Topic: Persons Of The Bible - Israel

The name "Israel" is from the Hebrew name יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el) meaning "God contended." The name also means "the prince that prevails with God."

The name "Israel" was conferred (Gen. 32:28) on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel (wrestling with the angel) (Hosea 12:4), because "as a prince he had power with God and prevailed." This is the common name (Israel) given to Jacob's descendants. The whole people of the twelve tribes are called "Israelites," the "children of Israel" (Josh. 3:17; 7:25; Judg. 8:27; Jer. 3:21), and the "house of Israel" (Ex. 16:31; 40:38). This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true Israel (Ps. 73:1: Isa. 45:17; 49:3; John 1:47; Rom. 9:6; 11:26). After the death of Saul the ten tribes arrogated to themselves this name, as if they were the whole nation (2 Sam. 2:9, 10, 17, 28; 3:10, 17; 19:40-43), and the kings of the ten tribes were called "kings of Israel," while the kings of the two tribes were called "kings of Judah." After the Exile the name Israel was assumed as designating the entire nation.

Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries

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