Genesis 11:9
Context11:9 That is why its name was called 1 Babel 2 – because there the Lord confused the language of the entire world, and from there the Lord scattered them across the face of the entire earth.
Genesis 12:8
Context12:8 Then he moved from there to the hill country east of Bethel 3 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. 4
Genesis 31:13
Context31:13 I am the God of Bethel, 5 where you anointed 6 the sacred stone and made a vow to me. 7 Now leave this land immediately 8 and return to your native land.’”
Genesis 35:1
Context35:1 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up at once 9 to Bethel 10 and live there. Make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 11


[11:9] 1 tn The verb has no expressed subject and so can be rendered as a passive in the translation.
[11:9] 2 sn Babel. Here is the climax of the account, a parody on the pride of Babylon. In the Babylonian literature the name bab-ili meant “the gate of God,” but in Hebrew it sounds like the word for “confusion,” and so retained that connotation. The name “Babel” (בָּבֶל, bavel) and the verb translated “confused” (בָּלַל, balal) form a paronomasia (sound play). For the many wordplays and other rhetorical devices in Genesis, see J. P. Fokkelman, Narrative Art in Genesis (SSN).
[12:8] 3 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
[12:8] 4 tn Heb “he called in the name of the
[31:13] 5 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
[31:13] 6 sn You anointed the sacred stone. In Gen 28:18 the text simply reported that Jacob poured oil on top of the stone. Now that pouring is interpreted by the
[31:13] 7 sn And made a vow to me. The second clause reminds Jacob of the vow he made to the
[31:13] 8 tn Heb “arise, leave!” The first imperative draws attention to the need for immediate action.
[35:1] 7 tn Heb “arise, go up.” The first imperative gives the command a sense of urgency.
[35:1] 8 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
[35:1] 9 sn God is calling on Jacob to fulfill his vow he made when he fled from…Esau (see Gen 28:20-22).