And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

GENESIS 35:11KJV
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Genesis 35:11 (KJV)

What does Genesis 35:11 mean?

Genesis 35:11 records God telling Jacob that He is God Almighty and commanding Jacob to be fruitful and multiply, promising that Jacob will become the ancestor of a nation, a company of nations, and that kings will come from his descendants. This verse highlights God’s blessing and the future greatness promised to Jacob’s family line.

In this scene, God is speaking directly to Jacob after Jacob returns to Bethel, a significant place in his life. God uses the name “God Almighty” to emphasize His power to fulfill these promises. The verse builds on earlier promises made to Abraham and Isaac, showing that Jacob’s descendants will not only form the nation of Israel but also other groups and royal lineages.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 35:11

  • אֵל שַׁדַּי (El Shaddai): This phrase is translated “God Almighty.” It stresses God’s supreme power and ability to make His promises come true, especially when human strength is not enough.
  • פָּרוּ (paru, “be fruitful”) and רָבָה (ravah, “multiply”): These words echo God’s original blessing to humanity in Genesis, connecting Jacob’s story to the broader theme of God’s purpose for creation to grow and flourish.
  • קָהָל (qahal, “company”): This word means an assembly or gathering, suggesting that Jacob’s descendants will not just be a single nation but a larger community or group of peoples.
  • מְלָכִים (melakhim, “kings”): The promise that “kings shall come out of thy loins” points ahead to the royal lines, including King David and, in Christian tradition, the Messiah.

Why Genesis 35:11 matters

  • Genesis 35:11 clarifies that God’s covenant promises to Abraham and Isaac are now being directly passed to Jacob, marking him as the next key figure in the unfolding story of Israel.
  • The use of “God Almighty” underlines that these promises are not just wishes but are backed by God’s unlimited power, reassuring Jacob and his descendants.
  • The mention of both “a nation” and “a company of nations” shows that Jacob’s influence will extend beyond one people group, hinting at the broader impact of his lineage in history.