And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

GENESIS 35:14KJV
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Genesis 35:14 (KJV)

What does Genesis 35:14 mean?

Genesis 35:14 describes Jacob setting up a stone pillar at the place where he spoke with God, then pouring a drink offering and oil on it as acts of worship. This verse shows Jacob marking the spot as significant and honoring God with offerings.

In this scene, Jacob is responding to a personal encounter with God at Bethel. Jacob’s actions—setting up a pillar and pouring offerings—are ways people in his time showed respect and gratitude to God. The stone pillar serves as a physical reminder of the meeting, and the offerings express Jacob’s devotion.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 35:14

  • The word for "pillar" is מַצֵּבָה (matzevah), which means a standing stone or monument. In ancient times, such pillars were often used to mark important events or places of worship.
  • The term for "poured" in "he poured a drink offering" is נָסַךְ (nasakh), which refers specifically to the act of pouring out a liquid as an offering to God, often wine.
  • The word for "oil" is שֶׁמֶן (shemen), meaning olive oil, which was commonly used in religious rituals to dedicate objects or people to God.

Why Genesis 35:14 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Jacob’s worship involved both a physical marker and ritual offerings, highlighting the seriousness of his commitment after encountering God.
  • The use of both a drink offering and oil shows that Jacob’s response was not casual; he followed established ways of honoring God, which helps us understand ancient worship practices.
  • Genesis 35:14 connects to earlier moments in Jacob’s life, especially his first encounter at Bethel, showing how he fulfills his earlier promises and recognizes God’s faithfulness.

Where else these words appear

“pillar” Hebrew H4678 · used in 4 verses

  • Genesis 35:20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.
  • 2 Samuel 18:18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.
  • Isaiah 6:13 But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.

“poured” Hebrew H5258 · used in 24 verses

  • Exodus 25:29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.
  • Psalms 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
  • Jeremiah 19:13 And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.

“pillar” Hebrew H4676 · used in 31 verses

  • Genesis 28:18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
  • Leviticus 26:1 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.
  • 2 Kings 23:14 And he brake in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men.

“poured” Hebrew H3332 · used in 51 verses

  • Genesis 28:18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
  • Leviticus 21:10 And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;
  • 2 Kings 4:40 So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.