New Living Translation
Genesis 35:7
7Jacob built an altar there and named the place El-bethel (which means “God of Bethel”), because God had appeared to him there when he was fleeing from his brother, Esau.
Genesis 35:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he built there an altar, and called the place El–beth–el: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
- New International Version (NIV)There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.
- English Standard Version (ESV)and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.
Context of Genesis 35:7
5As they set out, a terror from God spread over the people in all the towns of that area, so no one attacked Jacob’s family. 6Eventually, Jacob and his household arrived at Luz (also called Bethel) in Canaan. Jacob built an altar there and named the place El-bethel (which means “God of Bethel”), because God had appeared to him there when he was fleeing from his brother, Esau. 8Soon after this, Rebekah’s old nurse, Deborah, died. She was buried beneath the oak tree in the valley below Bethel. Ever since, the tree has been called Allon-bacuth (which means “oak of weeping”). 9Now that Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again at Bethel. God blessed him,
Read all of Genesis 35Genesis 35:7 word by word
וַיִּ֤בֶן שָׁם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ וַיִּקְרָא֙ לַמָּק֔וֹם אֵ֖ל בֵּֽית־אֵ֑ל כִּ֣י שָׁ֗ם נִגְל֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים בְּבָרְח֖וֹ מִפְּנֵ֥י אָחִֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he builtבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
- there an altarמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach · altarH4196
- and calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
- the placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
- El–beth–elאֵל בֵּית־אֵל'êl bêyth-'êl · El-bethelH416
- because there Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- appearedגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: revealH1540
- unto him, when he fledבָּרַחbârach · to fleeH1272
- from the faceפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- of his brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
Cross-references for Genesis 35:7
- Genesis 35:1Then God said to Jacob, “Get ready and move to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother, Esau.”
- Ecclesiastes 5:4When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him.
- Genesis 28:13At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants.
- Exodus 17:15Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the Lord is my banner”).
- Judges 6:24And Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and named it Yahweh-Shalom (which means “the Lord is peace”). The altar remains in Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer to this day.
- Ezekiel 48:35“The distance around the entire city will be 6 miles. And from that day the name of the city will be ‘The Lord Is There.’”
Commentaries on Genesis 35:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7El -beth -el - אל בית אל the strong God, the house of the strong God. But the first אל el is wanting in one of De Rossi's MSS., as it is also in the Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac, and some copies of the Arabic. The sentence reads much better without it, and much more consistent with the parallel passages.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-29Verses 1-29 - The Death of Isaac 8. דברה deborâh Deborah, “bee.” בּכוּת אלּון 'alôn -bākût Allon-bakuth, “oak of weeping.” 16. כברה kı̂brâh “length stretch.” A certain but unknown distance, a stadium or furlong (Josephus) a hippodrome (Septuagint) which was somewhat longer, a mile (Kimchi). אפרת 'ephrâth Ephrath, “fruitful or ashy.” 18. בן־אוני ben -'ônı̂y Ben-oni, “son of my pain.” בנימין bı̂nyāmı̂yn Binjamin, “son of the right hand.” 19. לחם בית…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-15Verses 6-15 The comfort the saints have in holy ordinances, is not so much from Beth-el, the house of God, as from El-beth-el, the God of the house. The ordinances are empty things, if we do not meet with God in them. There Jacob buried Deborah, Rebekah's nurse. She died much lamented. Old servants in a family, that have in their time been faithful and useful, ought to be respected. God appeared to Jacob. He renewed the covenant with him. I am God…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-7Jacob built an altar at Bethel as God had instructed (35:1; compare 12:8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. El-Beth-el--that is, "the God of Beth-el."Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 35:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 35
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries