Genesis 33:20
in Genesis 33There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he erected there an altar, and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
KJV
And he erected there an altar, and called it El–elohe–Israel.
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This verse in Genesis 33
Commentary
5 notes on this verseGod had lately called him by the name of Israel, and now he calls God the God of Israel; though he is styled a prince with God, God shall still be a prince with him, his Lord and his God. Note, Our honours then become honours indeed to us when they are consecrated to God's honour; Israel's God is Israel's glory.
This site's exposition
he set up an altar
El-Elohe-Israel is God, the God of Israel, and Israel is the name he was given at the ford. The new name is fastened to God first. Abraham had built at Shechem and then at Bethel, and God has to tell Jacob at Genesis 35:1 to go up to Bethel and pay the vow.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
That he might keep up religion, and the worship of God in his family. He dedicated this altar to the honour of El-elohe-israel, God-the God of Israel: to the honour of God in general, the only living and true God, the Best of beings, the First of causes: and to the honour of the God of Israel, as a God in covenant with him.
And he erected there an altar,.... To offer sacrifice upon to God, by way of thanksgiving, for the many mercies he had received since he went out of the land of Canaan, whither he was now returned; and especially for his safety in journeying hither from Padanaram, and for deliverance from Laban and Esau, and for all other favours that he and his had been partakers of.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
And he erected there an altar - It appears that Jacob had a very correct notion of the providence and mercy of God; hence he says, Gen 33:5: The children which God hath Graciously given thy servant; and in Gen 33:11 he attributes all his substance to the bounty of his Maker: Take, I pray thee, my blessing - because God hath dealt Graciously with me, and because I have enough.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיַּצֶּב־ | vaiyatzev- | and he set up | H5324 → | 75 times |
| שָׁ֖ם | sham | there | H8033 → | 834 times |
| מִזְבֵּ֑חַ | mizbeach | an altar | H4196 → | 401 times |
| וַיִּ֨קְרָא־ | vaiyikra'- | and he called | H7121 → | 733 times |
| ל֔וֹ | lo | <to> <the> it | ||
| אֵ֖ל | ʾel | El | H410 → | 241 times |
| אֱלֹהֵ֥י | ʾelohei | Elohe | H430 → | 2601 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס | yisrael | Israel | H3290 → | 350 times |
וַיַּצֶּב־and he set up
vaiyatzev-H5324 →75 times
שָׁ֖םthere
shamH8033 →834 times
מִזְבֵּ֑חַan altar
mizbeachH4196 →401 times
וַיִּ֨קְרָא־and he called
vaiyikra'-H7121 →733 times
ל֔וֹ<to> <the> it
lo
אֵ֖לEl
ʾelH410 →241 times
אֱלֹהֵ֥יElohe
ʾeloheiH430 →2601 times
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סIsrael
yisraelH3290 →350 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Genesis 32:28Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”
it leads to
- Revelation 2:17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone…
- Genesis 35:10
And God said to him, “Though your name is Jacob, you will no longer be called Jacob. Instead, your name will be Israel.” So God named him Israel.
- Isaiah 62:2–4
Nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.
- Hosea 12:3–5
In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.
- Genesis 27:33–36
Isaac began to tremble violently and said, “Who was it, then, who hunted the game and brought it to me? Before you came in, I ate it all and blessed him—and indeed, he will…
- Revelation 2:17
Through
Genesis 21:33And Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 1:17
Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Isaiah 40:28
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching…
- 1 Timothy 1:17
Through
Genesis 8:20Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:15–16
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.
- Hebrews 13:15–16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Genesis
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.