I am God, the God … father: for similar expressions see 26.24; 28.13; 43.23.

Do not be afraid is often spoken by God to assure the one who hears the voice of God. Here, however, the assurance is in regard to Jacob’s migration to Canaan. By going to Egypt Jacob is leaving the land that has been promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to himself. Jacob’s going away must be directed by God and not simply a choice made by Jacob himself.

I will there make of you a great nation: this is the reason why Jacob should not be afraid to leave the land that has been promised to him. In fact God is now telling Jacob that the fulfillment of the promise about becoming a great nation will take place there, that is, in Egypt. Some translations render there as “in that country.” As in 12.2; 17.6, 20; 18.18, adjustments must be made to say that it is Jacob’s descendants (not Jacob himself) that will become a great nation. See Good News Translation. One rendering of this whole clause is “I will make your descendants become a big tribe there.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .