And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse subtly highlights Hebron as a place of ancestral continuity, specifically noting that both Abraham and Isaac had sojourned there. This isn't just a geographical marker; it underscores Jacob's return to a sacred ancestral home, tying his present journey to the faith and experiences of his grandfather and father before him.
And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a season of spiritual renewal at Bethel and the tragic death of his beloved wife Rachel, Jacob journeys with his entire family towards his father Isaac. This passage marks Jacob's final reunion with Isaac, who is now very old and near the end of his life, bringing the long narrative arc of the patriarchs' lives in Canaan toward its close.
After years of wandering and rebuilding his family, Jacob finally returns to his father. What does this reunion signify?
Jacob's arrival at Hebron to be with his father Isaac marks a significant homecoming, not just geographically, but also in terms of legacy and familial responsibility.
A Season of Gathering
For years, Jacob had been away, building his own family and fortune. Now, with Isaac advanced in age and nearing his end, Jacob is called to be present. This isn't just about visiting; it's about tending to a patriarch in his final season.
Shared Roots, Shared Faith
Hebron is more than just a location; it's a place steeped in the history of Abraham and Isaac's faithfulness. Jacob's return to this ancestral home underscores the continuation of God's covenant promises through his lineage.
The text calls Hebron the place 'where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned.' What does it mean to 'sojourn' in a place?
The word 'sojourned' carries a specific weight. It implies a temporary, yet meaningful, dwelling, always with an eye toward a greater, permanent home.
A People on a Journey
Abraham and Isaac didn't own Hebron in the way modern people 'own' property. They were temporary residents, living as pilgrims under God's promise of an eternal inheritance. Their lives in Hebron were characterized by faith, waiting, and obedience.
Jacob's Return to the Promise
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When Jacob comes to Hebron, he is not just returning to his father, but to the very land where God's promises to Abraham and Isaac were nurtured. This return signifies Jacob’s own settling into that promise, moving from a life of flight and uncertainty to one of familial responsibility and covenant continuation in the land.
Understand the original words
Hebron · Hebrew Proper Noun
An ancient city in the hill country of Judah, historically associated with the patriarchs. It became a site of great spiritual and covenantal importance, serving as a primary residence for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
gur · Hebrew Verb
To dwell temporarily as a stranger or foreigner in a land not one's own. In the context of the patriarchs, it reflects their identity as pilgrims living by faith, awaiting the fulfillment of the promise of the land.
This verse marks the final reunion of Jacob with his father Isaac, highlighting Isaac's very advanced age and the deep, multi-generational history of the patriarchs with the region of Hebron.
c. 1800s BC
Abraham sojourns in Hebron
Abraham, his nephew Lot, and later his son Isaac, lived in or near Hebron (Kiriath-Arba) for extended periods, establishing a significant family connection to the region.
c. 1700s BC
Isaac lives in Hebron
After Abraham's death, Isaac continued to reside in the Hebron area, where he received divine promises and lived a long life.
c. 1750s BC
Jacob flees to Haran
Jacob fled from his brother Esau and sojourned in Haran, beginning a long period of separation from his father Isaac and his homeland.
c. 1740s BC
Jacob's return to Canaan
After years in Haran, Jacob returned to Canaan, eventually reaching the vicinity of Shechem, though not immediately settling with his father Isaac.
c. 1730s BC— this verse
Jacob settles near Isaac
Following significant events and divine encounters at Bethel, Jacob's family eventually settled in the land, and he came to be with his aging father Isaac in Hebron.
c. 1716 BC
Death of Isaac
Isaac died at the age of 180, having lived to see both his sons, Jacob and Esau, and was buried by them.
This passage directly states that Abraham and Sarah were buried in the cave of Machpelah in the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, the same location Jacob visits here, highlighting the continuity of the patriarchal family's dwelling and resting place.
Genesis 26:34-35This verse describes Esau taking Canaanite wives, which caused his parents grief. By bringing Jacob and his large family to Isaac at Hebron, the narrative contrasts Jacob's obedience to his parents' desires (in choosing a wife from their line, implied by this later visit) with Esau's continued disobedience.
Genesis 28:5This verse mentions Isaac sending Jacob to Padan-aram to find a wife, indicating Isaac's presence and authority over his son's life decisions, even from a distance. Jacob's return to Isaac in Genesis 35 shows the completion of that cycle and a return to the paternal home.
Joshua 14:15This passage refers to Hebron as 'the city of Arbah, the father of Anak,' and highlights it as a significant ancestral dwelling place. It emphasizes the historical and familial importance of Hebron for the patriarchs, including Isaac and Jacob.
clarkeGenesis 35:27: "And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned."
The city of Arbah, (which is Hebron) - See Genesis 23:2 . It has been conjectured that Jacob must have paid a visit to his father before this time, as previously to this he had been some years in Canaan; but now, as he was approaching to his end, Jacob is supposed to have gone to live with and comfort him in his declining days.
cambridgeGenesis 35:27: "And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned."
27 . Isaac ] The mention of Isaac, after so long an interval, is surprising. But the P narrative carefully records the death and age of each patriarch. According to J, Isaac was living at Beer-sheba, when Jacob left his home ( Genesis 28:10 ). According to P, Isaac died 80 years later at Mamre in close proximity to the burial-place of his father. Isaac wa…
The verse subtly highlights Hebron as a place of ancestral continuity, specifically noting that both Abraham and Isaac had sojourned there. This isn't just a geographical marker; it underscores Jacob's return to a sacred ancestral home, tying his present journey to the faith and experiences of his grandfather and father before him.
After a season of spiritual renewal at Bethel and the tragic death of his beloved wife Rachel, Jacob journeys with his entire family towards his father Isaac. This passage marks Jacob's final reunion with Isaac, who is now very old and near the end of his life, bringing the long narrative arc of the patriarchs' lives in Canaan toward its close.
After a season of spiritual renewal at Bethel and the tragic death of his beloved wife Rachel, Jacob journeys with his entire family towards his father Isaac. This passage marks Jacob's final reunion with Isaac, who is now very old and near the end of his life, bringing the long narrative arc of the patriarchs' lives in Canaan toward its close.
"And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned." — The verse subtly highlights Hebron as a place of ancestral continuity, specifically noting that both Abraham and Isaac had sojourned there. This isn't just a geographical marker; it underscores Jac…
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Last reviewed October 2026