What are the different names for Israel?

Introduction

The question of what names Scripture uses for Israel invites a journey through the many rich titles and designations woven throughout the biblical narrative. Below is an in-depth look at the names, references, and honorifics given to Israel in the Bible, along with their scriptural foundations and relevant background.

1. Etymology and Meaning of “Israel”

The first time we encounter “Israel” as a name occurs in Genesis when the patriarch Jacob wrestles with an unidentified man through the night. Ultimately, the man says:

“‘Your name will no longer be Jacob,’ said the Man, ‘but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.’” (Genesis 32:28)

The Hebrew name “Israel” (יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisraʾel) is often understood to mean “He wrestles with God,” “God contends,” or “God prevails.” Over time, this name came to signify both the individual (Jacob renamed as Israel) and the nation that descended from him.

2. Jacob

Before being called “Israel,” Jacob (יַעֲקֹב) was the name used for the individual patriarch. The Bible frequently interchanges “Jacob” and “Israel” to refer to both the person and the people who descended from him. Passages such as Isaiah 48:12, “Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, My called,” reinforce how Scripture uses both names interchangeably.

3. Jeshurun (Yeshurun)

“Jeshurun” (יְשֻׁרוּן, Yeshurun) appears in the Old Testament as a poetic designation for Israel. Deuteronomy 33:5 highlights this term:

“So the LORD became King in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people gathered, together with the tribes of Israel.”

The word “Jeshurun” is thought to come from a root meaning upright or just. It portrays Israel in an ideal, righteous state. Moses uses this term especially in blessing contexts (Deuteronomy 32:15; 33:5, 26).

4. The House of Jacob

Scripture often refers to Israel corporately as “the house of Jacob.” For instance, Exodus 19:3 reads, “Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘This is what you are to tell the house of Jacob and explain to the sons of Israel.’”

This phrase underscores the family origin rooted in the patriarch Jacob (Israel) and emphasizes the covenantal lineage. Prophets such as Isaiah also employ “house of Jacob” (Isaiah 2:5) to address the nation regarding repentance and faithfulness.

5. Ephraim

After King Solomon’s reign, the nation split into the Northern Kingdom (also called Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah). In prophetic literature, “Ephraim” (a reference to one of Joseph’s sons) sometimes stands in for the entire Northern Kingdom of Israel. In verses like Hosea 11:1–3, Ephraim appears repeatedly to poetically depict the northern tribes.

Though “Ephraim” strictly refers to one tribal territory, its frequent scriptural usage left an indelible mark, often serving as a synonym for the northern faction of the covenant people.

6. Judah

While technically the name “Judah” applies to one specific tribe and later the Southern Kingdom, certain sections of Scripture occasionally speak of “Judah” and “Israel” as representative of the two major parts of the divided monarchy. Buttered into the overarching story, Judah eventually became a dominant designation for the southern region (2 Kings 17:18–19).

Though “Judah” is not a direct synonym for the entire nation of Israel, understanding the biblical distinction helps clarify how Scripture refers to different segments of God’s people across historical periods.

7. God’s Chosen People

Israel is often identified simply as God’s “chosen people.” In Deuteronomy 7:6 we read:

“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.”

This key designation highlights the special covenant between the Creator and Israel, stressing the relationship’s uniqueness among the nations.

8. A Holy Nation

“When the Most High parted the nations, He set up boundaries for the peoples…” (Deuteronomy 32:8), but for Israel in particular, Exodus 19:6 titles them “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

This underscores their distinct calling to reflect holiness, priestly service, and moral law in the world. The phrase “holy nation” sets Israel apart in a consecrated role among the nations.

9. People of the Covenant

Exodus and Deuteronomy highlight the covenant established at Mount Sinai and renewed across generations (Exodus 24:7–8; Deuteronomy 29:12–15). While all these covenant passages do not exclusively use the term “People of the Covenant” as a formal name, the concept undergirds Israel’s identity. They are repeatedly portrayed as the people bound to Yahweh by promises and obligations reflecting God’s faithfulness and commands.

10. Archaeological and Historical Corroboration

Outside Scripture, several ancient documents attest to Israel’s early existence as a distinct nation:

• The Merneptah Stele (c. 1209 BC) contains one of the earliest extrabiblical references to “Israel.”

• The Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone, mid-9th century BC) mentions “Omri king of Israel.”

• Various Assyrian records reference kings such as Jehu and Hoshea of the Northern Kingdom.

These artifacts strengthen the historical credibility of a unified people known as “Israel,” and they match the broader biblical narrative of Israel’s prominence in the ancient Near East.

11. Concluding Thoughts

From “Jacob” to “Israel,” from “Jeshurun” to “the house of Jacob,” Scripture employs various titles and expressions to showcase Israel’s lineage, covenant relationship, and set-apart calling. Each name captures a nuance: wrestling with God, becoming God’s special possession, or walking in holiness as a people of the covenant.

Through these titles, the identity of Israel as a unified nation and a chosen people resonates throughout the historical, poetic, and prophetic books of the Bible. These references, bolstered by archaeological findings and the continuity of the biblical text, collectively illustrate how “Israel” is both a nation and a treasured people, called to reflect divine purpose among all nations.