Lexical Summary Yisrael: Israel, Israel's, Israelites Original Word: יִשְׂרָאֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Israel From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity: --Israel. see HEBREW sarah see HEBREW 'el NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sarah and el Definition "God strives," another name of Jacob and his desc. NASB Translation Israel (2485), Israel's (13), Israelites (5), Israelites* (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יִשְׂרָאֵל proper name and derivatives, see below I. שׂרה. יִשְׂרָאֵל2507 proper name, masculine and of a people Israel (El persisteth, persevereth (or jussive Let El persist) [usually contendeth (NesEg.60 ff.) or Let El contend (GrayProp. N. 218), but see DrHast. DB JACOB 530]; on vocalization see LagBN 131 f. Kit1Chronicles 4:16 (Hpt); MI5, + 5 t. ישראל; in Egyptian Y-si-r-'l SteindZAW xvi (1896), 331, compare BreastedBib. World ix (1897), 62 ff. PatonSyr. and Pal. 134; Assyrian Sir-'-lai (= יִשְׂרְאֵלִי) SchrKG 356 ff., 364; COT Genesis 36:31; 1 Kings 16:29. — On a possibly relation of ׳יִשׂ to proper name שָׂרַי, שָׂרָה see RSK 257, 2nd ed. 34; — compare שְׂרָיָה(וּׅ; — Ισραηλ: 1. proper name, masculine second name of Jacob Genesis 32:29 28t. Genesis (JE), Exodus 32:13 (JE), Hosea 12:13; Judges 18:29; Exodus 6:14; Numbers 1:20; Numbers 26:5 (all P), 2 Kings 17:34; 1 Chronicles 1:34 8t. Chronicles, Psalm 105:23; ׳בֵּית יִשׂ Ruth 4:11; ׳בְּנֵי יִשׂ (literal) Genesis 42:5 3t. E, 2 t. P + Exodus 1:7 (P; transition to wider use), 1 Kings 18:31; 1 Chronicles 2:1 +; = 12 tribes Exodus 28:9 7t. P; ׳אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיִשׂ 1 Kings 18:36; 1 Chronicles 29:18; 2Chronicles 30:6. 2. proper name, of a people (usually masculineJudges 11:17f. but feminine 1 Samuel 17:21; 2 Samuel 24:9 [not "" 1 Chronicles 21:5], compare Dron the passage AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 57 f.): name of Hebrew nation; usually derived from 1, but ׳יִשׂ more common in early usage than ׳בְּנֵי יִשׂ (see בֵּן p. 120:b): a. (1) undivided kingdom; ׳יִשׂ Genesis 47:27 (J), Genesis 49:7 (poem in J) + 108 t. J E, Deuteronomy 1:1; Deuteronomy 18:6; Deuteronomy 33:10 (poem) + 76 t. D, Genesis 34:7; Exodus 12:15 42t. P; Judges 5:2,7 (twice in verse) + 104 t. Judges; often 1and 2Samuel; 1 Kings 1-12; ׳כָּליִֿשׂ of whole people 2 Samuel 8:15 +, of whole army 2 Samuel 11:1 +, opposed to Judah 2 Samuel 2:9 + (so also later). (2) ׳יִשׂ = Northern tribes, distinguished from Judah, even before disruption, 2 Samuel 2:9, compare 2 Samuel 2:10; 2 Samuel 3:10; 2 Samuel 4:1; 2 Samuel 5:5; 2 Samuel 12:7; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 1:35; 1 Kings 4:20; 1 Kings 5:5 +; so at disruption 1 Kings 12:16 (3 t. in verse); 1 Kings 12:18,19; then usually of Northern kingdom, till its fall, 1 Kings 12:28; 1Ki 24:7; 1Ki 24:10 + very often Kings, Amos 1:1; Amos 2:6; Amos 3:14 +, Hosea 1:5; Hosea 4:15 (twice in verse); Hosea 5:3 (twice in verse); Hosea 5:5 +, Micah 1:13, etc. (3) ׳יִשׂ of Southern kingdom, Judah, rarely before fall of Samaria Isaiah 1:3; Isaiah 8:18; Micah 1:14,15, so ׳בְּנֵי יִשׂ 1 Kings 12:17; after fall of Samaria, ׳יִשׂ (less often ׳בְּנֵי יִשׂ) occurs of entire people, in reference to past or future 2 Kings 21:8; 2 Kings 23:22; Isaiah 17:9; Psalm 103:7; Jeremiah 2:3; Jeremiah 50:17,19 +; ׳יִשׂ also = Judah Jeremiah 2:14,31; Jeremiah 4:1 +, Ezekiel 13:2,4,16; Ezekiel 14:1,7,9 +, Isaiah 40:27; Isaiah 41:8; Isaiah 42:24 +, Ezra 2:59 = Nehemiah 7:61; Ezra 2:70; Ezra 3:11 +, Nehemiah 10:34; Nehemiah 10:3 +, Psalm 14:7 (twice in verse) = Psalm 53:7 (twice in verse), Psalm 147:2; Psalm 149:2 +, etc. (4) usage in Chronicles: ׳יִשׂ of whole people 1 Chronicles 2:7 110t., of Northern kingdom 2 Chronicles 11:1 16t., of Judah 2Chronicles 12:6; 19:8 9t. (5) ׳יִשׂ personified as ׳עֶבֶד י, Isaiah 44:1,21; Isaiah 49:3. b. ׳בְּנֵי יִשׂ, (1) of undivided people Exodus 1:12 (J), Exodus 3:9 (E) + 72 t. J E, Deuteronomy 3:18; Deuteronomy 10:6 25t. D, Genesis 32:33 327t. P; Judges 1:1 60t. Judges; seldom 1and 2Samuel, 1 Kings 1-12; in 1 Kings 13—2Kings 25 passive in reference to older history (rarely otherwise). (2) seldom of Northern kingdom Amos 2:11 9t. Amos, Hosea; 2Chronicles 13:12 7t. Chronicles. (3) of Judah (late) Ezekiel 2:3; Nehemiah 1:6 (twice in verse); Ezra 3:1; Joel 4:16 +, 2 Chronicles 31:5. c. בֵּית ׳יִשׂ Exodus 16:31; Exodus 40:38 142t. (see בַּיִת 5d (δ); 81 t. Ezekiel, where = Judah; see especially Exodus 37:16); ׳שְׁנֵי בָֽתֵּי יִשׂ Isaiah 8:14. d. other phrases, see sub אִישׁ, אֶרֶץ, בַּת, בְּתוּלָה, גְּבוּל, הַר, כִּסֵּא, מֶלֶךְ, (נטה) מַטֶּה, (יעד) עֵדָה, עַם, שֵׁבֶט; also (in epithet of ׳י) below אָבִיר, אוֺר, אֱלֹחִים, I. גָּוֺאל, מֶלֶךְ, מִקְוֶה (I. קוה), I. צוּר (V. צור), קָדוֺשׁ, I. רָעָה 1d (3). e. ׳יִשׂ = the laity, opposed to priests, etc. (late): Ezra 10:25; Nehemiah 11:3; 1 Chronicles 9:2; ׳כָּליִֿשׂ Ezra 2:70; Ezra 10:5; ׳הָעָם יִשׂ Ezra 9:1; ׳בְּנֵי יִשׂ Nehemiah 10:40, compare ׳שְׁאָר יִשׂ Nehemiah 11:20. יִשְׂרָאֵל proper name, of a people Israel (Biblical Hebrew id., √ I. שָׂרָה); — ׳אֱלַהּ יִשׁ Ezra 5:1; Ezra 6:14; Ezra 7:15; ׳מֶלֶךְ לְיִשׂ Ezra 5:11; ׳בְּנֵי יִשׂ Ezra 6:16, ׳עַמָּא יִשׂ Ezra 7:13. Topical Lexicon Origin in Jacob’s Encounter with God The first occurrence of the name belongs to Jacob. At Peniel the Angel of the LORD declared, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed” (Genesis 32:28). The name is confirmed at Bethel (Genesis 35:10). From one man the covenant line now bears a corporate destiny that will unfold through his twelve sons. Patriarchal Foundations Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob receive irrevocable promises concerning land, seed, and blessing (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:18-21; 26:3-5; 28:13-15). In Genesis 35:11-12 God says, “I am God Almighty… the land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I give to you, and to your descendants after you.” Thus Israel is both a person and the embryonic nation in which “all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Israel as the Covenant Nation At the Exodus the name designates the corporate people redeemed from slavery. “Then you are to tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son’” (Exodus 4:22). At Sinai the LORD declares, “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). Deuteronomy revisits the covenant, stressing election (Deuteronomy 7:6-8) and calling for wholehearted obedience (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Conquest and Inheritance Under Joshua, “The LORD gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their fathers” (Joshua 21:43). The tribal allotments fulfill earlier promises, though full possession awaits continual faithfulness. Judges recounts cycles of apostasy and deliverance, revealing Israel’s need for righteous leadership. Israel in Worship and Law The Tabernacle and later the Temple place the LORD’s dwelling “in the midst of Israel” (Exodus 25:8; 1 Kings 6:13). Sacrificial worship, festivals, and the priesthood set Israel apart as a theocratic society. Balaam testifies, “The LORD their God is with them, and the shout of the King is among them” (Numbers 23:21). United Monarchy Under David and Solomon the tribes are consolidated. “David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel” (2 Samuel 5:12). Jerusalem becomes political and spiritual center (2 Samuel 7; 1 Kings 8). The covenant with David secures a perpetual royal line culminating in Messiah. Divided Kingdom: Northern Israel After Solomon, ten tribes break away to form the Northern Kingdom, often called Israel or Ephraim (1 Kings 12). Prophets such as Hosea and Amos indict the nation for idolatry and social injustice while pledging future restoration (Hosea 1:10-11; Amos 9:11-15). Prophetic Oracles of Judgment and Restoration Isaiah proclaims, “You are My servant, Israel, in whom I will display My glory” (Isaiah 49:3). Jeremiah promises a “new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (Jeremiah 31:31). Ezekiel’s vision of the two sticks (Ezekiel 37) foretells national reunification under “My servant David” (Ezekiel 37:24). Remnant and Diaspora Though exile scatters the nation (2 Kings 17; 2 Kings 25), God preserves a faithful remnant: “A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God” (Isaiah 10:21). Post-exilic books (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther) record returns, reforms, and preservation amidst foreign rule. Israel in the Psalms and Wisdom Literature Psalms often pair Israel’s history with praise: “He declared His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel” (Psalm 147:19-20). The nation is urged to “hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore” (Psalm 131:3). Proverbs 14:34 underscores righteousness as national exaltation. Messianic Hope Prophets connect Israel’s destiny to a coming King. “For to us a child is born… He will reign on David’s throne… over His kingdom, to establish and sustain it” (Isaiah 9:6-7). Zechariah foresees national repentance: “They will look on Me, the One they have pierced” (Zechariah 12:10). Israel and the Messiah Jesus Jesus of Nazareth is hailed as “King of Israel” (John 1:49) and confines His earthly mission to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24), yet anticipates Gentile inclusion (Matthew 8:11). At Pentecost Peter addresses “Men of Israel” (Acts 2:22) and proclaims Jesus as Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). Israel and the Early Church The question, “Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6) signals ongoing expectation. Paul affirms that the covenants, law, worship, and promises “belong to the Israelites” (Romans 9:4). He foresees a future national turning: “All Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26) while explaining present partial hardening that opens salvation to the nations. Spiritual Israel and the Church Believing Jews and Gentiles are “one new man” in Christ (Ephesians 2:15). Paul names the church “the Israel of God” in the context of those who “walk by this rule” (Galatians 6:16), yet he maintains ethnic Israel’s distinct future (Romans 11:28-29). Thus Scripture holds both continuity and distinction between national Israel and the multinational body of Christ. Future Restoration Prophecies anticipate a final regathering (Isaiah 11:11-12), spiritual renewal (Ezekiel 36:25-27), and Messianic reign from Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:9-11). Revelation lists “twelve tribes of the sons of Israel” sealed during tribulation (Revelation 7:4-8), and the New Jerusalem’s gates bear their names (Revelation 21:12), attesting to Israel’s enduring place in God’s redemptive program. Titles and Descriptions • Firstborn son (Exodus 4:22) Theological Significance 1. Election: God’s sovereign choice of Israel underscores grace (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). 5. Eschatology: Israel’s future restoration guarantees God’s faithfulness and shapes prophetic hope (Jeremiah 31:35-37). Representative Passages for Study Genesis 32:28; Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 7:6-11; Joshua 21:43-45; 1 Kings 18:36-37; Isaiah 49:3-6; Jeremiah 31:31-37; Ezekiel 37:15-28; Hosea 11:1-11; Amos 9:11-15; Zechariah 12–14; Matthew 15:24; Acts 2:36; Romans 11:25-29; Revelation 7:4. Summary Across approximately 2,506 Old Testament occurrences, “Israel” moves from one man’s new name to a nation chosen, chastened, scattered, and destined for glory. In both Old and New Covenants the term remains central to God’s unfolding plan, culminating in a redeemed remnant and the universal reign of the Messiah, underlining the surety of divine promise and the unity of Scripture’s testimony. Forms and Transliterations בְּ֝יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל֒ בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ בישראל בישראל׃ וְ֝יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִ֨שְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל וְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ וְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וּ֝בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וּבְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל וּמִֽיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל ובישראל וישראל וישראל׃ ולישראל ומישראל יִ֝שְׂרָאֵ֗ל יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל יִ֭שְׂרָאֵל יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל יִשְׂרָֽאֵל׃ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֕ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֞ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל ׀ יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל ׀ יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל ׀ יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל ׀ יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל ׀ יִשְׂרָאֵֽ֑ל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יִשְׂרָאֵל֩ יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל ישראל ישראל׃ כְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כישראל לְ֝יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לישראל לישראל׃ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֗ל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֜ל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל֒ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל֙ מישראל מישראל׃ bə·yiś·rā·’êl ḇə·yiś·rā·’êl bəyiśrā’êl ḇəyiśrā’êl beYisraEl kə·yiś·rā·’êl kəyiśrā’êl keYisraEl lə·yiś·rā·’êl ləyiśrā’êl leYisraEl mî·yiś·rā·’êl mîyiśrā’êl miYisraEl ū·ḇə·yiś·rā·’êl ū·lə·yiś·rā·’êl ū·mî·yiś·rā·’êl ūḇəyiśrā’êl ūləyiśrā’êl uleYisraEl ūmîyiśrā’êl umiYisraEl uveYisraEl veYisraEl wə·yiś·rā·’êl wəyiśrā’êl yiś·rā·’êl yiśrā’êl YisraElLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 32:28 HEB: כִּ֖י אִם־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־ שָׂרִ֧יתָ NAS: be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven KJV: no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power INT: for but Israel for have striven Genesis 32:32 Genesis 33:20 Genesis 34:7 Genesis 35:10 Genesis 35:10 Genesis 35:21 Genesis 35:22 Genesis 35:22 Genesis 36:31 Genesis 37:3 Genesis 37:13 Genesis 42:5 Genesis 43:6 Genesis 43:8 Genesis 43:11 Genesis 45:21 Genesis 45:28 Genesis 46:1 Genesis 46:2 Genesis 46:5 Genesis 46:8 Genesis 46:29 Genesis 46:30 Genesis 47:27 2506 Occurrences |
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