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Meaning and etymology of the name Bethuel




Bethuel Bethuel


There are two Bethuels mentioned in the Bible. One is a town in Simeon (1 Chronicles 4:30). The other Bethuel is a son of Abraham's brother Nahor and their niece Milcah, and the father of Laban and Rebekah, the wife of Isaac (Genesis 22:20-23).

The meaning of this name is disputed. Without reasons given, BDB Theological Dictionary assumes a text error and derives from the Hebrew word mat (mat), meaning man, and el El (93a) meaning God: Man Of God. But the name starts with bat, not with mat, so this explanation seems uncalled for. In Hebrew there are two words bat (bat: 254b, 298a). The first one means daughter (254b), the second one indicates a measure of volume equal to about 22 liters (298a).

Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names goes even further and derives from betula (btl) meaning `virgin' or `being kept separate,' rendering `Virgin Of God.'

NOBS Study Bible Name List takes from bayit (bayit), meaning house, and reads Abode Of God,' but that is a very far fetch, and it makes no distinction between this name and Bethel.

Between the segments bat and el is the Hebrew letter waw (waw) which usually indicates a constructive connection between the two; with. Perhaps the name is supposed to mean Daughter With God, which would be a rather curious name for a man. However, Bethuel was the father of Rebekah who was a key-element in bringing forth the nation of Israel.

A similar construction can perhaps be found in Genesis 4:1, where Eve says about Cain, "I have gotten a man-child with God."




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