This verse highlights how the faithful actions of one generation leave lasting markers of remembrance.
Jacob experiences a heartbreaking moment in Genesis 35:20, and in that moment, the text informs us that Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day (v.20). By doing this, Jacob takes deliberate measures to honor the life of his beloved wife, Rachel, creating a tangible memorial of love and remembrance. In ancient Hebrew culture, pillars like this served as markers—both physical and symbolic—of critical events, and here it stands as a testament to the deep bond shared between Jacob and Rachel. Jacob, who lived approximately from 2006 BC to 1859 BC, was a pivotal patriarch in Israel’s history, having fathered many of the twelve tribes that make up the nation of Israel (Genesis 35:22b-26 not italicized).
Rachel herself is a significant figure connected to the lineage of the Israelite people, as she was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. This reference to Rachel’s grave (v.20) points to a specific location in the region near Bethlehem. Historically, Bethlehem (also called Ephrath) is an important area in biblical geography, situated a few miles south of Jerusalem. To this day, faithful generations have remembered Rachel’s burial place, underscoring the profound respect for patriarchal and matriarchal figures in Scripture.
In reflecting on this verse, Christians can also connect Rachel’s sorrowful context to later biblical themes, such as the lament in Jeremiah 31 where Rachel is portrayed as weeping for her descendants, and echoed in the New Testament (Matthew 2:18 not italicized). Here in Genesis 35:20, the symbolic pillar stands firm as a memorial of both sorrow and enduring hope, reminding us that through grief and loss, God’s promises continued to unfold in Jacob’s family line, ultimately culminating in the hope found in Jesus Christ.
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Genesis 35:20 meaning
Jacob experiences a heartbreaking moment in Genesis 35:20, and in that moment, the text informs us that Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day (v.20). By doing this, Jacob takes deliberate measures to honor the life of his beloved wife, Rachel, creating a tangible memorial of love and remembrance. In ancient Hebrew culture, pillars like this served as markers—both physical and symbolic—of critical events, and here it stands as a testament to the deep bond shared between Jacob and Rachel. Jacob, who lived approximately from 2006 BC to 1859 BC, was a pivotal patriarch in Israel’s history, having fathered many of the twelve tribes that make up the nation of Israel (Genesis 35:22b-26 not italicized).
Rachel herself is a significant figure connected to the lineage of the Israelite people, as she was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. This reference to Rachel’s grave (v.20) points to a specific location in the region near Bethlehem. Historically, Bethlehem (also called Ephrath) is an important area in biblical geography, situated a few miles south of Jerusalem. To this day, faithful generations have remembered Rachel’s burial place, underscoring the profound respect for patriarchal and matriarchal figures in Scripture.
In reflecting on this verse, Christians can also connect Rachel’s sorrowful context to later biblical themes, such as the lament in Jeremiah 31 where Rachel is portrayed as weeping for her descendants, and echoed in the New Testament (Matthew 2:18 not italicized). Here in Genesis 35:20, the symbolic pillar stands firm as a memorial of both sorrow and enduring hope, reminding us that through grief and loss, God’s promises continued to unfold in Jacob’s family line, ultimately culminating in the hope found in Jesus Christ.