18-19 Jacob was up first thing in the morning. He took the stone he had used for his pillow and stood it up as a memorial pillar and poured oil over it. He christened the place Bethel (God’s House). The name of the town had been Luz until then.

20-22 Jacob vowed a vow: “If God stands by me and protects me on this journey on which I’m setting out, keeps me in food and clothing, and brings me back in one piece to my father’s house, this God will be my God. This stone that I have set up as a memorial pillar will mark this as a place where God lives. And everything you give me, I’ll return a tenth to you.”

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18 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head(A) and set it up as a pillar(B) and poured oil on top of it.(C) 19 He called that place Bethel,[a](D) though the city used to be called Luz.(E)

20 Then Jacob made a vow,(F) saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me(G) on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear(H)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 28:19 Bethel means house of God.