Genesis 28:19 kjv

And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

Genesis 28:19 nkjv

And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously.

Genesis 28:19 niv

He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.

Genesis 28:19 esv

He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.

Genesis 28:19 nlt

He named that place Bethel (which means "house of God"), although it was previously called Luz.

Genesis 28 verses

Genesis 28 19 Meaning

Genesis 28:19 states that Jacob, after his profound dream encounter with God at what he perceived as a divine gateway, renamed the location. He designated "that place" (the site of his dream) as Bethel, meaning "House of God," distinguishing it from its previous, generic name of the existing city, Luz. This act signifies a pivotal moment of spiritual realization, dedicating the site to Yahweh's presence and establishing a sacred point in the Israelite narrative.

Genesis 28 19 Context

Jacob, fleeing from his brother Esau, set out on a solitary journey from Beersheba to Haran. Wearied, he stopped for the night, taking a stone as his pillow. It was here, at a place initially known as Luz, that he experienced a profound dream: a ladder reaching from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending, and the LORD Himself standing above it. In this dream, God reaffirmed the Abrahamic covenant promises of land, innumerable descendants, and worldwide blessing, and assured Jacob of His presence and protection. Overwhelmed by the holiness and significance of this encounter, Jacob understood that the location was no ordinary spot but literally a "gate of heaven" and "house of God." His immediate response was to set up the stone as a pillar, anointing it, and renaming the site, an act of sacred dedication stemming from divine revelation. This verse marks the immediate renaming of the place to Bethel, cementing its status as a foundational site in Israelite memory and worship, transforming a mundane location into a sacred point of encounter between God and man.

Genesis 28 19 Word Analysis

• He called: (וַיִּקְרָא, vayyiqra) Refers to Jacob. The act of "calling a name" is significant in the ancient world, often indicating authority, proprietorship, or marking a significant event. In this case, it signifies Jacob's personal and spiritual appropriation of the site after his divine encounter, transforming its identity.
• the name: (שֵׁם, shem) In Hebrew thought, a name is not merely an identifier but often encapsulates character, essence, and destiny. Renaming implies a fundamental shift in identity and purpose. Jacob is asserting a new divine character for this previously ordinary location.
• of that place: (הַמָּקוֹם, hammaqom) This specific phrase, "the place," often holds profound theological significance in Genesis. It suggests a pre-ordained or divinely chosen location for a significant encounter (e.g., Abraham on Moriah in Gen 22). Here, it emphasizes the singular importance of this particular spot where God revealed Himself to Jacob.
• Bethel: (בֵּית־אֵל, Beit-El) Literally translates to "House of God." This renaming directly reflects Jacob's profound realization from his dream – that this place was literally the dwelling place of God, the gate of heaven. It shifts the perception of the site from an ordinary, naturally named location (Luz) to a divinely consecrated sanctuary.
• but: This conjunction introduces a clarification or contrast. It highlights that while Jacob gave it a new, sacred name, its prior, secular identity existed.
• the name of the city: (שֵׁם הָעִיר, shem ha'ir) This clarifies that the preceding "place" (which Jacob designated) was also associated with a pre-existing settlement, a city. Jacob is not simply renaming an empty plot, but consecrating an area known for an older, Canaanite city.
• was Luz: (לוּז, Luz) The previous name of the city. Luz is thought to mean "almond tree" or possibly "bent/twisted." By renaming it "Bethel," Jacob implicitly established a new, distinctly Yahwistic identity for the site, potentially challenging or supplanting any pre-existing local religious associations with trees or natural features common in Canaanite polytheism. It asserts the presence of the God, Yahweh, over local deities.
• at the first: (בָּרִאשֹׁנָה, barishona) Emphasizes the former, original identity of the city. This acknowledges the continuity of the physical location while stressing the radical discontinuity in its perceived spiritual significance.

Genesis 28 19 Bonus Section

• Luz and Bethel's Dual Identity: For a period, the city of Luz and the sacred site of Bethel co-existed in people's minds, eventually becoming synonymous. The re-emergence of "Luz" later in Josh 16:2 and Jdg 1:23 suggests a lingering memory or a strategic military designation, even as "Bethel" clearly dominated the religious landscape.
• The Recurring Stone Motif: The stone pillar set up by Jacob (Gen 28:18) is mentioned again in Gen 35:14 when he returns to Bethel and performs further dedicatory rites. This highlights the significance of material objects as witnesses and memorials of divine encounters in early Israelite tradition. These "standing stones" often marked sacred boundaries or places of covenant renewal.
• Bethel's Mixed Legacy: While Bethel began as a holy site, its later history became checkered. During the Divided Kingdom, Jeroboam I established a golden calf cult there (1 Kgs 12:28-30), making it a rival religious center to Jerusalem. Prophets like Amos and Hosea vehemently condemned the idolatry and hypocrisy prevalent at Bethel (Amos 7:13; Hos 10:15). This demonstrates how even divinely designated sacred sites can become corrupted by human sin, yet God's original declaration of it as "House of God" remained foundational to its identity, albeit tarnished.

Genesis 28 19 Commentary

Genesis 28:19 captures Jacob's profound response to a transformative divine encounter, permanently altering the identity of a significant site. His renaming of Luz to Bethel, "House of God," is not merely a geographic designation; it's a theological statement. It marks a foundational moment where a specific earthly location becomes intrinsically linked with God's manifest presence, turning an ordinary spot into a sacred space, a 'thin place' where heaven and earth intersect.

This act of naming carries significant weight. In the biblical narrative, giving a name implies authority, relationship, and destiny. Jacob, as the recipient of the Abrahamic covenant's reaffirmation, now exercises this spiritual authority, declaring that this pre-existing Canaanite city is henceforth dedicated to the one true God. The shift from "Luz" (a name likely tied to a natural feature, possibly holding pagan connotations in Canaanite culture) to "Bethel" serves as an implicit polemic against nature worship or local deities, asserting Yahweh's claim over the land and its sacred spaces.

Bethel thus becomes a pivotal waypoint in Israel's early history, marking a site of divine revelation and covenant renewal, echoing God's earlier appearances to Abraham. It symbolizes the dwelling place of God among His people, anticipating the Tabernacle and Temple, and ultimately pointing towards Christ, through whom believers become God's spiritual house and temple, experiencing a perpetual "Bethel" within themselves. The renaming of Luz to Bethel underscores that God meets His people, not always in grand, established temples, but often in unexpected, even mundane, "places" which His presence then transforms into His own house.