bethel

As a noun betel

is betel.

As a proper noun bethel is

an ancient town in palestine near the modern town of baytin; the site of abraham's first altar.

As a noun ethel

is the letter or ethel can be a kind of tree, perhaps a tamarisk, found in northern africa and in arabia, which has dark, bluish wood.

As a proper noun bethel is

an ancient town in palestine near the modern town of baytin; the site of abraham's first altar.