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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Genesis 35:4

GENESIS—NOTE ON Genesis 35:4 It is not clear whether the rings that were in their ears were worn by the people or by the foreign gods. Some ancient Near Eastern evidence indicates that idols could have earrings. Jacob probably buried these cultic objects.

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See also Genesis 35:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 35:4. _AND - EAR-RINGS WHICH WERE IN THEIR EARS_] Whether these rings were in the ears of the gods, or in those of Jacob's family, we may rest assured that they were not mere ornaments,...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - The Death of Isaac 8. דברה _d__e__borâh_, Deborah, “bee.” בּכוּת אלּון _'alôn_-_bākût_, Allon-bakuth, “oak of weeping.” 16. כברה _kı̂brâh_, “length stretc

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 35 JACOB AT BETHEL AND THREE DEATHS _ 1. The divine commandment (Genesis 35:1)_ 2. The defilement put away (Genesis 35:2) 3. The journey to Bethel and the altar (Genesis 35:5) 4. Deborah,...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB GOES TO BETHEL, WHERE ELOHIM APPEARS TO HIM AS EL SHADDAI AND GIVES HIM THE NAME ISRAEL. This section is mainly from E and P. To P belong Genesis 35:6_ a_, Genesis 35:9; Genesis 35:15, the rest...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _in their hand_ i.e. in their possession. _the rings … ears_ The rings mentioned were probably not simple earrings as in Genesis 24:22, but rings worn as charms, and amulets, having symbols of heathe...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    ALL THE STRANGE GODS—AND ALL THEIR EAR-RINGS, &C.— St. Austin is of opinion, that the _ear-rings_ mean the _jewels_ which were in the ears of the idols. See Calmet. The word rendered _ear-rings,_ sign...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PART FORTY-THREE THE STORY OF JACOB: INCIDENTS IN CANAAN (Genesis 34:1 to Genesis 35:28) The Biblical Account 1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she bare unto Jacob went out to see the daughters...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND THEY GAVE UNTO JACOB ALL THE STRANGE GODS WHICH WERE IN THEIR HAND, AND ALL THEIR EARRINGS WHICH WERE IN THEIR EARS; AND JACOB HID THEM UNDER THE OAK WHICH WAS BY SHECHEM._ They gave ... all the...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB JOURNEYS BY WAY OF BETHEL TO HEBRON. DEATH OF RACHEL AND OF ISAAC 1. Jacob is commanded to go to Bethel and fulfil the vow he had once made there (Genesis 28:20; Genesis 28:22)....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    EARRINGS] worn superstitiously as charms, and often inscribed with magical formulæ. THE OAK] It was here perhaps that Joshua, hundreds of years later, bade the Israelites put away the strange gods whi...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Probably these foreign gods included the gods that Rachel had stolen from Laban. (See Genesis 31:19 and the comment.)...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 35 JACOB MOVES TO BETHEL V1 God said to Jacob, ‘Move away from here. Go to Bethel and live there. Make an *altar there for me. I am God. I appear...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE TÔLDÔTH ISAAC (Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29). THE BIRTH OF ISAAC’S SONS. Abraham begat Isaac — The _Tôldôth_ in its original form gave probably a complete genealogy of Isaac, tracing up his des...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    EARRINGS. — Earrings seem to have been worn not so much for ornament as for superstitious purposes, being regarded as talismans or amulets. Hence it was from their earrings that Aaron made the golden...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּתְּנ֣וּ אֶֽל ־יַעֲקֹ֗ב אֵ֣ת כָּל ־אֱלֹה

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    JACOB'S RETURN Genesis 35:1 "As for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way."- Genesis 48:7 The words of the Wrestler at the brook Jabbok, "Let me go, for the...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JACOB BLESSED AT BETHEL Genesis 35:1 Thirty years before Jacob was at Bethel. Life was young then. He had only his staff. The future was unshaped and unknown. It was on the occasion of his first nigh...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    God never abandons His children to the forces of evil circumstances resulting from their own folly. The fourth direct communication to Jacob was that which called him back to Beth-el. Again the eviden...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    SPIRITUAL RENEWAL AT BETHEL After such violent, vengeful acts, God called Jacob's to worship again at Bethel. Before Jacob would go, he made everyone give up their idols (compare Genesis 31:19). He a...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which [were] in their hand, and [all their] (c) earrings which [were] in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which [was] by Shechem. (e) For in...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    And the ear-rings. Hebrew, hanezamim; such as had been consecrated to some idol, and adorned the ears of those false but gaudy deities. (Menochius) --- Men and women used them likewise, as phylacterie...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    When grace works, how it works! Luke 19:8....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    4._And they gave unto Jacob_. Though the holy man had his house in suitable subordination; yet as all yielded such prompt obedience to his command by casting away their idols, I doubt not that they we...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 29 THROUGH 35. I have no doubt that in the two wives, as I have said, we have the Gentiles and Israel: Rachel first loved on the earth, but not possessed; but...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEY GAVE UNTO JACOB ALL THE STRANGE GODS WHICH [WERE] IN THEIR HANDS,.... Whether in the hands of his servants or of the captives taken at Shechem, or in the hands of his sons, who had them along wit...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which [were] in their hand, and [all their] earrings which [were] in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which [was] by Shechem. Ver. 4. _And th...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _They gave unto Jacob all the strange gods_ Rather, _the gods of the stranger; and all their ear-rings_ Either because they had been abused to idolatry and superstition, and were therefore to be destr...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 God sendeth Iacob to Bethel. 2 He purgeth his house of idols. 6 He buildeth an Altar at Bethel. 8 Deborah dieth at Allon Bachuth. 9 God blesseth Iacob at Bethel. 16 Rachel traueileth of Beniami...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. Jacob's command was so s...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Jacob Moves to Bethel...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    4. _The departure to Bethel_. Genesis 35:1-8. AND GOD SAID TO JACOB.—The warning to depart comes from Elohim, and hence Knobel and Delitzsch regard the section in Genesis 1:35 as Elohistic, though Kno...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    BETHEL AT LAST Jacob knew he could not remain at Shechem, though it took a humiliating experience in his own house to drive him away from there. God speaks to him in no uncertain terms. He is to arise...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-5 Beth-el was forgotten. But as many as God loves, he will remind of neglected duties, one way or other, by conscience or by providences. When we have vowed a vow to God, it is best not to defer th...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Either because they had been abused to idolatry and superstition at Shechem, or elsewhere, and therefore were to be destroyed according to God's command, now signified to Jacob, and afterwards deliver...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    "And God said unto Jacob. Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there." This confirms the principle on which we have been dwelling. When there is failure or declension, the Lord calls the soul back to Hims...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 35:4 gave H5414 (H8799) Jacob H3290 foreign H5236 gods H430 hands H3027 earrings H5141 ears H241 Jacob...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And they gave to Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.' These would include small images,...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jacob's return to Bethel and renewed communion. Death of Rachael. Birth of Benjamin. Death of Isaac. CHARACTERS: Jacob, Deborah, Rebekah, Rachael, Benjamin, Reuben, Bilhah, Isaac, Esau. CO...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 35:1. _And God said._ This is the fifth vision in which the Lord appeared to Jacob; it marks a special providence over his safety, by removing him from the vicinity of Shechem to a peaceful dw...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Put away the strange gods that are among you_ THE PUTTING AWAY OF IDOLS I. MANY CHRISTIANS ARE SUFFERING FROM SPIRITUAL DECLENSION. They hardly realize it, it has crept on them so quietly; but they...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there_ JACOB’S SECOND JOURNEY TO BETHEL I. IT WAS UNDERTAKEN AT THE CALL OF GOD. II. IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE SPIRIT OF OBEDIENCE AND CONSE...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 35:2. THE STRANGE GODS.] These were such as the _teraphim_ that Rachel had hidden (Genesis 31:19), and possibly other idolatrous images used by the Shechemites.— Genesis 35:4...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 35:1 AND GOD—Elohim. The employment of this name for the Deity throughout the present chapter has been deemed conclusive evidence that, with Rome Jehovistic alterations, it belongs...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And so God said to Jacob, Arise, and go up to Bethel (Genesis 35:1), Now Jacob is afraid. Hey, the kings are going to get together. They're going to attack me and wipe me out. And so "God is saying to...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    ear-rings. Exodus 32:2 Judges 8:24 Hosea 2:13 hid them. Exodus 32:20 Deuteron

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    And they gave to Jacob — His servants, and even the retainers to his family, gave him all the strange gods, and the ear — rings they wore either as charms, or to the honour of their gods. Jacob took c...

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