אֵל בֵּית־אֵל (el bet-el)
el bet-el
El-bethel
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The phrase El-bethel translates literally as "the God of Bethel," identifying a specific manifestation of God at that location. The name Bethel itself means "House of God," so the compound title emphasizes God’s presence dwelling among His people in a tangible way. This is not a new deity, but rather the one true God identified by His past actions at this particular site.
This unique expression appears only once in Scripture, in Genesis 31:13, where Jacob commands Rachel and Leah to leave Laban’s territory by recalling their shared history with God at Bethel. The reference serves as a reminder of the place where God first revealed Himself to Jacob after his flight from Esau. It anchors their current journey in that earlier divine encounter.
The term highlights how biblical geography often carries theological weight, linking specific places to specific revelations. By invoking El-bethel, Jacob appeals to a covenant memory that validates their departure. The phrase functions as a shorthand for God’s faithfulness at the spot where He promised protection and provision.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The phrase El-bethel literally means "the God of Bethel," combining the name for God with a place that signifies His house. This title does not introduce a new deity but recalls the one true God who revealed Himself to Jacob at that specific location. It serves as a powerful reminder that God is not distant or abstract, but present in the concrete realities of our lives and history.
When we look back on seasons where God provided protection or answered prayer, we can identify those moments as personal "Bethels." Recognizing these places helps us anchor our current faith in past experiences of His faithfulness. This connection between geography and theology reminds us that God meets us where we are, turning ordinary spots into memorials of His grace.
By remembering how God has acted in the past, we gain confidence for the journey ahead. His presence remains constant even as our circumstances change. May you find peace in knowing that the same God who revealed Himself to Jacob is present with you today, offering guidance and comfort in every season of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- El1×
- Beth-1×
- -el1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בֵּֽית\־1×
- אֵ֖ל1×
- אֵ֑ל1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 35:7
He built an altar there, and called the place El Beth El; because there God was revealed to him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
This verse records Jacob naming the place El Beth El to commemorate the specific moment God was revealed to him after fleeing from his brother.