Genesis 28:18-19

18 So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up ¹for a pillar ²and poured oil on the top of it.

19 He called the name of that place ³Bethel, ^[a] but the name of the city was Luz at the first.

Genesis 28:18-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 28

In this chapter an account is given of the charge Isaac gave to Jacob not to marry a Canaanitess, but to go to Padanaram, and take a wife from his mother's family, and of his blessing him before he sent him away, Ge 28:1-5; of the notice that Esau took of this blessing and charge, which led him to take a wife of the family of Ishmael, Ge 28:6-9; of the dream of the ladder, which Jacob had in his way to Haran, Ge 28:10-12; of the blessing which God conferred upon him there, Ge 28:13-15; of the awfulness of the place upon his awaking, and of his erecting a pillar in it, and giving a name to it, Ge 28:16-19; and of the vow he made to God, should he be supplied with the necessaries of life, and be kept in safety by him, Ge 28:20-22.

Cross References

• 1. 28:18 ch. 31:13, 45; 35:14; [1 Sam. 7:12; 2 Sam. 18:18]
• 2. 28:18 [Lev. 8:10, 11; Num. 7:1]
• 3. 28:19 ch. 35:7; Judg. 1:23, 26

Footnotes

• [a] 28:19 'Bethel' means 'the house of God'