6 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. 7 There he built an altar [to worship the Lord], and called the place El-bethel (God of the House of God), because there God had revealed Himself to him when he escaped from his brother. 8 Now Deborah, [who once was] Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried below Bethel under the oak; and the name of it was called Allon-bacuth (Oak of Weeping).

Jacob Is Named Israel

9 Then God [in a visible manifestation] appeared to Jacob again when he came out of Paddan-aram, and declared a blessing on him.(A) 10 Again God said to him,

“Your name is Jacob;
You shall no longer be called Jacob,
But Israel shall be your name.”


So he was called (a)Israel.
11 And God said to him,

“I am (b)God Almighty.
Be fruitful and multiply;
A nation and a company of nations shall come from you,
And kings shall be born of your (c)loins.
12

“The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac
I will give to you,
and to your descendants after you I will give the land.”
13 Then God ascended from Jacob in the place where He had spoken with him. 14 Jacob set up a pillar (memorial, monument) in the place where he had talked with God, a pillar of stone, and he poured a drink offering [of wine] on it; he also poured oil on it [to declare it sacred for God’s purpose]. 15 So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel (the House of God).

Footnotes:

a. Genesis 35:10: “He who strives with God” or “God strives” or “Prince of God.”
b. Genesis 35:11: Heb El Shaddai, the sufficient and powerful One.
c. Genesis 35:11: The midsection of the body between the lower ribs and the hips. Often a euphemism for the human genitals.

Cross references: