Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "God went up from him" isn't just about God leaving; it signifies the cessation of a divine manifestation, similar to how a vision ends, reminding us that such intimate communion, while profound, is not a constant state in this earthly life. This ascent also marks God's acceptance and validation of the encounter, distinguishing it as a uniquely solemn moment for Jacob.
Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a period of spiritual cleansing and recommitment at Bethel, God appears to Jacob, reaffirming His covenant promises. This divine encounter culminates with God ascending from Jacob's presence, signifying the end of their direct conversation and a return to the earthly realm. Jacob then proceeds with his journey, experiencing both continued blessings and the sorrows of life, including the death of loved ones.
Imagine a divine being speaking directly to you, then slowly rising out of sight. What does this ascension signify?
The verse describes God 'going up' from Jacob. This wasn't just God ceasing to speak; the ancient commentaries suggest a visible, even physical, departure of God's manifested presence.
More Than a Feeling
If God's visible presence departs, how do we stay connected? What remains when the divine spotlight moves on?
Even after God's visible manifestation ascends, a crucial element remains: His Word. This encounter with Jacob underscores the lasting power and importance of God's spoken communication.
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The Word Endures
Encounters with God are meant to change us. What lasting impact should these divine interactions have on our lives and identity?
The divine encounter with Jacob at Bethel was more than just a conversation; it was a catalyst for transformation, marking him and reaffirming his covenant relationship with God.
A New Identity and Purpose
This verse marks the conclusion of a profound divine encounter, signifying that God's direct, visible manifestation and communication with Jacob, which had been initiated years prior at Bethel, had now concluded for the time being. It underscores that while God's presence is real and transformative, it isn't always constant in a visible form.
c. 1800 BC
Jacob's Vision at Bethel
Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending, and God promises him the land and descendants. He anoints the stone and names the place Bethel, 'House of God.'
c. 1760 BC
Jacob's Flight from Laban
Jacob flees his father-in-law Laban with his family and possessions, heading back towards Canaan. This marks a period of significant hardship and spiritual growth.
c. 1755 BC
Jacob Wrestles with God
Near the Jabbok River, Jacob wrestles with a divine being all night. He is blessed and given the new name Israel ('struggles with God') and walks with a limp.
c. 1750 BC
Jacob's Return to Canaan and Cleansing
Jacob returns to the land of Canaan, arriving near Shechem. He commands his household to put away idols and purify themselves before going to Bethel.
c. 1749 BC— this verse
God Appears to Jacob at Bethel
God appears to Jacob again at Bethel, reaffirming His covenant promises, changing Jacob's name to Israel, and confirming his lineage and inheritance.
c. 1749 BC
Death of Deborah and Rachel
Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, dies and is buried. Shortly after, Rachel dies in childbirth while Jacob's family is journeying from Bethel to Ephrath (Bethlehem).
c. 1735 BC
Death of Isaac
Jacob's father, Isaac, dies at a great age and is buried by his sons, Jacob and Esau.
Similar to Jacob, Moses ascended Mount Sinai to meet with God, experiencing His presence before God's glory departed.
Isaiah 6:1The prophet Isaiah has a vision of God's glory, and upon seeing it, he is overwhelmed and recognizes his own unworthiness, similar to Jacob's encounter.
John 1:14This verse speaks of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us, a concept that echoes the tangible, visible manifestation of God's presence with Jacob, now fulfilled in Jesus.
Acts 1:9After His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven, just as God's presence visibly departed from Jacob, signifying a transition and a new phase of relationship.
gillGenesis 35:13: "And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him."
And God went up from him,.... Or "from above" him (x); by this it seems that there was a visible appearance of the glory of the Lord, as Onkelos, or of the Shechinah, as Jonathan; even of the Son of God in an human form, who either appeared just above him, or on the same spot with him, conversing with him as above related; and when he had done, ascended in a visible manner from him, till he disappeared: in the plac…
calvinGenesis 35:1-29: "And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother."
Et filii Zilpah ancillae Leah, Gad et Aser. Isti sunt filii Iahacob, qui nati sunt in Padan Aram.
And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.
Et venit Iahacob ad Ishac patrem suum in Mamre civitatem Arbah: h…
The phrase "God went up from him" isn't just about God leaving; it signifies the cessation of a divine manifestation, similar to how a vision ends, reminding us that such intimate communion, while profound, is not a constant state in this earthly life. This ascent also marks God's acceptance and validation of the encounter, distinguishing it as a uniquely solemn moment for Jacob.
After a period of spiritual cleansing and recommitment at Bethel, God appears to Jacob, reaffirming His covenant promises. This divine encounter culminates with God ascending from Jacob's presence, signifying the end of their direct conversation and a return to the earthly realm. Jacob then proceeds with his journey, experiencing both continued blessings and the sorrows of life, including the death of loved ones.
After a period of spiritual cleansing and recommitment at Bethel, God appears to Jacob, reaffirming His covenant promises. This divine encounter culminates with God ascending from Jacob's presence, signifying the end of their direct conversation and a return to the earthly realm. Jacob then proceeds with his journey, experiencing both continued blessings and the sorrows of life, including the death of loved ones.
"Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him." — The phrase "God went up from him" isn't just about God leaving; it signifies the cessation of a divine manifestation, similar to how a vision ends, reminding us that such intimate communion, while…
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Last reviewed October 2026