The Meaning of Genesis 33:20 Explained

Genesis 33:20

KJV: And he erected there an altar, and called it EleloheIsrael.

YLT: and he setteth up there an altar, and proclaimeth at it God -- the God of Israel.

Darby: And there he set up an altar, and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

ASV: And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he erected  there an altar,  and called it  Elelohe-Israel. 

What does Genesis 33:20 Mean?

Study Notes

El-elohe-Israel
i.e. God, the God of Israel. Jacob's act of faith, appropriating his new name, but also claiming Elohim in this new sense as the God through whom alone he could walk according to his new name. See Genesis 14:18-23 .
See note 2 of for a similar appropriation by Abraham.
Salem
Meaning Peace.
Compare ( Hebrews 7:2 ).
Melchizedek
Meaning King of Righteousness.
Compare ( Hebrews 7:2 ).
Salem
Meaning Peace.
Compare ( Hebrews 7:2 ).
most high God
2 "Most high," or "most high God" (Hebrew, El Elyon). "Elyon means simply "highest."
(1) The first revelation of this name ( Genesis 14:8 ) indicates its distinctive meanings. Abram, returning from his victory over the confederated kings ( Genesis 14:1-17 ) is met by Melchizedek, King of Salem. . . The "priest of the most high God" (El Elyon), who blesses Abram in the name of El Elyon, "possessor of heaven and earth." This revelation produced a remarkable impression upon the patriarch. Not only did he at once give Melchizedek "tithes of all" the spoil of the battle, but when the King of Sodom offered other of that spoil to Abram, his answer was; "I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord Jehovah, the most high God El-Elyon, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet," etc. ( Genesis 14:18-23 ).
(a) The Lord (Jehovah) is know to a Gentile king (Melchizedek) by the name "most high god" El Elyon);
(b) a Gentile is the priest of El Elyon and
(c) His distinctive character as most high God is "possessor of heaven and earth."
Appropriately to this Gentile knowledge of God by His name "Most High," we read that "the Most High divided to the nationsthat is, Gentiles] their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam," etc. ( Deuteronomy 32:8 ). As "possessor heaven and earth," it was the prerogative of the Most High to distribute the earth among the nations according to whatever principle He chose. That principle is declared ( Deuteronomy 32:8 ). To the same purport is the use of the name in Daniel, the book of Gentile prophecy; ( Daniel 3:26 ); ( Daniel 4:17 ); ( Daniel 4:24 ); ( Daniel 4:25 ); ( Daniel 4:32 ); ( Daniel 4:34 ); ( Daniel 4:35 ); ( Daniel 5:18 ); ( Daniel 5:21 ).
(2) As "possessor of heaven and earth," the most high God has and exercises authority in both spheres:
(a) the heavenly authority of El Elyon (for example ( Daniel 4:35 ); ( Daniel 4:37 ); ( Isaiah 14:13 ); ( Isaiah 14:14 ); ( Matthew 28:18 ).
(b) the earthly authority of El Elyon (e.g). ( Deuteronomy 32:8 ); ( Psalms 9:2-5 ); ( Psalms 21:7 ); ( Psalms 47:2-4 ); ( Psalms 56:2-3 ); ( Psalms 82:6 ); ( Psalms 82:8 ); ( Psalms 83:16-18 ); ( Psalms 91:9-12 ); ( 2 Samuel 22:14 ); ( 2 Samuel 22:15 ); ( Daniel 5:18 ).
See, for other names of Deity:
( See Scofield Genesis 1:1 ).
( See Scofield Genesis 2:4 ).
( See Scofield Genesis 2:7 )
( See Scofield Genesis 15:2 ).
( See Scofield Genesis 17:1 ).
( See Scofield Genesis 21:33
( See Scofield 1 Samuel 1:3 ).
Melchizedek
Meaning King of Righteousness.
Compare ( Hebrews 7:2 ).
Salem
Meaning Peace.
Compare ( Hebrews 7:2 ).
Melchizedek
1 Melchizedek, type of Christ the King-Priest. The type strictly applies to the priestly work of Christ in resurrection, since Melchizedek presents only the memorials of sacrifice, bread and wine. "After the order of Melchizedek" ( Hebrews 6:20 ) refers to the royal authority and unending duration of Christ's high priesthood ( Hebrews 7:23 ); ( Hebrews 7:24 ). The Aaronic priesthood was often interrupted by death. Christ is a priest after the order of Melchizedek, as King of righteousness, King of peace; ( Isaiah 11:4-9 ); ( Hebrews 7:2 ) and in the endlessness of his priesthood; but the Aaronic priesthood typifies His priestly work.
most high God
2 "Most high," or "most high God" (Hebrew, El Elyon). "Elyon means simply "highest."
(1) The first revelation of this name ( Genesis 14:8 ) indicates its distinctive meanings. Abram, returning from his victory over the confederated kings ( Genesis 14:1-17 ) is met by Melchizedek, King of Salem. . . The "priest of the most high God" (El Elyon), who blesses Abram in the name of El Elyon, "possessor of heaven and earth." This revelation produced a remarkable impression upon the patriarch. Not only did he at once give Melchizedek "tithes of all" the spoil of the battle, but when the King of Sodom offered other of that spoil to Abram, his answer was; "I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord Jehovah, the most high God El-Elyon, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet," etc. ( Genesis 14:18-23 ).
(a) The Lord (Jehovah) is know to a Gentile king (Melchizedek) by the name "most high god" El Elyon);
(b) a Gentile is the priest of El Elyon and
(c) His distinctive character as most high God is "possessor of heaven and earth."
Appropriately to this Gentile knowledge of God by His name "Most High," we read that "the Most High divided to the nationsthat is, Gentiles] their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam," etc. ( Deuteronomy 32:8 ). As "possessor heaven and earth," it was the prerogative of the Most High to distribute the earth among the nations according to whatever principle He chose. That principle is declared ( Deuteronomy 32:8 ). To the same purport is the use of the name in Daniel, the book of Gentile prophecy; ( Daniel 3:26 ); ( Daniel 4:17 ); ( Daniel 4:24 ); ( Daniel 4:25 ); ( Daniel 4:32 ); ( Daniel 4:34 ); ( Daniel 4:35 ); ( Daniel 5:18 ); ( Daniel 5:21 ).
(2) As "possessor of heaven and earth," the most high God has and exercises authority in both spheres:
(a) the heavenly authority of El Elyon (for example ( Daniel 4:35 ); ( Daniel 4:37 ); ( Isaiah 14:13 ); ( Isaiah 14:14 ); ( Matthew 28:18 ).
(b) the earthly authority of El Elyon (e.g). ( Deuteronomy 32:8 ); ( Psalms 9:2-5 ); ( Psalms 21:7 ); ( Psalms 47:2-4 ); ( Psalms 56:2-3 ); ( Psalms 82:6 ); ( Psalms 82:8 ); ( Psalms 83:16-18 ); ( Psalms 91:9-12 ); ( 2 Samuel 22:14 ); ( 2 Samuel 22:15 ); ( Daniel 5:18 ).
See, for other names of Deity:
( See Scofield Genesis 1:1 ).
( See Scofield Genesis 2:4 ).
( See Scofield Genesis 2:7 )
( See Scofield Genesis 15:2 ).
( See Scofield Genesis 17:1 ).
( See Scofield Genesis 21:33
( See Scofield 1 Samuel 1:3 ).
Melchizedek
Meaning King of Righteousness.
Compare ( Hebrews 7:2 ).
Salem
Meaning Peace.
Compare ( Hebrews 7:2 ).

Context Summary

Genesis 33:18-20 - Jacob With The Shechemites
Jacob was tempted by the fat pastures of Shechem, without thought or care of the character of its people, and he lived to bitterly rue his choice. How many religious parents have made the same mistake! They first encamp near the world, pitching their tent doors in that direction; then they buy a parcel of land, and finally their children contract alliances that end in shame and disaster. He who came of a pilgrim race, and to whom the whole land had been given by promise, bought real estate right against Shechem, one of the worst cities in the country. Like Lot, Jacob bid high for wealth and worldly advancement, risked the highest for the lowest, and was saved as by fire. Poor Dinah! Yet she was more sinned against than sinning. Jacob had put her in jeopardy by his selfish policy; and Leah was not blameless, for she had let her go unwarned and unaccompanied into the middle of that furnace of trial. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 33

1  Jacob and Esau's meeting; and Esau's departure
17  Jacob comes to Succoth
18  At Shechem he buys a field, and builds an altar, called El Elohe Israel

What do the individual words in Genesis 33:20 mean?

And he erected there an altar and called it El Elohe Israel -
וַיַּצֶּב־ שָׁ֖ם מִזְבֵּ֑חַ וַיִּ֨קְרָא־ ל֔וֹ אֵ֖ל אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל ס

וַיַּצֶּב־  And  he  erected 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הֻצַּב 
Sense: to stand, take one’s stand, stand upright, be set (over), establish.
מִזְבֵּ֑חַ  an  altar 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
וַיִּ֨קְרָא־  and  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
אֵ֖ל  El 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
אֱלֹהֵ֥י  Elohe 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation