Study Desk

"Surely all the wealth which God has taken away from our father belongs to us and our children; now then, do whatever God has said to you."

God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, "Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad."

"It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Be careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob.'

"If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had not been for me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, so He rendered judgment last night."

"If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us, see, God is witness between you and me."

"The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us." So Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac.

Now as Jacob went on his way, the angels of God met him.

Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,'

He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed."

So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved."

He lifted his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, "Who are these with you?" So he said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."

Jacob said, "No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then take my present from my hand, for I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably.

"Please take my gift which has been brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have plenty." Thus he urged him and he took it.

Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau."

and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone."

He built an altar there, and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed Himself to him when he fled from his brother.

Then God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him.

God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; You shall no longer be called Jacob, But Israel shall be your name." Thus He called him Israel.

God also said to him, "I am God Almighty; Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, And kings shall come forth from you.

Then God went up from him in the place where He had spoken with him.