So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God had spoken with himJacob's action of setting up a pillar is significant in the ancient Near Eastern context, where such markers were often used to commemorate divine encounters or significant events. This act of setting up a pillar is reminiscent of Jacob's earlier experience at Bethel (
Genesis 28:18), where he also set up a stone as a pillar after his dream of the ladder reaching to heaven. The pillar serves as a physical reminder of God's presence and promises. In biblical history, pillars often symbolize a place of worship or a memorial to a divine encounter, emphasizing the importance of remembering God's faithfulness and revelations.
a stone marker
The use of a stone marker is consistent with ancient practices of erecting stones as memorials. Stones were durable and visible, serving as lasting reminders of significant events. In the biblical narrative, stone markers often signify covenantal moments or divine interventions. For example, Joshua set up twelve stones in the Jordan River as a memorial of Israel's crossing into the Promised Land (Joshua 4:9). The stone marker here signifies the sacredness of the location where God communicated with Jacob, reinforcing the idea of a tangible connection between the divine and human realms.
and he poured out a drink offering on it
The pouring of a drink offering is an act of worship and dedication. Drink offerings, typically consisting of wine, were part of the sacrificial system in Israelite worship (Exodus 29:40-41). This act symbolizes the pouring out of one's life in devotion to God, reflecting a heart of gratitude and commitment. The drink offering is also seen in the New Testament, where Paul refers to his life being poured out as a drink offering (Philippians 2:17), indicating a life fully surrendered to God's service. This connection highlights the continuity of worship practices and the theme of sacrificial devotion throughout Scripture.
and anointed it with oil
Anointing with oil is a significant biblical practice, symbolizing consecration and the setting apart of something or someone for a holy purpose. In the Old Testament, oil was used to anoint priests, kings, and sacred objects, marking them as dedicated to God (Exodus 30:25-30). The anointing of the pillar by Jacob signifies the sanctity of the place and the divine encounter that occurred there. This act foreshadows the anointing of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, whose title means "Anointed One." The use of oil in anointing also points to the presence and work of the Holy Spirit, who anoints believers for service and empowers them for God's purposes.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
JacobThe patriarch who is central to this passage. He is returning to Bethel, a place of significant spiritual encounters in his life.
2.
BethelThe location where God had previously appeared to Jacob, and where Jacob is now reaffirming his commitment to God.
3.
PillarA stone marker set up by Jacob as a memorial to commemorate God's revelation and promises to him.
4.
Drink OfferingA libation poured out as an act of worship and dedication to God.
5.
Anointing with OilA ritual act symbolizing consecration and the setting apart of the place as holy.
Teaching Points
Memorials of FaithJust as Jacob set up a pillar to remember God's promises, we should establish reminders of God's faithfulness in our lives.
Acts of WorshipThe pouring of a drink offering and anointing with oil are acts of worship. We are called to worship God with our whole being, offering our lives as living sacrifices.
Consecration and HolinessAnointing the pillar with oil signifies setting it apart for God. We are called to live lives that are consecrated and holy, dedicated to God's purposes.
Reaffirmation of CommitmentJacob's actions at Bethel demonstrate the importance of reaffirming our commitment to God, especially after significant spiritual encounters.
God's FaithfulnessThis passage reminds us of God's faithfulness to His promises, encouraging us to trust in His continued guidance and provision.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Genesis 35:14?
2.How does Jacob's action in Genesis 35:14 demonstrate his commitment to God?
3.What significance does the "stone pillar" hold in biblical worship practices?
4.How can we incorporate Jacob's example of worship into our daily lives?
5.What connections exist between Genesis 35:14 and other biblical altars or memorials?
6.How does pouring "a drink offering" reflect our dedication to God today?
7.What is the significance of Jacob setting up a pillar in Genesis 35:14?
8.How does Genesis 35:14 reflect ancient practices of worship and remembrance?
9.Why does Jacob pour a drink offering and oil on the pillar in Genesis 35:14?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 35?
11.What is the significance of the biblical drink offering?
12.What are the Sacred Pillars?
13.Who is Jacob, also known as Israel?
14.What historical or archaeological evidence supports Jacob’s anointing of the stone or the site’s significant status (Genesis 28:18)?What Does Genesis 35:14 Mean
Jacob set up a pillar“Jacob set up a pillar”.
• This is an intentional act of worship, not a random pile of stones. Earlier Jacob did the same at Bethel (Genesis 28:18), marking the spot where God first appeared to him.
• In Scripture, pillars often commemorate divine encounters or covenants—Moses erected twelve at Sinai (Exodus 24:4); Samuel raised one after victory, calling it Ebenezer (1 Samuel 7:12).
• By repeating the practice, Jacob publicly affirms God’s faithfulness to every promise made sinceGenesis 28:13-15.
In the place where God had spoken with himThe location is pivotal: “the place where God had spoken with him.”
• God’s voice sanctifies ground (Exodus 3:5;Joshua 5:15).
• Returning to Bethel fulfills Jacob’s earlier vow: “If God will be with me… then the LORD will be my God” (Genesis 28:20-22).
• Obedience brings him back to the very coordinates of grace, reinforcing that worship is tethered to revelation, not personal preference.
A stone marker“A stone marker” specifies material and permanence.
• Unlike tents, stones endure; this pillar will preach to future generations, much like the memorial stones at the Jordan crossing (Joshua 4:6-7).
• Tangible reminders guard against forgetfulness (Deuteronomy 6:12), anchoring faith in concrete history rather than abstract sentiment.
He poured out a drink offering on itJacob “poured out a drink offering.”
• The drink offering—wine emptied out before the LORD—later becomes part of Israel’s sacrificial system (Exodus 29:40;Numbers 28:7).
• Pouring symbolizes total surrender; nothing held back, every drop belongs to God, foreshadowing Paul’s “I am already being poured out like a drink offering” (2 Timothy 4:6).
• Worship involves both substance and sacrifice: Jacob gives from his provisions to honor the Giver.
And anointed it with oilFinally, “and anointed it with oil.”
• Oil marks things and people as set apart for God’s use—priests (Exodus 30:30), kings (1 Samuel 10:1), even the future Messiah (Psalm 2:2).
• By anointing the stone, Jacob consecrates the entire event: the place, the promise, and his own life.
• Together with the drink offering, oil presents a two-fold picture: joy (Psalm 104:15) and devotion blended in thanksgiving.
summaryGenesis 35:14 shows Jacob responding to God’s renewed revelation with concrete, costly worship. He erects a lasting stone pillar at Bethel, the very spot of divine encounter, and sanctifies it through a drink offering and oil. Each action—setting up, marking, pouring, anointing—declares God’s faithfulness and Jacob’s yielded heart. The verse teaches that genuine worship remembers what God has said, marks it publicly, and offers back to Him all that is valuable, celebrating His covenant grace with tangible, obedient devotion.
(14)
Jacob set up a pillar.--In doing this Jacob was imitating his previous action when God manifested Himself to him in his journey to Haran,
Genesis 28:18. This consecration of it by pouring on it oil, and offering to God a drink-offering, was in itself natural and right. But as these memorial pillars were subsequently worshipped, they were expressly forbidden by the Mosaic Law, the word correctly rendered "pillar" in this place being translated
standing imagein
Leviticus 26:1, and
imagein
Deuteronomy 16:22.
Verse 14. -
And Jacob set up a pillar - the former pillar (
Genesis 28:18) having probably fallen down and disappeared -
in the place where he (God)
talked with him (to commemorate the interview),
even apillar of stone. The setting up of pillars, according to Tuch a peculiarity of the Elohist, appears to have been a favorite practice of Jacob's: witness the first pillar at Bethel (
Genesis 28:18), the pillar on Galeed (
Genesis 31:45), the second pillar at Bethel (
Genesis 35:14), the pillar over Rachel's grave (
Genesis 35:20).
And he poured a drink offering thereon. This is the first mention of those sacrificial libations which afterwards became so prominent in connection with the Mosaic ritual (
Exodus 29:40, 41;
Leviticus 23:13, 18, 37;
Numbers 6:15; and elsewhere). Under the law the
נֶסֶך-
σπονδεῖον σπονδή (LXX.)
libamentum, libamen (Vulgate); frankopfer (Luther) - consisted of a fourth part of a hin of wine, which was equal to about a third of a gallon.
And he poured oil thereon - as he did on the previous occasion (
Genesis 28:18,
q.
v.).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
So Jacobיַעֲקֹ֜ב(ya·‘ă·qōḇ)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290:Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his descset upוַיַּצֵּ֨ב(way·yaṣ·ṣêḇ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5324:To take one's stand, standa pillarמַצֵּבָ֗ה(maṣ·ṣê·ḇāh)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4676:Something stationed, a column, an idolin the placeבַּמָּק֛וֹם(bam·mā·qō·wm)Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4725:A standing, a spot, a conditionwhereאֲשֶׁר־(’ă·šer-)Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that[God] had spokenדִּבֶּ֥ר(dib·ber)Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696:To arrange, to speak, to subdueto him—אִתּ֖וֹ(’it·tōw)Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 854:Nearness, near, with, by, at, amonga stoneאָ֑בֶן(’ā·ḇen)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 68:A stonemarker—מַצֶּ֣בֶת(maṣ·ṣe·ḇeṯ)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4678:Something stationary, a monumental stone, the stock of a, treeand he poured outוַיַּסֵּ֤ךְ(way·yas·sêḵ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5258:To pour out, a libation, to cast, to anoint a, kinga drink offeringנֶ֔סֶךְ(ne·seḵ)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5262:A libation, a cast idolon itעָלֶ֙יהָ֙(‘ā·le·hā)Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstand anointed itוַיִּצֹ֥ק(way·yi·ṣōq)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3332:To pour out, to melt, cast as metal, to place firmly, to stiffen, grow hardwith oil.שָֽׁמֶן׃(šā·men)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8081:Grease, liquid, richness
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OT Law: Genesis 35:14 Jacob set up a pillar (Gen. Ge Gn)