Genesis 28:19

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

Genesis 28:22

28:22 Then this stone that I have set up as a sacred stone will be the house of God, and I will surely give you back a tenth of everything you give me.”

Genesis 35:1

The Return to Bethel

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

Genesis 35:3

35:3 Let us go up at once to Bethel. Then I will make an altar there to God, who responded to me in my time of distress 10  and has been with me wherever I went.” 11 

Genesis 35:6-7

35:6 Jacob and all those who were with him arrived at Luz (that is, Bethel) 12  in the land of Canaan. 13  35:7 He built an altar there and named the place El Bethel 14  because there God had revealed himself 15  to him when he was fleeing from his brother.


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

tn The disjunctive clause structure (conjunction + noun/subject) is used to highlight the statement.

tn The infinitive absolute is used before the finite verb for emphasis.

tn Heb “and all which you give to me I will surely give a tenth of it to you.” The disjunctive clause structure (conjunction + noun/object) highlights this statement as well.

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

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

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

tn Heb “let us arise and let us go up.” The first cohortative gives the statement a sense of urgency.

tn The cohortative with the prefixed conjunction here indicates purpose or consequence.

tn Heb “day of distress.” See Ps 20:1 which utilizes similar language.

tn Heb “in the way in which I went.” Jacob alludes here to God’s promise to be with him (see Gen 28:20).

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

tn Heb “and Jacob came to Luz which is in the land of Canaan – it is Bethel – he and all the people who were with him.”

sn The name El-Bethel means “God of Bethel.”

tn Heb “revealed themselves.” The verb נִגְלוּ (niglu), translated “revealed himself,” is plural, even though one expects the singular form with the plural of majesty. Perhaps אֱלֹהִים (’elohim) is here a numerical plural, referring both to God and the angelic beings that appeared to Jacob. See the note on the word “know” in Gen 3:5.