Etymology and Meaning:
The name "Jeshurun" (Hebrew: יְשֻׁרוּן, Yeshurun) is a poetic designation for Israel found in the Hebrew Bible. It is derived from a root word meaning "upright" or "straight," suggesting a sense of righteousness or integrity. The term is often understood as an affectionate or honorific title for the nation of Israel, emphasizing its ideal character as God's chosen people.

Biblical References:
Jeshurun appears four times in the Old Testament, specifically in the books of Deuteronomy and Isaiah. Each occurrence highlights different aspects of Israel's relationship with God.

1. Deuteronomy 32:15 :
"But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; you grew fat, thick, and sleek—he abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation."
In this passage, Jeshurun is used to describe Israel in a state of complacency and rebellion. Despite being blessed and prospered by God, Israel turns away, illustrating the nation's tendency to forget its dependence on the Lord.

2. Deuteronomy 33:5 :
"So the LORD became King in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people gathered, together with the tribes of Israel."
Here, Jeshurun is depicted as a united and organized nation under God's kingship. This verse is part of Moses' blessing to the tribes of Israel, highlighting the ideal of Israel's unity and submission to divine authority.

3. Deuteronomy 33:26 :
"There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your aid, and the clouds in His majesty."
This verse emphasizes God's unique and powerful role as the protector and helper of Jeshurun. It portrays the divine majesty and readiness to support Israel, reinforcing the special relationship between God and His people.

4. Isaiah 44:2 :
"This is the word of the LORD your Maker, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen."
In Isaiah, Jeshurun is used as a term of endearment, underscoring God's ongoing commitment and choice of Israel. It reassures the people of God's help and presence, despite their fears and challenges.

Theological Significance:
Jeshurun serves as a reminder of Israel's calling to live uprightly before God. It reflects both the nation's potential for righteousness and its frequent failures to maintain faithfulness. The use of Jeshurun in Scripture underscores the tension between Israel's identity as God's chosen people and their recurring disobedience. It also highlights God's enduring grace and commitment to His covenant, despite Israel's shortcomings.

Historical and Cultural Context:
The term Jeshurun is believed to have been used during the time of Moses and the early monarchy, reflecting the ideal vision of Israel as a nation under God's rule. It captures the aspirations of the Israelites to be a people set apart for holiness and justice, living in accordance with divine law.

Interpretation in Jewish and Christian Traditions:
In Jewish tradition, Jeshurun is often seen as a symbol of Israel's ideal state, a reminder of the nation's covenantal responsibilities. In Christian interpretation, Jeshurun can be viewed as a foreshadowing of the Church, called to live in righteousness and faithfulness to God through Christ. The name serves as a call to both communities to strive for holiness and to rely on God's grace and guidance.Jeshurun

(supremely happy), and once by mistake in Authorized Version JESURUN, (Isaiah 44:2) a symbolical name for Israel in (32:15; 33:5,26; Isaiah 44:2) It is most probably derived from a root signifying "to be blessed." With the intensive termination Jeshurun would then denote Israel as supremely happy or prosperous, and to this signification the context in (32:15) points.

Jeshurun

A poetical name of Israel, probably derived from a root meaning to be upright, and applied to the people of God as the objects of his justifying love, which does not "behold iniquity in Jacob," De 32:5 33:5,26 Isaiah 44:2.

A poetical name for the people of Israel, used in token of affection, meaning, "the dear upright people" (Deuteronomy 32:15; 33:5, 26; Isaiah 44:2). JESHURUN

je-shu'-run, jesh'-u-run (yeshurun, "upright one," Deuteronomy 32:15; Deuteronomy 33:5, 26 Isaiah 44:2): Septuagint translates it "the beloved one" egapemenos, the perfect participle passive of agapao), and in Isaiah 44:2 adds "Israel"; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) has dilectus in Deuteronomy 32:15, elsewhere rectissimus; Aquila, Symmachus, Theodotion have "upright." For the form, Duhm compares zebhulun, Zebulun.

(1) The name used to be explained as a diminutive form, a pet name, and some, e.g. Cornill, Schultz (Old Testament Theology, English translation, II, 29, note 12) still explain it so, "the righteous little people." But there is no evidence that the ending -un had a diminutive force.

(2) Most moderns take it as a poetical or ideal title of Israel, derived from yashar, "upright"; it is held to contain a tacit reference to the word Israel (yisra'el), of which the first three consonants are almost the same as those of "Jeshurun"; in Numbers 23:10 the term "the righteous ones" (yesharim) is supposed to contain a similar reference. Most commentators compare also "the Book of Jashar," and it has been held that "Jashar" is similarly a name by which Israel is called.

See JASHAR.

Following Bacher (ZATW, 1885, 161;), commentators hold that in Isaiah this new name, a coinage due to the author of Second Isaiah and adopted in Deuteronomy, stands in contrast to Jacob, "the supplanter," as his name was explained by the Hebrews (compare Hosea 12:2-4). Israel is here given a new name, "the upright, pious one," and with the new name goes new chance in life, to live up to its meaning. Driver (Deuteronomy, 361) says that in Deuteronomy 32:15 "where the context is of declension from its ideal (it is) applied reproachfully. `Nomen Recti pro Israele ponens, ironice eos perstringit qui a rectitudine defecerant' (Calv.). Elsewhere it is used as a title of honor." the King James Version has "Jesurun" in Isaiah 44:2.

David Francis Roberts

3484. Yeshurun -- "upright one," poetic name for Isr.
... "upright one," poetic name for Isr. Transliteration: Yeshurun Phonetic Spelling:
(yesh-oo-roon') Short Definition: Jeshurun. ... NASB Word Usage Jeshurun (4). ...
/hebrew/3484.htm - 6k

Jacob --Israel --Jeshurun
... JACOB"ISRAEL"JESHURUN. 'Yet ... chosen.... Fear not, O Jacob, My servant;
and thou, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. "Isaiah 44:1, 2. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/jacobisraeljeshurun.htm

Wesley's Hymns Reconsidered
... But how much farther can we go? What does a modern congregation make of.
None is like Jeshurun's God? We may not have got to the ...
/.../the hymns of wesley and watts five papers/wesleys hymns reconsidered.htm

The Loved Ones Chastened
... Like Jeshurun of old, of whom it is said, "Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked." Let us
for a little time enjoy the full assurance of faith; self-conceit whispers ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the loved ones chastened.htm

Expositions of Holy Scripture
... THE BLIND MAN'S GUIDE. THY NAME: MY NAME. JACOB--ISRAEL--JESHURUN. FEEDING ON
ASHES. WRITING BLOTTED OUT AND MIST MELTED. HIDDEN AND REVEALED. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/

The First Season
... "then beware lest thou forget the Lord." So indeed it happened: for "Jeshurun waxed
fat and kicked." How then may a Christian keep his heart from pride and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/i the first season.htm

Christ is Glorious --Let us Make Him Known
... Thou King in Jeshurun, we pay thee homage with loyal hearts; we come into thy presence
with thanksgiving, and into thy courts with praise, for thou art our God ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/christ is gloriouslet us make.htm

The Death of Moses
... all. 'There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the
heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. The ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon xviii the death of.htm

What and Whence are These?
... Moses was king in Jeshurun, but his yoke, as a servant of the Lord, was a very heavy
one; for all the day long was he vexed with the rebellions of a wayward ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/what and whence are these.htm

Jesus Only
... awed them, and it would have been no mean thing for man of humble origin like
themselves to walk down the mountain with that mighty king in Jeshurun, who had ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 16 1870/jesus only.htm

1 Timothy iv. 3-Jan
... But they might have learned how pernicious luxury was from that saying of Moses,
"Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked." (Deuteronomy 32:15.) Another cause of these ...
/.../homily xii 1 timothy iv.htm

Jeshurun (4 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. JESHURUN. ... Multi-Version Concordance Jeshurun (4
Occurrences). Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. ...
/j/jeshurun.htm - 10k

Jesh'urun (2 Occurrences)
Jesh'urun. Jeshurun, Jesh'urun. Jeshu'run . Multi-Version Concordance
Jesh'urun (2 Occurrences). ... (See RSV). Jeshurun, Jesh'urun. Jeshu'run . Reference
/j/jesh'urun.htm - 6k

Jeshuah (1 Occurrence)

/j/jeshuah.htm - 9k

Kicked (9 Occurrences)
... YLT). Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You have grown
fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. Then ...
/k/kicked.htm - 9k

Jeshu'run (1 Occurrence)
... Isaiah 44:2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, who
will help thee: Fear not, O Jacob My servant, and thou, Jeshurun, whom I ...
/j/jeshu'run.htm - 6k

Lightly (31 Occurrences)
... eyes. (YLT). Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You have
grown fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. ...
/l/lightly.htm - 16k

Forming (27 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 44:2 The Lord who made you, forming you in your mother's body, the Lord,
your helper, says, Have no fear, O Jacob my servant, and you, Jeshurun, whom I ...
/f/forming.htm - 14k

Forsook (37 Occurrences)
... RSV). Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You have grown
fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. Then ...
/f/forsook.htm - 17k

Riding (30 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 33:26 There is none like the God of Jeshurun, Riding the heavens
in thy help, And in His excellency the skies. (YLT). ...
/r/riding.htm - 16k

Rides (10 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS RSV). Deuteronomy 33:26 "There is none like God, Jeshurun, who rides on
the heavens for your help, In his excellency on the skies. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). ...
/r/rides.htm - 9k

What does it mean that God is the God of Jeshurun? | GotQuestions.org

The Identity of God ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org

Why did God choose Israel to be His chosen people? | GotQuestions.org

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