There he erected an altar: There refers to the land he had bought from the clan of Hamor. He refers to Jacob. Erected translates a verb meaning to set up or stand up and is used in 35.14 and 20 to refer to the setting up of a pillar. The Hebrew word is different from that used of the same action in 28.18; 31.45. For altar see 8.20.

Called it El-Elohe-Israel: the name Jacob gave to the altar means “God [is] the God of Israel.” Some translators keep the Hebrew form in the text and place the meaning in a footnote (Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible). Some retain El and translate Elohe-Israel: “El, God of Israel” (New Jerusalem Bible), “named it … El, the God of Israel” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant). Some translate the entire expression “God is the God of Israel” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). It is also possible to keep the Hebrew form and give the meaning with it in the text. Translators should follow the model that is the most meaningful for their readers.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .