Genesis 35:15 kjv
And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.
Genesis 35:15 nkjv
And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel.
Genesis 35:15 niv
Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.
Genesis 35:15 esv
So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.
Genesis 35:15 nlt
And Jacob named the place Bethel (which means "house of God"), because God had spoken to him there.
Genesis 35 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 28:19 | He called the name of that place Bethel... | Jacob's original naming of the place after his dream and vow. |
| Gen 28:17 | And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." | Jacob's initial recognition and awe of the sacred nature of the site. |
| Gen 35:1 | God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from Esau your brother." | God's command for Jacob to return to Bethel and build an altar. |
| Gen 35:7 | And he built an altar there and called the place El-Bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. | Jacob building an altar at Bethel and an earlier renaming indicating God's presence. |
| Gen 12:8 | From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lᴏʀᴅ and called upon the name of the Lᴏʀᴅ. | Abraham's earlier altar-building near Bethel, showing its long sacred history. |
| Gen 13:3-4 | And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lᴏʀᴅ. | Abraham's return to Bethel and his place of worship. |
| Ex 3:5 | Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." | God declares a place holy because of His presence, similar to Bethel. |
| Jos 7:26 | And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. So the Lᴏʀᴅ turned from his burning anger. Therefore, the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day. | Naming a place as a memorial to an event or divine action. |
| 1 Sam 7:17 | Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there, and there he built an altar to the Lᴏʀᴅ. | Building altars in specific places to mark encounters with God. |
| Hos 12:4 | He strove with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor. He met God at Bethel, and there God spoke with us— | Hosea directly references Jacob's encounter with God at Bethel. |
| Gen 32:28-29 | Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed."... | God's act of renaming, signifying transformation, links to the divine speech at Bethel. |
| Gen 35:9-13 | God appeared to Jacob again... and blessed him... "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel shall be your name." ... God also said to him, "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply... The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and to your offspring after you I will give the land." | The specific blessings and promises God delivered to Jacob at Bethel. |
| John 1:51 | And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." | Echoes Jacob's ladder dream at Bethel, connecting the place of divine encounter to Christ. |
| Heb 11:9-10 | By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. | The patriarchs' nomadic life guided by divine promise, tied to sacred places like Bethel. |
| Rev 21:3 | And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God." | Ultimate fulfillment of God's desire to dwell with His people, akin to Bethel being God's "house." |
| Psa 43:3 | Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling place! | Yearning for God's dwelling place, reminiscent of Jacob recognizing "House of God." |
| Psa 26:8 | O Lᴏʀᴅ, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. | Reverence for God's dwelling, a sentiment behind naming Bethel. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. | Believers are the spiritual house of God, the ultimate Bethel. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lᴏʀᴅ. | Believers are part of God's household and a spiritual temple, linking to the concept of God's "house." |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." | Believers' bodies are now the temple, or dwelling place of God. |
| Heb 13:15 | Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. | Response to divine encounter: Offering sacrifice and acknowledging God's name, akin to Jacob's actions. |
Genesis 35 verses
Genesis 35 15 Meaning
Genesis 35:15 describes Jacob formally naming the sacred site "Bethel" after God had spoken with him there. This act of naming solidifies the location's spiritual significance as "House of God" and serves as a permanent memorial to the divine revelation and reaffirmation of covenant blessings received by Jacob, recalling his foundational dream there many years prior. It underscores Jacob's recognition and response to God's manifested presence.
Genesis 35 15 Context
Genesis chapter 35 details Jacob's return to Bethel, following God's instruction to build an altar there for the God who appeared to him when he fled from Esau. This return signifies a renewed dedication for Jacob and his household, as they purify themselves from foreign gods and make a covenant with God at this sacred site. Prior to this specific verse, God appears to Jacob, reaffirms the covenant, changes Jacob's name to Israel (which happened earlier at Peniel but is now solemnly declared again), and reiterates the promises of nationhood, land, and fruitfulness. In response to this profound divine encounter, Jacob sets up a pillar and performs cultic acts of worship, pouring out a drink offering and oil upon it (Gen 35:14). Verse 15 immediately follows these actions, emphasizing the solemn act of naming the location where God's transformative interaction occurred. This act of naming solidifies the significance of the encounter and the place itself within the patriarchal narrative.
Historically, naming of places in ancient Near Eastern cultures was a common practice, often commemorating significant events, divine interventions, or historical figures. Such names served as memorials, passing down the meaning and history of a location through generations. Bethel was already known to Jacob (Gen 28) and his ancestors, but this renaming/reaffirmation underscores its heightened significance after a new, direct encounter with God, demonstrating a continuous lineage of faith and encounter at this hallowed ground.
Genesis 35 15 Word analysis
- So Jacob (וַיִּקְרָא יַעֲקֹב - va·yik·ra Ya·'a·kov): "And he called, Jacob." The verb "וַיִּקְרָא" (va·yik·ra), "and he called," implies a formal, deliberate act of designation. It is a common Hebrew construction (waw consecutive + imperfect) indicating sequential action, showing Jacob's naming as a direct consequence of the divine encounter described previously. Jacob's initiative in naming reflects his response and ownership of the spiritual encounter.
- called the name (אֶת־שֵׁם - et-shem): "Shem" (שֵׁם) means "name" but encompasses more than just a label; it signifies identity, reputation, and often, the essence or character of something or someone. Jacob is not just assigning a sound but recognizing and declaring the inherent character of the place in light of God's presence.
- of the place (הַמָּקוֹם - ha·ma·kom): "Ha-maqom" (הַמָּקוֹם), "the place," refers to the specific geographical location where the divine encounter happened. This emphasizes the tangible reality of God's manifestation and the sacredness imbued upon a particular earthly site by His presence. In some rabbinic traditions, "Ha-Makom" can also be used as a reverent circumlocution for God Himself, highlighting His omnipresence or presence at a specific location.
- where God (אֲשֶׁר ... אֱלֹהִים - asher... E·lo·him): "Asher" (אֲשֶׁר) acts as a relative pronoun ("where" or "which"), connecting the name to the defining event. "Elohim" (אֱלֹהִים) is the generic Hebrew word for "God" or "gods." Here, it refers to the one true God, the creator and sovereign Lord. The placement of "Elohim" at the end of the clause emphasizes the divine subject of the speaking act.
- had spoken with him (דִּבֶּר אִתּוֹ שָׁם - dib·ber it·to sham): "Dibber" (דִּבֶּר) means "to speak" and indicates a direct, clear communication. "Itto" (אִתּוֹ) means "with him," confirming a personal and intimate interaction between God and Jacob. "Sham" (שָׁם) means "there," anchoring the speech to that specific, designated place. The divine "speaking" is central, signifying revelation and covenant affirmation, which makes the place holy.
- Bethel (בֵּית־אֵל - Bet-El): Literally "House of God." This is the name given, echoing Jacob's initial declaration in Gen 28:17, where he exclaimed, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." The reiteration and formal naming in Gen 35:15 solidifies this designation and reinforces the continuous, unchanging nature of God's presence at that site.
Words-group Analysis:
- "Jacob called the name of the place": This phrase highlights Jacob's agency and intentionality in responding to God's manifestation. It is an act of spiritual declaration, turning a geographic point into a sacred landmark through memorialization. It serves as a reminder of his vows and God's faithfulness.
- "where God had spoken with him": This clause provides the reason for the naming. The defining characteristic of "this place" is the direct, personal revelation from God. This is not merely a place, but a "place of God's speech," which transforms its significance. The use of "had spoken" refers to the entire dialogue in verses 9-13, particularly the reaffirmation of his new name "Israel" and the ancestral promises.
- "the place...Bethel": This pairing explicitly links the specific location to its sacred meaning. It confirms that the physical spot is identified with God's dwelling or presence. It bridges Jacob's initial dream in Gen 28 with his renewed encounter and dedication in Gen 35, showing continuity in God's faithfulness and Jacob's acknowledgment.
Genesis 35 15 Bonus section
The repeated naming of Bethel, especially considering it was named once before in Gen 28:19 and an "El-Bethel" in Gen 35:7, underscores the deep and progressive revelation God had for Jacob at this particular location. It wasn't just a single event but a recurring pattern of divine encounter and covenant renewal. This highlights a theological principle: God often reinforces His promises and identity over time, leading His people into a deeper understanding of His character and purposes. Bethel therefore represents not just a singular event, but a lifelong journey of faith and dependence on God's unwavering Word.
Genesis 35 15 Commentary
Genesis 35:15 stands as a culminating act in Jacob's significant encounter with God at Bethel. Having been commanded by God to return to this very site where he first had his dream of a ladder to heaven (Gen 28), Jacob, now "Israel," once again receives profound divine communication. God reaffirms the covenant, bestows the name "Israel" formally upon him, and renews the ancestral promises of progeny and land. Jacob's response is multifaceted, involving building an altar and performing offerings (Gen 35:14). This verse details the final, yet crucial, act: Jacob formally re-designates the site as "Bethel," or "House of God."
This act of naming is more than just nomenclature; it's a profound spiritual declaration. By calling the place "Bethel" again, Jacob solidifies its identity as consecrated ground, a sanctuary where God reveals Himself and communicates directly with humanity. It underscores that God's presence and Word are what make a place sacred, not its intrinsic features. This reinforces the principle that God seeks relationship and direct engagement with His people.
The significance also lies in the echo of Gen 28:19, where Jacob first named the place Bethel in a moment of awe and fear. Now, after decades of trials and blessings, he returns and formally re-affirms that name. This act indicates spiritual growth, a deeper understanding of God's enduring faithfulness, and Jacob's mature response of gratitude and obedience. It serves as a permanent memorial to divine fidelity and a testament to the fact that sacred moments transform mundane locations into sites of profound spiritual truth. For the ancient reader, it highlighted the importance of places of worship and divine encounters. For believers today, it serves as a reminder that God meets His people, making places and moments holy by His presence and word.