Genesis 35:7

7 He built an altar there and named the place for the God of Bethel, because God had revealed himself to him there when he was running away from his brother.

Genesis 35:7 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 35:7

And he built there an altar
As he was bid to do, and as he promised he would, ( Genesis 35:1 Genesis 35:3 ) ; and called the place Elbethel;
the God of Bethel; a title which God takes to himself, ( Genesis 31:13 ) ; or rather the sense is, that he called the place with respect God, or because of his appearance to him there, Bethel, confirming the name he had before given it, ( Genesis 36:19 ) ; see ( Genesis 35:15 ) ; as the following reason shows: because there God appeared;
or the divine Persons, for both words are plural that are used; the Targum of Jonathan has it, the angels of God, and so Aben Ezra interprets it; but here, no doubt, the divine Being is meant, who appeared unto him;
to Jacob in this place, as he went to Mesopotamia, and comforted and encouraged him with many promises; when he fled from the face of his brother;
his brother Esau, who was wroth with him, and sought to take away his life, and therefore was forced to flee for it.

Genesis 35:7 In-Context

5 When Jacob and his sons started to leave, great fear fell on the people of the nearby towns, and they did not pursue them.

6 Jacob came with all his people to Luz, which is now known as Bethel, in the land of Canaan.

7 He built an altar there and named the place for the God of Bethel, because God had revealed himself to him there when he was running away from his brother.

8 Rebecca's nurse Deborah died and was buried beneath the oak south of Bethel. So it was named "Oak of Weeping."

9 When Jacob returned from Mesopotamia, God appeared to him again and blessed him.