Genesis 12:8
What does Genesis 12:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Genesis 12:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Genesis 12:8 means
Abram continues his journey within Canaan, moving from Shechem to a new encampment in the mountainous region east of Beth-el, with Ai to its east. This further movement demonstrates his nomadic lifestyle as a sojourner in the land. Significantly, Abram once again builds "an altar unto Jehovah, and called upon the name of Jehovah." This repeated act of worship signifies his continued devotion and open invocation of God, establishing places of worship and marking his territory by faith, signifying his dependence upon God amidst his travels.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Ai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto Jehovah, and called upon the name of Jehovah.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth–el, and pitched his tent, having Beth–el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Ai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto Jehovah, and called upon the name of Jehovah.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And moving on from there to the mountain on the east of Beth-el, he put up his tent, having Beth-el on the west and Ai on the east: and there he made an altar and gave worship to the name of the Lord.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And he removeth from thence towards a mountain at the east of Beth-El, and stretcheth out the tent (Beth-El at the west, and Hai at the east), and he buildeth there an altar to Jehovah, and preacheth in the name of Jehovah.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And passing on from thence to a mountain, that was on the east side of Bethel, he there pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: he built there also an altar to the Lord, and called upon his name.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And he removed thence towards the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, [having] Bethel toward the west, and Ai toward the east; and there he built an altar to Jehovah, and called on the name of Jehovah.
Context
Building on the previous verse where Abram built an altar at Shechem, this verse describes Abram's further movement within the land and his continued pattern of worship. It illustrates his ongoing pilgrimage and faithful commitment to God through the establishment of altars wherever he settled, even temporarily. This behavior reinforces his role as a man of faith, setting the stage for his subsequent journey and the challenges that will test that faith, as detailed in the verses that follow.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 28:19
And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
- Genesis 35:15
And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Beth-el.
- 1 Corinthians 1:2
unto the church of God which is at Corinth, eventhem that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, calledto besaints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, theirLordand ours:
- Joshua 8:17
And there was not a man left in Ai or Beth-el, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
- Joshua 8:3
So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up to Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand men, the mighty men of valor, and sent them forth by night.
- Genesis 21:33
And Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of Jehovah, the Everlasting God.
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