After years a Place Called El Bethel, of wandering, trials, family conflict, and personal transformation, Jacob returned to the place where God had first revealed Himself during his flight from Esau. At Bethel, the Lord renewed His covenant promises, confirmed Jacob’s new name as Israel, and reminded him that divine purposes were still unfolding. This chapter highlights obedience, spiritual renewal, and God’s enduring faithfulness. The man who once fled in fear now stands before God as Israel, carrying the covenant promises into future generations.
God’s Covenant, Permanent Name Change, Bethel, Purification, Fruitfulness, and God’s Presence
📖 Genesis 35:1 (NIV)
“35 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”
📖 Genesis 35:1-2 (NIV)
“35 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes.”
After the turmoil at Shechem, God spoke directly to Jacob once again.
The Lord instructed him:
“Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God.”
Bethel was not just another location.
It was the place where Jacob had previously encountered God while fleeing from Esau.
Now God was calling him back to a place of remembrance, worship, and renewed commitment.
📖 Genesis 35:3–4 (NIV)
“3 Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem”
Before traveling to Bethel, Jacob commanded his household to prepare themselves.
He instructed them to:
get rid of foreign gods
purify themselves
change their clothes
Jacob understood that approaching God required a separation from idols and a renewed focus on worship.
The family surrendered:
foreign gods
pagan objects
symbols connected to false worship
Jacob buried them beneath the oak near Shechem.
This act symbolized leaving the old life behind and moving forward in obedience.
📖 Genesis 35:5 (NIV)
“5 Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.”
As they traveled, God protected them.
Scripture says:
“The terror of God fell on the towns all around them.”
The surrounding people did not pursue Jacob’s family despite the recent conflict at Shechem.
God’s protection surrounded His covenant family.
The same God who called them forward also guarded their path.
📖 Genesis 35:6–7 (NIV)
:”6 Jacob and all the people with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. 7 There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel,[a] because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.”
When Jacob arrived, he built an altar.
He called the place:
El Bethel
meaning:
God of Bethel
Years earlier, Jacob had met God there while running from fear and uncertainty.
Now he returned as a man who had experienced God’s faithfulness through many trials.
The place had become a testimony to God’s presence throughout his journey.
📖 Genesis 35:8 (NIV)
“8 Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under the oak outside Bethel. So it was named Allon Bakuth.[b]”
The chapter briefly records the death of Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse.
She was buried beneath an oak tree.
The place became known as:
Allon Bakuth
meaning:
Oak of Weeping
Even during seasons of blessing, life often contains moments of sorrow.
Scripture honestly records both joy and grief as part of the journey of faith.
📖 Genesis 35:9–10 (NIV)
“9 After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram,[c] God appeared to him again and blessed him. 10 God said to him, “Your name is Jacob,[d] but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.[e]” So he named him Israel.|”
God appeared to Jacob again and spoke words of confirmation.
“Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.”
The name change first announced at Peniel was now publicly reaffirmed by God.
Jacob’s old identity represented:
striving
deception
self-reliance
Israel represented:
covenant purpose
spiritual transformation
God’s calling
This was not a temporary title.
It was a permanent identity established by God Himself.
📖 Genesis 35:11–12 (NIV)
“11 And God said to him, “I am God Almighty[f]; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants.12 The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”
God repeated the covenant promises first given to Abraham and Isaac.
He declared:
be fruitful
increase in number
nations will come from you
kings will come from your descendants
the land will belong to your offspring
The covenant had passed from:
Abraham
to Isaac
to Israel
Human failures had not canceled God’s promises.
The covenant remained alive because it rested upon God’s faithfulness.
📖 Genesis 35:13 (NIV)
“13 Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him.”
One of the most remarkable statements in the chapter is:
“Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him.”
God personally spoke with Israel.
The relationship was no longer simply based upon stories told by Abraham or Isaac.
Israel was experiencing God’s presence for himself.
Faith had become personal.
📖 Genesis 35:14–15 (NIV)
“14 Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. 15 Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.[g]”
Israel responded by setting up a stone pillar.
He poured:
a drink offering
oil upon it
The memorial marked the place where God had spoken.
He once again called the location:
Bethel
House of God
The place that once witnessed a fleeing man now witnessed a transformed servant of God.
This passage reminds us:
God often calls us back to places of spiritual renewal
obedience requires removing idols from our lives
God’s protection follows His purposes
spiritual growth involves leaving old identities behind
God’s promises remain despite past failures
God’s covenant continues through generations
true transformation comes when God changes our identity
worship should follow encounters with God
Genesis 35 marks a major turning point in Jacob’s journey. The man who once fled from Esau in fear now stands before God as Israel, the name God permanently gave him. At Bethel, the Lord reaffirmed His covenant promises, called His servant to fruitfulness, and reminded him that divine purposes were still unfolding.
This chapter teaches that God does not merely forgive His people—He transforms them. Old identities fade, new purposes emerge, and God’s covenant remains secure. The God who met Jacob at Bethel years earlier was still faithful, still speaking, and still guiding Israel toward the future He had promised
