The Meaning of Genesis 28:19 Explained

Genesis 28:19

KJV: And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

YLT: and he calleth the name of that place Bethel, house of God, and yet, Luz is the name of the city at the first.

Darby: And he called the name of that place Beth-el; but the name of that city was Luz at the first.

ASV: And he called the name of that place Beth-el. But the name of the city was Luz at the first.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he called  the name  of that place  Bethel:  but  the name  of that city  [was called] Luz  at the first. 

What does Genesis 28:19 Mean?

Study Notes

Bethel
i.e. the house of God. Cf. Genesis 35:7 .

Context Summary

Genesis 28:10-22 - Jacob's Vision At Bethel
This is the Ladder chapter, in which a wayward, weak man is seen holding fellowship with the Eternal God, who loves us, notwithstanding our unworthiness, and desire to lead us into a life of power and blessedness. It is all wonderful! Notice the four Beholds! Genesis 28:12-15. Sunset. Overtaken on a moor by the swift fall of the Oriental night, Jacob had no alternative than to sleep in the open. But he slept to see! Night. There is an open way between heaven and earth for each of us. The movement of the tide and circulation of the blood are not more regular than the inter-communication between heaven and earth. Jacob may have thought that God was local: now he found Him to be omnipresent. Every lonely spot was His house, filled with angels. Morning. Worship, consecration, the vows of God. Put down thy foot on God's promises. He will do more than He has said. Thou shalt come to thy Father's house in peace.
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Chapter Summary: Genesis 28

1  Isaac blesses Jacob, and sends him to Padan-aram
6  Esau marries Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael
10  Jacob journeys, and has a vision of a ladder
18  The stone of Bethel
20  Jacob's vow

What do the individual words in Genesis 28:19 mean?

And he called - the name of place that - Bethel but Luz the name of the city had been previously
וַיִּקְרָ֛א אֶת־ שֵֽׁם־ הַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא בֵּֽית־ אֵ֑ל וְאוּלָ֛ם ל֥וּז שֵׁם־ הָעִ֖יר לָרִאשֹׁנָֽה

וַיִּקְרָ֛א  And  he  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
שֵֽׁם־  the  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
הַמָּק֥וֹם  of  place 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
הַה֖וּא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
בֵּֽית־  - 
Parse: Preposition
אֵ֑ל  Bethel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֵּית־אֵל  
Sense: ancient place and seat of worship in Ephraim on border of Benjamin, identified with Luz (former name).
ל֥וּז  Luz 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: לוּז  
Sense: the early name of Bethel and probably the name of the town in close proximity to the actual location of the altar and pillar of Jacob.
שֵׁם־  the  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
הָעִ֖יר  of  the  city 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
לָרִאשֹׁנָֽה  had  been  previously 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רִאשֹׁון  
Sense: first, primary, former.