House of God

In Gen 28:17; Gen 28:22 = BETHEL (which see). In Jgs, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezr, Neh, Ps, etc. (beth ha-'elohim), a designation of the sanctuary = "house of Yahweh" (of the tabernacle, Judg 18:31; Judg 20:18; Judg 20:26 the King James Version; of the temple, 1 Chr 9:11; 1 Chr 24:5 the King James Version; 2 Chr 5:14; Ps 42:4; Isa 2:3, etc.; of the 2nd temple, Ezra 5:8; Ezra 5:15; Neh 6:10; Neh 13:11; compare Matt 12:4). Spiritually, in the New Testament, the "house of God" (oikos theou) is the church or community of believers (1 Tim 3:15; Heb 10:21; 1 Pet 4:17; compare 1 Cor 3:9; 1 Cor 3:16; 1 Cor 3:17; 1 Pet 2:5).