Genesis 12:8

“And he remoued from thence vnto a mountaine, on the East of Beth-el, and pitched his tent hauing Beth-el on the West, and Hai on the East: and there hee builded an altar vnto the LORD, and called vpon the Name of the LORD.”

1611 King James Version (KJV)




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Other Translations

And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, [having] Bethel 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.
- King James Version

Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD.
- New American Standard Version (1995)

And 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.
- American Standard Version (1901)

And 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.
- Basic English Bible

And 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.
- Darby Bible

And he removed from thence to 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 erected an altar to the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
- Webster's Bible

He left from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to Yahweh and called on the name of Yahweh.
- World English Bible

And 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.
- Youngs Literal Bible

And 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 he builded there an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
- Jewish Publication Society Bible

Bible commentary

Wesley's Notes for Genesis 12:8


12:8 And there he built an altar unto the Lord who appeared to him, and called on the name of the Lord - Now consider this, As done upon a special occasion when God appeared to him, then and there he built an altar, with an eye to the God that appeared to him: thus he acknowledged with thankfulness God's kindness to him in making him that gracious visit and promise: and thus he testified his confidence in, and dependence upon the word which God had spoken. As his constant practice, whithersoever he removed. As soon as Abram was got to Canaan, though he was but a stranger and sojourner there, yet he set up, and kept up, the worship of God in his family; and wherever he had a tent, God had an altar and that an altar sanctified by prayer.


Discussion for Genesis 12

  • Rocky
    God was to make Abram the Father of a great nation.He himself would not see it, but his descendants would.
  • Milton kaluluma
    If we every word that our God tells us we will see the goodness of the Father in Heaven.
  • Nomagugu(MaNwabi) Rozani
    ENQUIRY God said He will show Abram the land where he must settle, but I don 't here anything about Canaan being a place where Abram was directed by God please may I have clarity.
  • Chisomo chipatala
    why God chose abram? We can say there was no any other prophet than abram in Haran
  • Dewey J
    Melchizedek, who many Christian and Theologians believe He was a manifestation of Jesus Christ himsel, a Theophany. Gen 14:8 says, he was King of Salem, which mean peace, and priest of the most high. Heb. 7:3 says, concerning this man that he is "without father, without mother, without descent having no beginning of days nor end of life but made like unto the Son of God abideth a Priest continually. The Scripture also says, the lesser Abram is blessed of the greater Melchizedek. May God bless us all and in the understanding of His Word.
  • Dewey J
    Jim, yes the bible is speaking of Israel because Abram grandson Jacob who name was changed to Israel by God was still in his grandfather 's loins is the person the nation is named after. The true subject is God, Jesus Christ our lord and Saviour, and the Holy Ghost. God said in Ezekiel 39:7 " So will I make my Holy name known midst of my people Israel ..... God bless us all and the understanding of His Word.

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