Meaning
Bethel is a Hebrew place name meaning “house of God.”
Biblical Usage
In Scripture, Bethel was the place where Jacob saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven in a dream.
Jacob named the place Bethel after the LORD appeared to him there. The place was previously called Luz.
Bethel is mentioned throughout the Old Testament in connection with the history of Israel.
Key References
- Genesis 12:8
- Genesis 13:3-4
- Genesis 28:10-22
- Genesis 31:13
- Genesis 35:1-15
- Judges 20:18-28
- 1 Samuel 7:16
- 1 Kings 12:28-33
- Amos 3:14
- Hosea 10:15
Related Terms
- Jacob
- Abraham
- Luz
- Altar