Genesis 35:4

Translations

Modern

So they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and all their earrings, and Jacob buried them under the oak near Shechem.

Traditional

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.

Literal

And they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that were in their hands, and the rings that were in their ears. And Jacob hid them under the oak that was by Shechem.

Latin

Dederunt ergo ei omnes deos alienos quos habebant, et inaures quæ erant in auribus eorum: at ille infodit ea subter terebinthum, quæ est post urbem Sichem.

Original

Hebrew

English

So they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and all their earrings, and Jacob buried them under the oak near Shechem.

Notes

Genesis 35:2–4

Jacob vowed to fully devote himself to the Lord (28:20–22). To establish this devotion, his family had to get rid of all pagan idols and stop worshiping other gods. God allows no rivals. Only the Lord could be their God (compare Joshua 5:1–9).

Genesis 35:1–7

Jacob returned to Bethel, about 24 kilometers (15 miles) south of Shechem, to fulfill the vows he made there (28:20–22).

Genesis 35:1–29

This chapter discusses God's promises, Jacob's vow, and how Jacob's sons continue the covenant. Deborah, Rachel, and Isaac died. This marked the end of an era and the story of Isaac's family (25:19–35:29).
They removed idols (35:1–4) and established pure worship (35:6–7). During this time, they needed to renew their faith so Jacob's sons could continue the covenant.

Theme notes and profiles

Jacob Symbolic Numbers

Related verses

Judges 9:6
Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king.
Isaiah 30:22
So you will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, saying to them, “Be gone!”
Exodus 32:20
Then he took the calf they had made, burned it in the fire, ground it to powder, and scattered the powder over the face of the water. Then he forced the Israelites to drink it.
Judges 8:24–27
Then he added, “Let me make a request of you, that each of you give me an earring from his plunder.” (For the enemies had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.)
Exodus 32:2–4
So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.”
Deuteronomy 7:25
You must burn up the images of their gods; do not covet the silver and gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it; for it is detestable to the LORD your God.
Isaiah 2:20
In that day men will cast away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold—the idols they made to worship.
Hosea 2:13
I will punish her for the days of the Baals when she burned incense to them, when she adorned herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers. But Me she forgot,” declares the LORD.
Joshua 24:25–26
On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he established for them a statute and ordinance.
Deuteronomy 7:5
Instead, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their idols in the fire.

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Shechem: City in Canaan, later allotted to Ephraim

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Burial, Burial Customs Ebla Tablets Genesis, Book of Jeroboam Judges, Book of Monotheism Oak Patriarchs, Period of the Worship

Topics

Altar: Built by Jacob Beth-El: A City North of Jerusalem: And Builds an Altar At Ear-Ring: Worn for Idolatrous Purposes Earrings Iconoclasm: Destroyed by Jacob Idolatry: Early Notice of, Amongst God's Professing People Idolatry: Objects of Described as Strange Gods Idolatry: Objects of Earrings Jacob: Returns to Beth-El, where he Builds an Altar, and Erects and Dedicates a Pillar Jewels: Regarded by Jacob As Obnoxious to Holiness Men Wearing Earrings Oak: Grew in Palestine Patriarchal Government: Exercised in Acting As Priests Polytheism: General Scriptures Concerning Teraphim: Condemned and Disposed of by Jacob The Oak-Tree: Jacob Buried his Family Idols Under Wearing Earrings Wearing Jewelry

Genesis 35:4

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