A standing STONE, a pillar set upright (from natsav, 'to stand') as a memorial or marker of a holy encounter. Jacob takes his stone pillow, stands it up, and pours oil on it — the Bible's first anointing of a sacred object — to mark where he met God (28:18, 22; he does it again at 35:14). The patriarchs raise matsevot freely; but because the Canaanites used them in idol-worship, the Law later BANS them ('you shall not set up a matsevah, which Jehovah your God hates,' Deuteronomy 16:22) — one of the places where a patriarchal practice becomes a forbidden one once Israel has the Law. → first discussed at Gen 28:18