King James Version

What Does Genesis 35:11 Mean?

Genesis 35:11 in the King James Version says “And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, ...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 35 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;”

Genesis 35:11 · KJV

Context

9

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

10

And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.

11

And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

12

And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

13

And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

Read Genesis 35 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nation... This passage belongs to the Jacob narratives which demonstrate God's sovereign election overriding human merit and the transformation of a deceiver into Israel, the father of the twelve tribes. The Jacob cycle shows how divine purposes advance through flawed individuals whom God graciously transforms.

Key themes include God's sovereign choice ("the older shall serve the younger"), the consequences of deception and family dysfunction, exile and return patterns, wrestling with God leading to blessing, and covenant renewal across generations. Jacob's character development from manipulative deceiver to mature patriarch demonstrates sanctification's lifelong process.

Theologically significant aspects include: (1) divine election based on grace not merit (Romans 9:10-13); (2) God's faithfulness to covenant promises despite human unfaithfulness; (3) discipline as evidence of divine love and means of transformation; (4) generational patterns of sin requiring divine intervention to break; (5) prayer and wrestling with God as legitimate expressions of faith. Jacob's limp after wrestling God symbolizes how divine encounters leave permanent marks, transforming our approach to life and dependence on God rather than our own cunning.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse deepen our understanding of God's character and His relationship with creation?
  2. How can we apply the principles from this passage to contemporary challenges in family, work, or church?
  3. In what ways does this narrative foreshadow or typify aspects of Christ's redemptive work?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
וַיֹּאמֶר֩1 of 16

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

ל֨וֹ2 of 16
H0
אֱלֹהִ֜ים3 of 16

“And God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

אֲנִ֨י4 of 16
H589

i

אֵ֤ל5 of 16

“unto him I am God”

H410

strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the almighty (but used also of any deity)

שַׁדַּי֙6 of 16

“Almighty”

H7706

the almighty

פְּרֵ֣ה7 of 16

“be fruitful”

H6509

to bear fruit (literally or figuratively)

וּרְבֵ֔ה8 of 16

“and multiply”

H7235

to increase (in whatever respect)

גּוֹיִ֖ם9 of 16

“a nation”

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

וּקְהַ֥ל10 of 16

“and a company”

H6951

assemblage (usually concretely)

גּוֹיִ֖ם11 of 16

“a nation”

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

יִֽהְיֶ֣ה12 of 16
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

מִמֶּ֑ךָּ13 of 16
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

וּמְלָכִ֖ים14 of 16

“shall be of thee and kings”

H4428

a king

מֵֽחֲלָצֶ֥יךָ15 of 16

“out of thy loins”

H2504

the loins (as the seat of vigor)

יֵצֵֽאוּ׃16 of 16

“shall come”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 35:11 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 35:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 17:1Genesis 9:1Genesis 22:17Exodus 6:3Genesis 17:5-72 Corinthians 6:18

Test Your Knowledge

Genesis 35 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterGenesis Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Genesis 35 with CommentaryAll Genesis ChaptersComplete Genesis QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes