Genesis 33:20

20 There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel.^[a]

Genesis 33:20 in Other Translations

20 And he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-Israel.

20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

20 And there he built an altar and named it El-Elohe-Israel.

20 Then he built an altar there and named it El-Elohe-Israel (Mighty Is the God of Israel).

20 And he set up an altar there and called it "God, the God of Israel."

Genesis 33:20 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 33:20

And he erected there an altar
To offer sacrifice upon to God, by way of thanksgiving, for the many mercies he had received since he went out of the land of Canaan, whither he was now returned; and especially for his safety in journeying hither from Padanaram, and for deliverance from Laban and Esau, and for all other favours that he and his had been partakers of. And this he also erected for the sake of religious worship, to be continued in his family; he intending to reside here for some time, as appears by the purchase he had made, and as it is certain he did: and called it Elelohe-Israel:
God, the God of Israel; that is, he called the altar the altar of God, who is the God of Israel, who had been his God, his preserver and protector; and had lately given him the name of Israel, and had made good what answered to it, and was designed by it, that as he had had power with God, and prevailed, so he should with man; and as a memorial of all these favours and mercies, he erected this altar, and devoted it to God and his service, and called it by this name: or "he called upon God, the God of Israel", as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions; he prayed unto him at the time he offered sacrifice on the altar, and gave him praise for all the great and good things he had done for him. Jacob must have stayed at Succoth, and at this place, many years, especially at the latter; since, when he came into those parts, Dinah was a child of little more than six years of age, and Simeon and Levi were very young, not above eleven or twelve years of age; and yet, before he left Shechem, Dinah was marriageable, and Simeon and Levi were grown strong and able bodied men, and did a most strange exploit in slaying all the males in Shechem, as recorded in the next chapter.

Genesis 33:20 In-Context

18 After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city.

19 For a hundred pieces of silver, he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of ground where he pitched his tent.

20 There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel.

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 4:26; S Genesis 8:20

Footnotes

• [a]. "El Elohe Israel" can mean "El is the God of Israel" or "mighty is the God of Israel."