The Meaning of Genesis 28:18 Explained

Genesis 28:18

KJV: 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.

YLT: And Jacob riseth early in the morning, and taketh the stone which he hath made his pillows, and maketh it a standing pillar, and poureth oil upon its top,

Darby: And Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had made his pillow, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it.

ASV: And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 28:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 28:10-22 - Jacob's Vision At Bethel
This is the Ladder chapter, in which a wayward, weak man is seen holding fellowship with the Eternal God, who loves us, notwithstanding our unworthiness, and desire to lead us into a life of power and blessedness. It is all wonderful! Notice the four Beholds! Genesis 28:12-15. Sunset. Overtaken on a moor by the swift fall of the Oriental night, Jacob had no alternative than to sleep in the open. But he slept to see! Night. There is an open way between heaven and earth for each of us. The movement of the tide and circulation of the blood are not more regular than the inter-communication between heaven and earth. Jacob may have thought that God was local: now he found Him to be omnipresent. Every lonely spot was His house, filled with angels. Morning. Worship, consecration, the vows of God. Put down thy foot on God's promises. He will do more than He has said. Thou shalt come to thy Father's house in peace.
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Chapter Summary: Genesis 28

1  Isaac blesses Jacob, and sends him to Padan-aram
6  Esau marries Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael
10  Jacob journeys, and has a vision of a ladder
18  The stone of Bethel
20  Jacob's vow

What do the individual words in Genesis 28:18 mean?

And rose early Jacob in the morning and took - the stone that he had put under his head and set up it as a pillar and poured oil on top of it
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם יַעֲקֹ֜ב בַּבֹּ֗קֶר וַיִּקַּ֤ח אֶת־ הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ אֲשֶׁר־ שָׂ֣ם מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֔יו וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֹתָ֖הּ מַצֵּבָ֑ה וַיִּצֹ֥ק שֶׁ֖מֶן עַל־ רֹאשָֽׁהּ

וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם  And  rose  early 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַם  
Sense: to rise or start early.
יַעֲקֹ֜ב  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
בַּבֹּ֗קֶר  in  the  morning 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
וַיִּקַּ֤ח  and  took 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאֶ֙בֶן֙  the  stone 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
שָׂ֣ם  he  had  put 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֔יו  under  his  head 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מְרַאֲשֹׁות 
Sense: place at the head, dominion, head place adv.
וַיָּ֥שֶׂם  and  set  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
מַצֵּבָ֑ה  as  a  pillar 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַצֵּבָה  
Sense: pillar, mastaba, stump.
וַיִּצֹ֥ק  and  poured 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָצַק  
Sense: to pour, flow, cast, pour out.
שֶׁ֖מֶן  oil 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁמֶן  
Sense: fat, oil.
רֹאשָֽׁהּ  top  of  it 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.