What does "bethel" mean?
A holy place.
Bethel
/ˈbɛθəl/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A holy place.
- Grammar: bethel is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: biblical city, cathedral, church house, geographic name.
- Useful contrasts: profane site, secular city.
- Usage evidence: And 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.
How to use "bethel"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "bethel" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "bethel" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "bethel" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "bethel" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "bethel" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "biblical city" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "bethel", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A holy place.
- 2 Alternative form of baetyl (“sacred stone”). alt-of, alternative
- 3 a house of worship (especially one for sailors) wordnet
- 4 A chapel, especially one for sailors, converted from an old ship.
"Six thousand of this number constitute the seafaring portion of the floating population of New York and Brooklyn, and for their particular accommodation there are, of mission stations and bethels, fifteen places that invite the sailor to hear the Word of God."
- 5 A chapter of Job's Daughters International.
Proper Noun
- 1 An ancient town in Palestine, generally identified with modern Beitin in the West Bank; the site of Abraham's first altar.
- 2 Any of several places in the United States:; The largest city in western Alaska.
- 3 Any of several places in the United States:; A census area in Alaska, which includes the city,
- 4 Any of several places in the United States:; A ghost town in Madera County, California.
- 5 Any of several places in the United States:; A town in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
Show 26 more definitions
- 6 Any of several places in the United States:; A town in Sussex County, Delaware.
- 7 Any of several places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Wakulla County, Florida.
- 8 Any of several places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Delaware County, Indiana.
- 9 Any of several places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Wayne County, Indiana.
- 10 Any of several places in the United States:; A town in Oxford County, Maine.
- 11 Any of several places in the United States:; A tiny city in Anoka County, Minnesota.
- 12 Any of several places in the United States:; A village in Shelby County, Missouri.
- 13 Any of several places in the United States:; A town in Sullivan County, New York.
- 14 Any of several places in the United States:; A hamlet in Dutchess County, New York.
- 15 Any of several places in the United States:; A town in Pitt County, North Carolina.
- 16 Any of several places in the United States:; A village in Clermont County, Ohio.
- 17 Any of several places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Comanche County, Oklahoma.
- 18 Any of several places in the United States:; A rural unincorporated community in McCurtain County, Oklahoma.
- 19 Any of several places in the United States:; A neighborhood of Eugene, Oregon.
- 20 Any of several places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Polk County, Oregon.
- 21 Any of several places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
- 22 Any of several places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Wayne County, Pennsylvania.
- 23 Any of several places in the United States:; A ghost town in York County, South Carolina.
- 24 Any of several places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Anderson County, Texas.
- 25 Any of several places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Henderson County, Texas.
- 26 Any of several places in the United States:; A town in Windsor County, Vermont.
- 27 Any of several places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Clarke County, Virginia.
- 28 Any of several places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Kitsap County, Washington.
- 29 Any of several places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Wood County, Wisconsin.
- 30 Any of several places in the United States:; A number of townships in the United States, listed under Bethel Township.
- 31 A small village in Bodorgan community, Anglesey, Wales (OS grid ref SH3970).
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
profane sitesecular city
Example
"And 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."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "bethel"?
Common synonyms include: biblical city, cathedral, church house, geographic name, holy city, house of god.
How do you use "bethel" in a sentence?
And 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.
How do you pronounce "bethel"?
Pronounced /ˈbɛθəl/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Hebrew בֵּית אֵל (beth el, literally “house of God”). See also Bethel on Wikipedia.Wikipedia.
Etymology 2
From Hebrew בֵּיתְאֵל (betél, “Bethel”, literally “house of Ēl/God”).