Genesis 28:10–22

Jacob’s Dream at Bethel

¹⁰Jacob left Beersheba and started towards Haran. ¹¹At sunset he came to a holy place^l and camped there. He lay down to sleep, resting his head on a stone. ^12*He dreamt that he saw a stairway reaching from earth to heaven, with angels going up and coming down on it. ^13*And there was the Lord standing beside him.^m “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham and Isaac,” he said. “I will give to you and to your descendants this land on which you are lying. ^14*They will be as numerous as the specks of dust on the earth. They will extend their territory in all directions, and through you and your descendants I will bless all the nations.^{n 15}Remember, I will be with you and protect you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done all that I have promised you.”

¹⁶Jacob woke up and said, “The Lord is here! He is in this place, and I didn’t know it!” ¹⁷He was afraid and said, “What a terrifying place this is! It must be the house of God; it must be the gate that opens into heaven.”

¹⁸Jacob got up early next morning, took the stone that was under his head, and set it up as a memorial. Then he poured olive oil on it to dedicate it to God. ¹⁹He named the place Bethel.^o (The town there was once known as Luz.) ²⁰Then Jacob made a vow to the Lord: “If you will be with me and protect me on the journey I am making and give me food and clothing, ²¹and if I return safely to my father’s home, then you will be my God. ²²This memorial stone which I have set up will be the place where you are worshipped, and I will give you a tenth of everything you give me.”