Genesis 28:19

19 And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city [was called] Luz at the first.

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 dreadful [is] this place! this [is] no other but the house of God, and this [is] the gate of heaven.

18 And Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put [for] his pillows, and set it up [for] a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it.

19 And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city [was called] Luz at the first.

20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: