Genesis 12:8

12:8 Then he moved from there to the hill country east of Bethel ¹  and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and worshiped the Lord. ² 

Genesis 28:19

28:19 He called that place Bethel, ³  although the former name of the town was Luz.

Genesis 35:1

The Return to Bethel

35:1 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up at once ⁴  to Bethel ⁵  and live there. Make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” ⁶ 

Hosea 4:15

Warning to Judah: Do Not Join in Israel’s Apostasy!

4:15 Although you, O Israel, commit adultery,

do not let Judah become guilty!

Do not journey to Gilgal!

Do not go up to Beth Aven! ⁷ 

Do not swear, “As surely as the Lord lives!”

¹ map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.

² tn Heb “he called in the name of the Lord.” The expression refers to worshiping the Lord through prayer and sacrifice (see Gen 4:26; 13:4; 21:33; 26:25). See G. J. Wenham, Genesis (WBC), 1:116, 281.

³ tn The name Bethel means “house of God” in Hebrew (see v. 17).

⁴ tn Heb “arise, go up.” The first imperative gives the command a sense of urgency.

⁵ map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.

⁶ sn God is calling on Jacob to fulfill his vow he made when he fled from…Esau (see Gen 28:20-22).

⁷ sn Beth Aven means “house of wickedness” in Hebrew; it is a polemic reference to “Bethel,” which means “house of God.” Cf. CEV “at sinful Bethel.”