Genesis 35 · Verse 20

Genesis 35:20

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.
Genesis 35:20, King James Version

Genesis 35:20 in other translations

BSBJacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.
WEBJacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.
ASVAnd Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave: the same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.
YLTand Jacob setteth up a standing pillar over her grave; which is the standing pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.
DARBYAnd Jacob erected a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day.
BBEAnd Jacob put up a pillar on her resting-place; which is named, The Pillar of the resting-place of Rachel, to this day.
WebsterAnd Jacob set a pillar on her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day.

What does Genesis 35:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. and Jacob set a pillar on her grave ... unto this day--The spot still marked out as the grave of Rachel exactly agrees with the Scriptural record, being about a mile from Beth-lehem. Anciently it was surmounted by a pyramid of stones, but the present tomb is a Mohammedan erection.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 Jacob set a pillar upon her grave - Was not this the origin of funeral monuments? In ancient times, and among rude nations, a heap of stones designated the burial place of the chief; many of these still remain in different countries. Afterwards a rude stone, with a simple inscription, was used, containing only the name of the deceased, and that of his father. But where arts and sciences flourished, superb monuments were erected highly decorated, and pompously inscribed. It is very likely from the circumstances of Jacob that a single stone constituted the pillar in this case, on which, if writing did then exist, the name, or rather some hieroglyphical device, was probably inscribed. That which is now called Rachel's pillar is allowed, by those who have examined it, to be a comparatively modern structure.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 35:16-20

Rachel had passionately said, Give me children, or else I die; and now that she had children, she died! The death of the body is but the departure of the soul to the world of spirits. When shall we learn that it is God alone who really knows what is best for his people, and that in all worldly affairs the safest path for the Christian is to say from the heart, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. Here…

Read the full comment on Genesis 35:16-20 →

Genesis 35:20 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיַּצֵּ֧בvai.ya.Tzevand he set upH5324
יַעֲקֹ֛בya.'a.KoJacobH3290
מַצֵּבָ֖הma.tze.Vaha pillarH4676
עַל\־'al-overH5921
קְבֻרָתָ֑הּke.vu.ra.Tahgrave herH6900
הִ֛ואhi'itH1931
מַצֶּ֥בֶתma.Tze.vet[is] [the] pillar ofH4678
קְבֻֽרַת\־ke.vu.rat-[the] grave ofH6900
רָחֵ֖לra.ChelRachelH7354
עַד\־'ad-untilH5704
הַיּֽוֹם\׃hai.Yomthis dayH3117

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 35:20

  • 1 Samuel 10:2

    When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

  • 2 Samuel 18:17-18

    And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent. Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.

  • Genesis 35:14

    And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

  • Genesis 35:9

    And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan–aram, and blessed him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the pillar.
9,14; 1Sa 10:2; 2Sa 18:17,18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 35:19

    And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Beth–lehem.

  • Genesis 35:20

    And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

  • Genesis 35:21

    And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

Read all of Genesis 35

Genesis 35:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y puso Jacob un título sobre su sepultura: este es el título de la sepultura de Rachêl hasta hoy.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Jacob érigea une stèle sur son sépulcre: c’est la stèle du sépulcre de Rachel, jusqu’à aujourd’hui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Jakob richtete über ihrem Grabe ein Denkmal auf, das ist das Grabmal Rahels bis auf diesen Tag.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Erexitque Jacob titulum super sepulchrum ejus: hic est titulus monumenti Rachel, usque in præsentem diem.