Vayetzei – And He Went Out

This week’s Torah Portion, Vayetzei/”And He Went Out” covers Genesis 28:10 – 32:3. It is
from this point forward that the view is totally focused upon Jacob and will continue
through his children who grow to become the nation of Israel. The parsha starts off with
Jacob leaving his homeland of Beersheba and traveling to Haran. On his way, he dreams
the famous dream of the ladder that reaches to heaven upon which angels ascend and
descend (a spiritual gateway that would be ultimately fulfilled in the person of Messiah).
Jacob will spend a total of 20 years in Haran with his uncle Laban, during which he
becomes married to Leah and Rachel and all of his children (except Benjamin) are born.
The parsha ends with Jacob leaving to return to his homeland and messengers being sent to
his bother Esau.

From the surface, it almost seems that Jacob is running from his brother Esau out of fear for
his life. But there are some very interesting tidbits that are hidden within the Hebrew
language that tell of a journey with a purpose, a journey that becomes an example and a
shadow picture for both the nation of Israel upon their Exodus and for the descendants of
Abraham today in the last days!

Redemption of the Firstborn

Prior to the start of this Torah portion, the reason for the “vayetzei”/the going out is
expounded upon! Genesis 27:43, 28:1-2, 5
*Notice that Rebekah tells Jacob to flee to Haran, but Isaac tells Jacob to go to Padanaram
(this statement is made twice, and then twice more is stated that Jacob went here)

Padanaram: Strong’s #6307 Paddan ‫ פדן‬field

The roots of this word most likely stems from #6299 padah ‫ פדה‬to ransom,
redeem, rescue, deliver; this term is used in Exodus 13:15 – “But all the firstborn of
my children I redeem/padah”
*Cognate of this word is #6306 pidyom ‫ פדיום‬ransom, redemption, refers to the money
exchanged, deals with the ransoming of the Israelite firstborn males; 2 ‫ פד‬letter root =
redeem, to bring back to an original state & ‫ יום‬yom = Day  The Day of Redemption, day
of restoration back to an original state!
*These words are also used to describe the bridal price or bridal redemption

It is interesting that Isaac tells Jacob to go to this location. Jacob has just received the
blessing and the inheritance of the firstborn (and in Exodus 4:22 Yahweh makes the
statement “Israel is my son, even my firstborn”).

Exodus 34:20 – “All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem”. – Pidyon Haben

*With Jacob now functioning as the firstborn of Isaac, he is now sent to the place where he
will fulfill this commandment! He is sent to the place of the redemption of the firstborn! In
Hebrew customs, if a father fails to redeem his firstborn, it is up to the son when grown to
redeem himself. Isaac failed to see Jacob as his spiritual firstborn (instead he loved Esau),
so now Jacob is grown and must go and redeem himself – he must take the necessary
actions to be restored back to the original state!

*A foreshadowing begins to develop of where the house is today – having failed to see
ourselves as YHVH’s firstborn Israel (instead removing ourselves completely), in
preparation for the day of redemption (or the day of our restoration to the original Edenic
state) we must follow Jacob’s example!

Numbers 3:47-51 5 shekels  shekel = 20 gerahs (interesting to note that Jacob is at this
location for 20 years  7 years for Rachel, 7 years for Leah, 6 years for wages)

Gerah: Strong’s #1626 gerah ‫ גרה‬gerah, a weight, a 20th part of a shekel

Gematria of gerah = 208, the same value as the name Isaac! The redemption of
the firstborn laws is stated after YHVH makes the death angel pass over the
firstborn of Israel who had the blood covering the doorpost. But the death angel in
Egypt is not the first time YHVH has spared the firstborn – Isaac was a firstborn
spared!

Shekel: Strong’s #8255 sheqel ‫ שקל‬shekel, gematria = 430

*Genesis 11:17 – “And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and
begat sons and daughters”. Eber is Abraham’s example, the first Hebrew. With the shekel
we see Abraham’s role as the firstborn, in the gerah Isaac’s role, and in the number 20 and
this location Jacob’s role. And finally in Exodus 12:41 – “And it came to pass at the end of
the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts
of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt” – the rehearsal of the firstborn is seen with
the nation as a whole being redeemed or restored back!

A paradox begins to develop dealing with this idea of redemption, it is a commandment to

redeem the firstborn, but in Psalms 49 it states that we are unable to fulfill this!
Psalms 49:7-8

Means & Redeem: Strong’s #6299 padah ‫ פדה‬ransom, redeem

Ransom: Strong’s #3724 kopher 1 ‫ )כפר‬price of a life, ransom, bribe 2) asphalt, pitch,
covering; from #3722 kaphar ‫ כפר‬to cover, purge, make an atonement, make
reconciliation, cover over

Precious: Strong’s #3365 yaqar ‫ יקר‬to esteem, be prized, be valuable, be precious, be

costly

Here in Psalms we are told that we cannot padah/redeem another and are unable to cover
or make an atonement because it is costly and something very precious! But yet we are
commanded to redeem the firstborn son, why if it is something we are unable to
accomplish? Psalms 49:15 Receive: Strong’s #3947 laqach ‫ לקח‬to take, get, fetch, to
marry, to take as a wife

*The process of the redemption of the firstborn was a rehearsal of when Yahweh would
redeem His firstborn (Israel) and take them in marriage as His bride! Titus 2:14 states
speaking of Yahshua “Who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity”.
This shadow picture is further enhanced by looking at the reason it is necessary to redeem
the firstborn! Originally the firstborn belonged to YHVH to serve Him in His Sanctuary. It
is only after the sin of the Golden calf that the tribe of Levi is chosen in the stead of every
firstborn. In other words, the firstborn became unworthy and a suitable Priest had to take
his place – just like the first Adam (firstborn son) becoming unworthy and in need of one to
take his place which is fulfilled in the second Adam the Messiah!

Each individual who acted in the stead of the firstborn of YHVH within the earth rehearsed
the day when Yahshua would be sacrificed for their redemption and covering!
o Adam is laid out upon the earth for his bride (Eve) to be taken out of his side
(Genesis 2:21)
o Abraham is laid out upon the earth as the Covenant is made declaring the bridal
price would be paid by our Groom (Genesis 15:12)
o Isaac is laid out upon the earth in a rehearsal of the Messiah’s sacrifice (Genesis
22)
o Jacob is laid out upon the earth as He dreams of the ladder to Heaven on his way
to the place of the redemption (Genesis 28:11)
o The Tabernacle and Temple are built in the form of a man laid out upon the earth
in a foreshadowing of the Messiah (the firstborn of many brethren) who would be
laid out upon the earth as well to become the means of redemption!

More hidden connections to this are found within the statements made to Jacob by YHVH
during his dream!
Genesis 28:14 – “And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread
abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in
thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”

*YHVH chooses to compare Jacob’s seed to “the dust of the earth” – pointing back to
statements made to Adam (“to dust you are and to dust you shall return”)

Spread abroad: Strong’s #6555 parats ‫פרץ‬

To break through or down or over, burst, breach (from the womb)

West: Strong’s #3220 yam ‫ ים‬sea (water)

East: Strong’s #6924 qedem ‫ קדם‬east, antiquity, front, that which is before, beginning
From #6923 qadam ‫ קדם‬to meet, come or be in front
North: Strong’s #6828 tsaphown ‫ צפון‬north (of direction)
From #6845 ‫ צפן‬to hide, treasure, to store up, be concealed

South: Strong’s #5045 negeb ‫ נגב‬South country

‫ = נ‬life & ‫ = גב‬Strong’s #1356 well, cistern

By tying this all together, we can see that YHVH is reinforcing the fact that he has chosen
Jacob and his seed as his firstborn (the one that breaks forth/parats from the waters of the
womb/yam). From the beginning (Qedem) it was declared that Jacob would be His
treasure (tsaphan), the one redeemed from the dust (death), and gain access to the wells of
life (negeb) – wells of Torah!

This is a spiritual journey Jacob embarks upon that becomes a shadow picture for his
descendants, the nation of Israel, and also for the Bride of Messiah (whose
price/redemption is a mirror image).

The Journey

Let us now take a look at the opening statement of Jacob’s journey – the start of the parsha
Vayetzei!

Genesis 28:10
Went Out: Strong’s #3318 yatsa’ ‫ יצא‬to go out, come out, exit, go forth, to go forth or come
with purpose or for result
It also functions as a feminine noun meaning captivity, it is used of going forth
from one’s homeland into exile; a cognate in Aramaic is #3319 yetsa’ ‫ יצא‬to bring to
an end, finish, bring out to an end

The gematria of Vayetzei (from the root yatsa’) = 107, same as ‫ זננ‬zanan meaning
whoredomes, apostasy, idolatry
Simple gematria of 107  1+0+7 = 8, the number of new beginnings, grace, and the letter ‫ח‬
(the fenced off protected place, within the Chet is the Vav and Zayin yoked together
representing Messiah and His bride becoming one)

Beersheba: Strong’s #884 Be’er Sheba’ ‫שבע‬ ‫ באר‬well of the sevenfold oath
From #874 ba’ar ‫ באר‬to make plain/distinct, to make clear, declare, letters on a
tablet  

This parsha becomes a shadow picture of where the “house” finds itself today. We have left
the source of our Covenant, where the Torah is made plain/distinct, declared orally and
written upon our hearts as letters upon a tablet (Beersheba) and have been sent into
captivity/exile (to the 4 corners of the earth). But at the end (yetsa’) YHVH will finish his
plan and bring back His seed to the fenced off protected place where Messiah will become
one with His bride whom He has paid for and redeemed!

When leaving Beersheba, Jacob heads to Haran. This location is very significant because it
gives us insight into how to prepare to be the bride that has her redemption paid and how
to follow in the footsteps of Jacob/Israel who became the firstborn redeemed – restored to
an original state.

Haran: Strong’s #2771 Charan ‫ חרן‬mountaineer

Most likely from #2022 har ‫ הר‬mountain, (adding the nun suffix serves as a
personification); connected to harah ‫ הרה‬to conceive, be with child, to become
pregnant
Gematria of Haran = 258, same as Strong’s #1587 gemaryah ‫ גמריה‬Yahweh completes,
whom YHVH has completed; #4242 mechiyr ‫ מחיר‬price, hire, wages, cost

*Haran is related to the word mountain, when fleeing pharaoh Moses also spent time away
at a mountain, upon leaving Egypt, Israel is once again brought to a mountain (Mt. Sinai)
where they become redeemed – restored back – by being given the Torah which teaches us
who we are and lays out the blueprint for our redemption. Haran/the mountain serves as
the reminder for one in exile, that YHVH will complete/restore those whom He has paid the
price for! It is the place of testing and the place of growth!

Haran is also the first place Abraham journeys to when leaving his homeland of Ur (the
place of false light). It becomes the incubator where one becomes implanted with the seed
of YHVH. But Jacob/Israel/Bride is not to stay here forever!
Terah (the father of Abraham) dies here. Terah: Strong’s #8646 Terach ‫תרח‬
station, ‫ ת‬prefix = you will, she will, they will ‫ רח‬ ‫ רוח‬ruach, spirit, breath, wind;
he lives to be 205  2+0+5 = 7, number of covenant; You will lose (Terah’s name
has dropped the letter Vav/the connecter) the ruach/breath if you stay here apart
from the Covenant!
Abraham left this location (described by the term yatsa’) at the age of 75, the
gematria of #5689 ‘agab ‫ עגב‬to love, to breath/blow
7+5 = 12, the birthing of the majority of the 12 tribes takes place at this location but
they must return to Beersheba – well of the sevenfold oath, well of the covenant, if
they are to keep the breath (‘agab) within them!

Jacob’s departure – Genesis 31:10-13

Rams: Strong’s #6260 ‘attuwd ‫ עתוד‬ram, he-goat, chief one
From #6257 ‘athad ‫ עתד‬to be ready, make ready, prepare

Leap: Strong’s #5927 ‘alah ‫ עלה‬to go up, ascend, climb

This verb is used in relationship to a person’s appearance before YHVH
Cattle: Strong’s #6629 tso’n ‫ צאן‬small cattle, sheep, flocks
*Notice the similarity to Zion Tsiyyon ‫ ציון‬this word has 2 Yod’s and a Vav instead of
the Aleph – but the Aleph is formed by a diagonal Vav and 2 Yod’s!!!

Ringstraked: Strong’s #6124 ‘aqod ‫ עקד‬streaked, striped

From #6123 ‘aqad ‫ עקד‬to bind, tie (*Only used in Gen. 22:9 where Isaac is bound
to be laid on the altar)

Speckled: Strong’s #5348 naqod ‫ נקד‬speckled, marked with points

Grisled: Strong’s #1261 barod ‫ ברד‬spotted, marked

Cognate of #1252 bor ‫ בר‬cleanness, pureness

“Prepare and make ready to ascend to Zion! Because of the sacrifice of the Covenant son
you are marked and made pure!” This is the statement made to Jacob when it is time to
return!! This is the same statement that will be shouted throughout the earth again when it
is time to leave upon the Greater Exodus – the day of Redemption – the day we will be
restored to our original state!

This is told to Jacob after having spent 20 years in Haran. 20 = ‫ כ‬palm of the hand/sole of
the foot, ownership  In other words, it was time for Jacob to return to the Promised Land
taking back his rightful place and ownership from the serpent’s seed (Esau). And now we
see why it was so important for Jacob to be sent to Padanaram  At this location he was
redeemed from the dust (serpent’s seed no longer has any power – “and dust shalt thou eat
all the days of thy life” Gen. 3:14).

*Yahshua has been gone 2 days/2,000 years (20 years) – the time to return is fast
approaching for those that have been redeemed and breathed upon!

The portion ends with Jacob and his family camped at Mahanaim (Genesis 32:2).
Mahanaim: Strong’s #4266 Machanayim ‫ מחנים‬two camps
Plural of #4264 machaneh ‫ מחנה‬encampment, camp; from #2583 chanah ‫ חנה‬to
decline, incline, bend down, to encamp, takes on the idea of the day drawing to an
end
Cognate of the name Hannah (#2584) ‫ חנה‬grace (something that is not freely
given, but attained and earned by walking upright and being obedient)
The gematria of Mahanaim = 148, the same as mo’zenim ‫ מאזנים‬scales, balances; the simple
gemtria (1+4+8) is 13, the number of the Bride

At the drawing to an end of 2 days (20 years, 2,000 years) the house/Bride having been
weighed in the balances, was finally at the point where they were able to attain grace in the
eyes of YHVH, having been taught obedience within the time of their exile!