Why did Jacob name the altar "El-Elohe-Israel" in Genesis 33:20? Text Under Study “Jacob set up an altar there and called it El-Elohe-Israel.” (Genesis 33:20, Berean Standard Bible) Setting the Scene • Jacob had just returned to Canaan after twenty years in Paddan-aram. • God had preserved him from Laban, reconciled him with Esau, and confirmed the new name “Israel” (Genesis 32:28). • Purchasing land at Shechem was Jacob’s first permanent foothold in the promised land, fulfilling God’s earlier promise (Genesis 28:13–15). Meaning of the Name • El – “God” or “Mighty One.” • Elohe – “God of.” • Israel – the new, God-given name of Jacob. Together: “God, the God of Israel” or “Mighty is the God of Israel.” Reasons Jacob Chose This Name • Personal ownership of faith – Declares publicly: “The mighty God is my God.” • Celebration of fulfilled promises – God had brought him safely back to the land sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob. • Affirmation of new identity – The altar commemorates the change from Jacob (“supplanter”) to Israel (“he struggles with God and prevails”), linking worship to his new God-given name. • Testimony to the watching Canaanites – Surrounded by pagan shrines, this altar proclaimed the superiority of the one true God. • Memorial of deliverance – Marks God’s protection from Esau and from travel dangers, just as Jacob had vowed at Bethel (Genesis 28:20-22). • Foreshadowing of the nation – The name joins “God” with “Israel,” pointing ahead to the people who will bear that name and serve this same God. Key Takeaways • God keeps His word literally; Jacob’s safe return proves it. • Worship should publicly link God’s name with our God-given identity. • Memorials of God’s faithfulness strengthen future generations—Shechem would later become an important Israelite worship site. |
    |