But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The naming of Succoth highlights a moment of true rest and security for Jacob. After immense struggle and fear, he establishes a home and shelters his livestock, signifying not just a temporary camp but a foundational pause where he could finally breathe easy. This verse subtly emphasizes the profound relief found in finally establishing a stable place after prolonged hardship.
But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a tense reconciliation with his brother Esau, Jacob and his family move on. He establishes a temporary dwelling for himself and shelters for his livestock in a place he names "Succoth" (meaning "booths"), marking a significant, albeit brief, pause in his journey toward the land promised to him. This settlement precedes his eventual arrival in the city of Shechem, setting the stage for the troubling events involving his daughter Dinah.
After years of wandering and a terrifying reunion, Jacob finally stops. What does this 'Succoth' reveal about his journey?
The name 'Succoth' itself means 'booths' or 'tents.' After the intense emotional and physical struggle with Esau, and the wrestling match with God at Peniel, Jacob needed a place to rest and recover. He built temporary shelters for his family and livestock.
This wasn't a permanent home, but a crucial stopover. It signifies a moment of respite after intense periods of trial and uncertainty. Jacob's life had been characterized by movement and fear, but here, for a time, he found a place to make temporary arrangements, giving his family and animals a needed pause.
Jacob didn't just pitch tents; he built a house. What does this detail tell us about his intentions and priorities?
While 'booths' (Succoth) denote temporary shelters, the text also says Jacob 'built himself a house.' This suggests a more substantial, though still not permanent, dwelling than mere tents. It marks a shift from constant flight to establishing a semblance of stability.
This act signifies Jacob's growing responsibility as a patriarch. He's not just concerned with his own immediate safety but with providing for his large family and his livelihood – his livestock. This building project reflects a desire to create a more ordered and secure environment after the chaos and uncertainty he had endured.
Understand the original words
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Sukkoth · Hebrew Proper Noun/Noun
Literally 'booths' or 'shelters,' this term refers to temporary shelters made of branches or foliage. In a biblical context, it is famously associated with the Feast of Booths (Sukkot) commemorating God's provision during the wilderness wandering.
Jacob's stay at Succoth, marked by building a house and livestock shelters, signifies a pause after intense emotional and physical struggle. It represents a temporary, yet meaningful, establishment before moving deeper into the promised land, allowing him and his family time to recover and consolidate.
c. 1800 BC
Jacob flees from Laban
Jacob leaves his uncle Laban's home after twenty years of service, taking his family and possessions. He encounters God at Peniel and wrestles with Him, receiving a new name, Israel.
c. 1800 BC— this verse
Reconciliation with Esau
After his encounter with God, Jacob fears meeting his brother Esau, whom he wronged years ago. Esau surprisingly approaches with 400 men, but the meeting is marked by tears and reconciliation, not violence.
c. 1800 BC
Jacob settles at Succoth
Jacob journeys to Succoth, a place east of the Jordan River. He builds a house for his family and temporary shelters (booths) for his livestock, giving the place its name.
c. 1800 BC
Jacob arrives at Shechem
After a period at Succoth, Jacob moves his family and possessions to the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, where he purchases land and sets up an altar.
This passage further locates Succoth on the east of the Jordan River, confirming its geographical context as a place of settlement after a journey.
Judges 8:8This scripture mentions Succoth in connection with Gideon's pursuit, highlighting its significance as a known location in that region and its inhabitants' lack of hospitality.
Psalm 60:6This psalm references Succoth as a marker of God's territory and a place from which His people are delivered, echoing Jacob's own journey towards security and God's provision.
Hebrews 11:9This New Testament passage speaks of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob living as foreigners in the promised land, dwelling in tents (booths) as they awaited God's fulfillment of His promises, which parallels Jacob's temporary settlement at Succoth as he established a place of rest.
calvinGenesis 33:1-20: "And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids."
And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
Levavit autem Iahacob oculos suos, et vidit, et ecce Esau veniebat, et cum eo erant quadringenti viri: et divis…
cambridgeGenesis 33:17: "And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth."
17 . Succoth ] This verse preserves the traditional explanation of the origin of the name Succoth , “booths,” “huts”; LXX σκῆναι . The site of Succoth is not yet identified with any certainty. From this passage we may infer, that it lay on the east of the Jordan, and south of the Jabbok. For other references to Succoth, cf. Joshua 13:27 ; Jd…
The naming of Succoth highlights a moment of true rest and security for Jacob. After immense struggle and fear, he establishes a home and shelters his livestock, signifying not just a temporary camp but a foundational pause where he could finally breathe easy. This verse subtly emphasizes the profound relief found in finally establishing a stable place after prolonged hardship.
After a tense reconciliation with his brother Esau, Jacob and his family move on. He establishes a temporary dwelling for himself and shelters for his livestock in a place he names "Succoth" (meaning "booths"), marking a significant, albeit brief, pause in his journey toward the land promised to him. This settlement precedes his eventual arrival in the city of Shechem, setting the stage for the troubling events involving his daughter Dinah.
After a tense reconciliation with his brother Esau, Jacob and his family move on. He establishes a temporary dwelling for himself and shelters for his livestock in a place he names "Succoth" (meaning "booths"), marking a significant, albeit brief, pause in his journey toward the land promised to him. This settlement precedes his eventual arrival in the city of Shechem, setting the stage for the troubling events involving his daughter Dinah.
"But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth." — The naming of Succoth highlights a moment of true rest and security for Jacob. After immense struggle and fear, he establishes a home and shelters his livestock, signifying not just a temporary camp…
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Last reviewed October 2026