THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Upon his arrival at Bethel, it is recorded that he fulfilled the command given to him by constructing an altar and naming the location ‘Bethel’.
Genesis 35:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And he built there an altar, and called the name of that place, The house of God: for there God appeared to him when he fled from his brother.
וַיִּ֤בֶן שָׁם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ וַיִּקְרָא֙ לַמָּק֔וֹם אֵ֖ל בֵּֽית־אֵ֑ל כִּ֣י שָׁ֗ם נִגְל֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים בְּבָרְח֖וֹ מִפְּנֵ֥י אָחִֽיו׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Cyrill of Alexandria
When he received a divine summons and journeyed to Bethel, which means the house of God, he served the Lord and became a keeper of profound truths. He distinctly demonstrated to his followers the way to approach the house of God.
Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)
El Bethel signifies the God of Bethel, as indicated in Genesis 31:13. This is the name that God initially revealed to Jacob during His manifestation. It appears that this new designation should not be confused with the earlier name of Bethel. One refers to the place of the divine revelation in a more general sense, while the other denotes the altar situated at that place of revelation.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Gen 35:1In the mean time God said to Jacob: Arise and go up to Bethel, and dwell there, and make there an altar to God, who appeared to thee when thou didst flee from Esau, thy brother.
- Gen 28:13And the Lord leaning upon the ladder saying to him: I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: The land, wherein thou sleepest, I will give to thee and to thy seed.
- Gen 35:3Arise, and let us go up to Bethel, that we may make there an altar to God; who heard me in the day of my affliction, and accompained me in my journey.
- Judg 6:24And Gedeon built there an altar to the Lord, and called it the Lord's peace, until this present day. And when he was yet in Ephra, which is of the family of Ezri,
- Eccl 5:4And it is much better not to vow, than after a vow not to perform the things promised.
- Eccl 5:5Give not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin: and say not before the angel: There is no providence: lest God be angry at thy words, and destroy all the works of thy hands.
- Ezek 48:35Its circumference was eighteen thousand: and the name of the city from that day, The Lord is there.
- Ex 17:15And Moses built an altar; and called the name thereof, The Lord, my exaltation, saying: