Genesis 35 · Verse 5

Genesis 35:5

And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.
Genesis 35:5, King James Version

Genesis 35:5 in other translations

BSBAs they set out, a terror from God fell over the surrounding cities, so that they did not pursue Jacob’s sons.
WEBThey traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob.
ASVAnd they journeyed: and a terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.
YLTand they journey, and the terror of God is on the cities which are round about them, and they have not pursued after the sons of Jacob.
DARBYAnd they journeyed; and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.
BBESo they went on their journey: and the fear of God was on the towns round about, so that they made no attack on the sons of Jacob.
WebsterAnd they journeyed: and the terror of God was on the cities that were round them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

What does Genesis 35:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. the terror of God was upon the cities--There was every reason to apprehend that a storm of indignation would burst from all quarters upon Jacob's family, and that the Canaanite tribes would have formed one united plan of revenge. But a supernatural panic seized them; and thus, for the sake of the "heir of the promise," the protecting shield of Providence was specially held over his family.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 The terror of God - A supernatural awe sent by the Almighty, was upon the cities that were round about, so that they were not molested in their departure. This could be owing to nothing less than the especial providence of God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 35:1-5

Chapter Outline God commands Jacob to go to Beth-el, He puts away idols from his family. (1-5) Jacob builds an altar, Death of Deborah, God blesses Jacob. (6-15) Death of Rachel. (16-20) Reuben's crime, The death of Isaac. (21-29) Verses 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…

Read the full comment on Genesis 35:1-5 →

Genesis 35:5 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.

וַיִּסָּ֑עוּvai.yi.Sa.'uand they set outH5265
וַיְהִ֣י\׀vay.Hiand it wasH1961
חִתַּ֣תchi.Tat[the] terror ofH2847
אֱלֹהִ֗ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
עַל\־'al-onH5921
הֶֽעָרִים֙he.'a.Rimthe citiesH5892
אֲשֶׁר֙'a.SherwhichH834
סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔םse.vi.Vo.tei.Hem[were] around themH5439
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo'and notH3808
רָֽדְפ֔וּra.de.Fupeople pursuedH7291
אַחֲרֵ֖י'a.cha.ReiafterH310
בְּנֵ֥יbe.Nei[the] sons ofH1121
יַעֲקֹֽב\׃ya.'a.KoJacobH3290

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

Cross references for Genesis 35:5

  • Exodus 23:27

    I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.

  • 2 Chronicles 17:10

    And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

  • Psalms 14:5

    There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.

  • Joshua 5:1

    And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

  • Joshua 2:9-11

    And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

  • Exodus 15:15-16

    Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

  • Exodus 34:24

    For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God thrice in the year.

  • 1 Samuel 14:15

    And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.

  • Deuteronomy 11:25

    There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the Lord your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you.

  • 2 Chronicles 14:14

    And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the Lord came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.

  • Genesis 34:30

    And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

  • 1 Samuel 11:7

    And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
34:30; Ex 15:15,16; 23:27; 34:24; De 11:25; Jos 2:9-11; 5:1; 1Sa 11:7
1Sa 14:15; 2Ch 14:14; 17:10; Ps 14:5

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

Context

  • Genesis 35:4

    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.

  • Genesis 35:5

    And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

  • Genesis 35:6

    So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Beth–el, he and all the people that were with him.

Read all of Genesis 35

Genesis 35:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y partiéronse, y el terror de Dios fué sobre las ciudades que había en sus alrededores, y no siguieron tras los hijos de Jacob.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ils partirent; et la frayeur de Dieu fut sur les villes qui les entouraient, et on ne poursuivit pas les fils de Jacob.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie brachen auf. Und der Schrecken Gottes kam über die Städte, die rings um sie her waren, so daß sie den Söhnen Jakobs nicht nachjagten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cumque profecti essent, terror Dei invasit omnes per circuitum civitates, et non sunt ausi persequi recedentes.