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Genesis 28:20
ESV Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear,
NIV Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear
NASB Jacob also made a vow, saying, 'If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and give me food to eat and garments to wear,
CSB Then Jacob made a vow: "If God will be with me and watch over me during this journey I’m making, if he provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear,
NLT Then Jacob made this vow: 'If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing,
KJV And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
NKJV Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on,

What does Genesis 28:20 mean?

After commemorating the holiness of the place where the Lord visited him in a dream (Genesis 28:12–13), Jacob now acknowledges the content of what the Lord said to him. He does this in the form of a conditional vow, declaring that if the Lord will do these things, Jacob will respond with actions of his own.

Jacob's vow should be seen not as a testing of the Lord so much as a prayer of faith. Jacob seems to be saying that since the Lord can do these things, and has said He will do these things, Jacob is willing to trust and obey. Specifically, Jacob mentions God being with him and keeping him safe. He also adds two things God did not say explicitly: providing for him bread and clothing. In the following verses, he will mention one more condition and then the commitments he is binding himself to fulfill for God.
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