Beis Yaakov (בית יעקב also written Beit Yaakov, Beth Jacob, or Bais Yaakov -- literally "House [of] Jacob" in Hebrew) is a common name for Orthodox full-time Jewish elementary and secondary schools throughout the world for Jewish girls from religious families. While these schools share the Beis Yaakov name, they are not necessarily affiliated, though some are, for other reasons. The name comes from a verse in Exodus 19:3, in which the term "house of Jacob" is traditionally understood in Judaism to refer to the female segment of the Jewish nation.