בֵּֽיתְ־אֵל (bet-el)
bet-el
Bethel
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 63 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name Bethel, meaning "house of God," identifies an ancient sanctuary located on the border between the tribes of Ephraim and Benjamin. Originally called Luz, the city was renamed by Jacob after his visionary encounter with a ladder reaching to heaven (Genesis 28:19). This etymological shift marks the site as a permanent landmark of divine presence in the landscape of Israel.
Throughout Scripture, Bethel functions as more than a geographic coordinate; it serves as a recurring center for worship and prophetic activity. The city appears frequently in the narratives of Genesis and Joshua, establishing its early importance. Later, it becomes a focal point for religious history, notably when kings like Jeroboam established golden calves there (1 Kings 12:29), prompting prophets such as Amos to condemn the hollow ritualism that had taken root there (Amos 3:14).
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Bethel means "house of God," a name Jacob gave to a place where he met the divine. It started as Luz, a simple city, but became a landmark of faith after his vision of heaven touching earth. This shift shows how ordinary moments can become sacred when we pay attention to God's presence.
Throughout history, people returned to Bethel to worship and seek guidance. Abraham built an altar there, and later Israelites went to ask for counsel in difficult times. It reminds us that our lives are filled with spots where God meets us, inviting us to pause and remember His faithfulness.
Even when the site was misused or forgotten, its name remained a call to return to true worship. For you, this word invites you to identify your own Bethels—places or moments where you sense God's nearness—and to build altars of gratitude there.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 63 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- -el70×
- Beth-37×
- in/ Beth-7×
- and/ Beth-5×
- from/ Beth-4×
- of/ Beth-3×
- at/ Beth-3×
- [were] Beth-2×
- [is] Beth-2×
- to/ Beth-1×
- [will belong] to/ Beth-1×
- [were] in/ Beth-1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בֵּֽית\־36×
- אֵ֔ל17×
- אֵ֖ל14×
- אֵ֑ל14×
- בְּ/בֵֽית\־12×
- אֵֽל\׃8×
- בֵֽית\־7×
- לְ/בֵֽית\־5×
- אֵל֙5×
- אֵ֗ל5×
- וּ/בֵֽית\־4×
- אֵ֛ל3×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 28:19
He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
This verse marks the moment Jacob renames Luz to Bethel, establishing the site as a permanent memorial of his encounter with God.
-
Genesis 35:1
God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”
God directly commands Jacob to return to Bethel, showing the location's enduring significance as a place of divine instruction and renewal.
-
Judges 20:18
The children of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God. They asked, “Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” Yahweh said, “Judah first.”
Here the nation goes to Bethel to seek God's counsel before battle, highlighting its role as a central hub for spiritual discernment in Israel's history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Bethel mean?
Why is Bethel important in the Old Testament?
Did Bethel always remain a holy place?
Every Occurrence (63 verses across 14 books)
Genesis 10 verses
He left from there to go to the mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Ai…
Genesis 13:3He went on his journeys from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between…
Genesis 28:19He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
Genesis 31:13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me. Now arise, get out from this land,…
Genesis 35:1God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you…
Genesis 35:3Let’s arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was…
Genesis 35:6So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.
Genesis 35:8Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth.
Genesis 35:15Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him “Bethel”.
Genesis 35:16They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor.