Genesis 15:3

15:3 Abram added, “Since you have not given me a descendant, then look, one born in my house will be my heir!”

Genesis 19:4

19:4 Before they could lie down to sleep, all the men – both young and old, from every part of the city of Sodom – surrounded the house.

Genesis 24:23

24:23 “Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “Tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”

Genesis 27:15

27:15 Then Rebekah took her older son Esau’s best clothes, which she had with her in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob.

Genesis 28:17

28:17 He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is nothing else than the house of God! This is the gate of heaven!”

Genesis 31:14

31:14 Then Rachel and Leah replied to him, “Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house?

Genesis 31:30

31:30 Now I understand that you have gone away because you longed desperately 10  for your father’s house. Yet why did you steal my gods?” 11 

Genesis 33:17

33:17 But 12  Jacob traveled to Succoth 13  where he built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was called 14  Succoth. 15 

Genesis 40:3

40:3 so he imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard in the same facility where Joseph was confined.

Genesis 40:7

40:7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials, who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?” 16 

Genesis 41:10

41:10 Pharaoh was enraged with his servants, and he put me in prison in the house of the captain of the guards – me and the chief baker.

Genesis 41:51

41:51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, 17  saying, 18  “Certainly 19  God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s house.”

Genesis 43:19

43:19 So they approached the man who was in charge of Joseph’s household and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.

Genesis 43:24

43:24 The servant in charge 20  brought the men into Joseph’s house. He gave them water, and they washed their feet. Then he gave food to their donkeys.

Genesis 44:14

44:14 So Judah and his brothers 21  came back to Joseph’s house. He was still there, 22  and they threw themselves to the ground before him.


tn Heb “And Abram said.”

tn The construction uses הֵן (hen) to introduce the foundational clause (“since…”), and וְהִנֵּה (vÿhinneh) to introduce the main clause (“then look…”).

tn Heb “is inheriting me.”

tn The verb שָׁכַב (shakhav) means “to lie down, to recline,” that is, “to go to bed.” Here what appears to be an imperfect is a preterite after the adverb טֶרֶם (terem). The nuance of potential (perfect) fits well.

tn Heb “and the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, from the young to the old, all the people from the end [of the city].” The repetition of the phrase “men of” stresses all kinds of men.

tn Heb “and he said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’” The order of the introductory clause has been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.

tn The two nouns may form a hendiadys, meaning “a share in the inheritance” or “a portion to inherit.”

tn Heb “and now.” The words “I understand that” have been supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.

tn The infinitive absolute appears before the perfect verbal form to emphasize the certainty of the action.

10 tn The infinitive absolute appears before the perfect verbal form to emphasize the degree of emotion involved.

11 sn Yet why did you steal my gods? This last sentence is dropped into the speech rather suddenly. See C. Mabee, “Jacob and Laban: The Structure of Judicial Proceedings,” VT 30 (1980): 192-207, and G. W. Coats, “Self-Abasement and Insult Formulas,” JBL 91 (1972): 90-92.

12 tn The disjunctive clause contrasts Jacob’s action with Esau’s.

13 sn But Jacob traveled to Succoth. There are several reasons why Jacob chose not to go to Mt. Seir after Esau. First, as he said, his herds and children probably could not keep up with the warriors. Second, he probably did not fully trust his brother. The current friendliness could change, and he could lose everything. And third, God did tell him to return to his land, not Seir. But Jacob is still not able to deal truthfully, probably because of fear of Esau.

14 tn Heb “why he called.” One could understand “Jacob” as the subject of the verb, but it is more likely that the subject is indefinite, in which case the verb is better translated as passive.

15 sn The name Succoth means “shelters,” an appropriate name in light of the shelters Jacob built there for his livestock.

16 tn Heb “why are your faces sad today?”

17 sn The name Manasseh (מְנַשֶּׁה, mÿnasheh) describes God’s activity on behalf of Joseph, explaining in general the significance of his change of fortune. The name is a Piel participle, suggesting the meaning “he who brings about forgetfulness.” The Hebrew verb נַשַּׁנִי (nashani) may have been used instead of the normal נִשַּׁנִי (nishani) to provide a closer sound play with the name. The giving of this Hebrew name to his son shows that Joseph retained his heritage and faith; and it shows that a brighter future was in store for him.

18 tn The word “saying” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

19 tn Or “for.”

20 tn Heb “the man.”

21 sn Judah and his brothers. The narrative is already beginning to bring Judah to the forefront.

22 tn The disjunctive clause here provides supplemental information.