending him away from home. The verse highlights the family relationships: Laban is Rebekah’s brother, making him Jacob’s uncle, and Bethuel is their father. The mention of “Padanaram” points to a specific region in Mesopotamia, showing that Jacob is being sent far from home to find safety and a wife among his mother’s kin.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 28:5

  • פַּדַּנֲָּרָם (Padanaram, transliterated "Padanaram"): This name refers to a region in northern Mesopotamia. Its mention shows that Jacob’s journey is not just to any place, but to a specific area tied to his family’s origins.
  • אֲחִי (’ach, transliterated "brother"): Used here for Laban as Rebekah’s brother, this word clarifies the close family tie, which is important for understanding why Jacob is sent to him.
  • אֵם (’em, transliterated "mother"): The word for "mother" is used to remind the reader that Rebekah is the mother of both Jacob and Esau, connecting the family story and explaining why Jacob would go to her relatives.

Why Genesis 28:5 matters

  • Genesis 28:5 clarifies the family relationships that shape the next part of Jacob’s story, explaining why he is sent specifically to Laban.
  • The verse connects the events of Jacob’s life to the broader family history, tying back to earlier stories about Rebekah and her family in Mesopotamia.
  • By naming Padanaram and specifying the family ties, the verse sets the stage for the significant events that will happen to Jacob while he is away from his homeland.

Where else these words appear

“Bethuel” Hebrew H1328 · used in 10 verses

  • Genesis 22:22 And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.
  • Genesis 24:24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
  • Genesis 25:20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

“Syrian” Hebrew H761 · used in 10 verses

  • Genesis 25:20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
  • Deuteronomy 26:5 And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:
  • 2 Kings 8:29 And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

“Padanaram” Hebrew H6307 · used in 11 verses

  • Genesis 25:20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
  • Genesis 28:7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram;
  • Genesis 35:9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.

“Rebekah” Hebrew H7259 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 22:23 And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
  • Genesis 24:60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
  • Genesis 26:35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.