Gen 28:14 | NETfull | STEP | Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west, east, north, and south. All the families of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using your name and that of your descendants.

Genesis 28:14

14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, ^{▼▼ This is the same Hebrew word translated “ground” in the preceding verse.} and you will spread out ^{▼▼ The verb is singular in the Hebrew; Jacob is addressed as the representative of his descendants.} to the west, east, north, and south. All the families of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another ^{▼▼ Theoretically the Niphal stem can be translated either as passive or reflexive/reciprocal. (The Niphal of “bless” is only used in formulations of the Abrahamic covenant. See Gen 12:2; 18:18; 28:14.) Traditionally the verb is taken as passive here, as if Jacob were going to be a channel or source of blessing. But in other formulations of the Abrahamic covenant (see Gen 22:18; 26:4) the Hitpael replaces this Niphal form, suggesting a translation “will bless (i.e., pronounce blessings upon) themselves/one another.” The Hitpael of “bless” is used with a reflexive/reciprocal sense in Deut 29:18; Ps 72:17; Isa 65:16; Jer 4:2. Gen 28:14 predicts that Jacob will be held up as a paradigm of divine blessing and that people will use his name in their blessing formulae (see Gen 12:2 and 18:18 as well, where Abram/Abraham receives this promise). For examples of blessing formulae utilizing an individual as an example of blessing see Gen 48:20 and Ruth 4:11.} using your name and that of your descendants. ^{▼▼ Heb “and they will pronounce blessings by you, all the families of the earth, and by your offspring.”}