Beth-el, beth'-el (Heb.)–house of God .

This town originally was named Luz. It is situated a few miles north of Jerusalem (Gen. 28:19; 35:1-15).

Meta. Luz means turning away departing. That which seemed separate and apart is brought into unity, and the name is then Beth-el. In the individual, Beth-el refers to a certain center near the heart, which is called the house of God. It seems material, at first sight. Jacob thought that it was material, when he lay down there with a stone for a pillow; but he found there a ladder reaching to heaven, and he exclaimed: “Surely Jehovah is in this place; and I knew it not” (Gen. 28:16-22). So Beth-el really symbolizes a consciousness of God, or conscious unity with God.