“And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.” (Genesis 35:1)
People who read the Bible are often confused by language. In fact, many who study the Bible miss the meaning of words. Names given to locations in the Bible does not mean anyone can locate where that place may be. The place name “Bethel” is a very common name.
I grew up in North Carolina. There were many churches named Bethel and a road to go with it. There are thousands of places and organizations in nearly every country that use the name Bethel. Unfortunately, Bethel is not exactly how it is pronounced. In Hebrew it is pronounced Beth-El. Not really a big deal, but what it means is important.
Beth-El means, “The House of God”. Jacob had met God at this very place and Jacob had built an altar there. On this second arrival to Beth El, Jacob changes the name to El-Beth-El, which means “The God of the House”. There is a difference between “The House of God” and “The God of the House”.
“The House of God” can mean an altar, church, temple, or any place you designate to be holy. “The God of the House” means a group of people, who can reside anywhere. Jacob, when he changed the name of Beth-El to El-Beth-El, he also changed the meaning from a place that God dwelt in, to a people that God dwelt with. You don’t have to go to a place to meet God. God will meet you anywhere you are.
If it be a prison or a lofty palace God is with you ALWAYS.
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