Genesis 28:19

19 and he called that place Bethel, ^[a] though previously the city had been named Luz.

Genesis 28:19 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 28:19

And he called the name of that place Bethel
The house of God, which he took this place to be: but the name of that city [was called] Luz at the first;
which signifies an almond or hazel nut, ( Genesis 30:37 ) ; perhaps from the number of this sort of trees that grew there, under which Jacob might lay himself down, which was probably in the field of Luz; and being at night, he might not know there was a city so near, until the morning. Though Josephus ^F18 says he did it purposely, out of hatred to the Canaanites, and chose rather to lie under the open air. This was about twelve miles from Jerusalem, as Jerom ^F19 says.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 19. sect. 1.
F19 De loc. Heb. fol. 89. C.

Genesis 28:19 In-Context

17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!”

18 Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it,

19 and he called that place Bethel, though previously the city had been named Luz.

20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear,

21 so that I may return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God.

Footnotes

• [a]. Bethel means house of God.