¹⁶ When Jacob awoke from his sleep,^(A) he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” ¹⁷ He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place!^(B) This is none other than the house of God;^(C) this is the gate of heaven.”

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

²⁰ Then Jacob made a vow,^(I) saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me^(J) on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear^{(K) 21} so that I return safely^(L) to my father’s household,^(M) then the Lord^[b] will be my God^{(N) 22} and^[c] this stone that I have set up as a pillar^(O) will be God’s house,^(P) and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.^(Q)”

Jacob Returns to Bethel

35 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel^(A) and settle there, and build an altar^(B) there to God,^(C) who appeared to you^(D) when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”^(E)

⁶ Jacob and all the people with him came to Luz^(A) (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan.^(B)

¹⁵ Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.^[a](A)