Jacob returns to his father Isaac in Hebron, reaffirming the continuity of God’s covenant from Abraham, through Isaac, and onward to Jacob and his descendants.
Then we read, Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. (Genesis 35:27). This moment places Jacob back in the same land where both his grandfather and father had lived a life of faith under God’s promise. Jacob’s father, Isaac, was the second of the great patriarchs of Israel, having been born to Abraham and Sarah according to God’s covenant (Genesis 17:19). Isaac would eventually live to be 180 years old (Genesis 35:28). By returning to his father, Jacob reestablishes a bond that connects God’s covenant blessings from one generation to the next.
In this verse, Scripture specifically names Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) as the setting. Hebron was originally an Anakite city, about nineteen miles southwest of Jerusalem, known in ancient times as Kiriath-arba, or “city of Arba” (Numbers 13:22; Joshua 14:15; Joshua 15:13). Located in the forested highlands just north of the Negev, Hebron was a key dwelling place of the patriarchs. Abraham initially settled there and purchased a burial cave for Sarah (Genesis 23). Isaac sojourned there as well, and Jacob would continue to return, making Hebron a center of God’s activity for multiple generations. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all lived in Hebron, and several of their family members, including Sarah, Rebekah, and Leah, were eventually buried there (Genesis 23:19; 35:27-29; 49:29-32).The verse also mentions Mamre, an area within or around Hebron where the patriarchs often camped and built altars for worship (Genesis 13:18; 18:1). That Jacob came to his father Isaac in this special location means more than just a family reunion—it signifies the ongoing fulfillment of God’s promise to bless Isaac’s descendants and provide them a land. Through these patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the lineage is traced that leads ultimately to Jesus, who is the Messiah and the Savior of all people (Matthew 1:1-2). Even as Jacob and Isaac reunite near the close of Isaac’s life, the text reminds us that God’s promises endure across generations, ensuring that the covenant blessings of faith and salvation point ahead to the coming Christ (Galatians 3:29).
Set to dark mode
Genesis 35:27 meaning
Then we read, Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. (Genesis 35:27). This moment places Jacob back in the same land where both his grandfather and father had lived a life of faith under God’s promise. Jacob’s father, Isaac, was the second of the great patriarchs of Israel, having been born to Abraham and Sarah according to God’s covenant (Genesis 17:19). Isaac would eventually live to be 180 years old (Genesis 35:28). By returning to his father, Jacob reestablishes a bond that connects God’s covenant blessings from one generation to the next.
In this verse, Scripture specifically names Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) as the setting. Hebron was originally an Anakite city, about nineteen miles southwest of Jerusalem, known in ancient times as Kiriath-arba, or “city of Arba” (Numbers 13:22; Joshua 14:15; Joshua 15:13). Located in the forested highlands just north of the Negev, Hebron was a key dwelling place of the patriarchs. Abraham initially settled there and purchased a burial cave for Sarah (Genesis 23). Isaac sojourned there as well, and Jacob would continue to return, making Hebron a center of God’s activity for multiple generations. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all lived in Hebron, and several of their family members, including Sarah, Rebekah, and Leah, were eventually buried there (Genesis 23:19; 35:27-29; 49:29-32).The verse also mentions Mamre, an area within or around Hebron where the patriarchs often camped and built altars for worship (Genesis 13:18; 18:1). That Jacob came to his father Isaac in this special location means more than just a family reunion—it signifies the ongoing fulfillment of God’s promise to bless Isaac’s descendants and provide them a land. Through these patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the lineage is traced that leads ultimately to Jesus, who is the Messiah and the Savior of all people (Matthew 1:1-2). Even as Jacob and Isaac reunite near the close of Isaac’s life, the text reminds us that God’s promises endure across generations, ensuring that the covenant blessings of faith and salvation point ahead to the coming Christ (Galatians 3:29).