Genesis 26

Jehovah

Jehovah — the covenant name of God, rendered LORD; the premortal Jesus Christ

And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Genesis 26:2–3

Jehovah, the premortal Christ, appears to Isaac, promises His presence, and confirms that He will keep the oath He swore to Abraham. The same God who made the covenant keeps renewing it with each generation.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · the chapter heading names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

• alludes to Genesis 22:16-18 — the oath sworn to Abraham on Moriah
• the same title in D&C 110:3-4 — Jehovah appears again in the Kirtland Temple and is identified as the One who was slain and lives

The seed of Abraham

And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Genesis 26:4

The covenant promise passes to Isaac. Peter and Paul teach that the seed through whom every nation is blessed is Jesus Christ, whose Atonement offers the blessing to all people.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him

• quotes Genesis 22:18 — the same promise given to Abraham
• interpreted by Galatians 3:16 — to thy seed, which is Christ
• interpreted by Acts 3:25-26 — Peter applies the promise to God raising up His Son Jesus
• quoted by Genesis 28:14 — the promise renewed to Jacob

Jehovah

Jehovah — the covenant name of God, rendered LORD

And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake. Genesis 26:24

Jehovah appears a second time, calls Himself the God of Abraham, and tells Isaac not to fear because He is with him. In latter-day revelation the same Lord gives the same comfort and names Himself Jesus Christ.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · the chapter heading names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

• the same title in Exodus 3:6 — I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham
• the same title in Matthew 22:32 — Jesus quotes I am the God of Abraham
• alluded to by D&C 68:6 — 'do not fear, for I the Lord am with you ... even Jesus Christ'

Sacrifice as a similitude of the Only Begotten

And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well. Genesis 26:25

Isaac builds an altar and calls on the LORD's name, which the chapter heading describes as offering sacrifices. Moses 5 teaches that altar sacrifice was a likeness of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten, and that people called on God in the name of the Son.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

• interpreted by Moses 5:7-8 — sacrifice is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten; call upon God in the name of the Son
• alludes to Genesis 12:7 — Isaac repeats his father Abraham's pattern of building an altar unto the LORD