Genesis 28:19

19 And he called the name of that place, the House of God; and the name of the city before was Ulam-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 fearful is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

18 And Jacob rose up in the morning, and took the stone he laid there by his head, and he set it up a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it.

19 And he called the name of that place, the House of God; and the name of the city before was Ulam-luz.

20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If the Lord God will be with me, and guard me throughout on this journey, on which I am going, and give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

21 and bring me back in safety to the house of my father, then shall the Lord be for a God to me.