Verse 15 completes the LORD’s speech to Jacob. In verses 16-17 Jacob reacts to his dream.

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said: in some languages it may be necessary to indicate to whom Jacob is speaking. As he is alone, it may be necessary to say “Jacob awoke and said to himself.” Another model translation says “When Jacob woke up he was thinking about his dream and said….”

Surely the LORD is in this place: Surely translates a Hebrew adverb that suggests that something unexpected has happened. As Driver says, “Jacob had been accustomed to associate Jehovah’s presence with the sacred spots at which his father had dwelt and worshiped, and is surprised to find Him here as well.” Good News Translation captures the thought well with an exclamation “The LORD is here!” Moffatt says “The Eternal must be here!” In this place refers to the place where Jacob spent the night.

I did not know it may need to be modified to say, for example, “and I did not know he was here.” In some translations this clause is placed first in Jacob’s words: “I didn’t know that the LORD was here, but truly he is!”

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 .