SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL (the name)

  1. Surprisingly the name's meaning is uncertain (BDB 975, KB 442). Here are some scholarly opinions.
    1. El Persists
    2. Let El Persist (JUSSIVE)
    3. El Preserves
    4. Let El Contend
    5. El Strives
    6. He who strives with God (word play Gen. 32:28)
    7. Reliable (IDB, vol. 2, p. 765)
    8. Successful
    9. Happy
    10. Ruling with God

  2. Usages in the OT
    1. Jacob's name (supplanter, heel grabber, BDB 784, KB 872, cf. Gen. 25:26) is changed after wrestling with the spiritual personage at the river Jabbok (cf. Gen. 32:22-32; Exod. 32:13).  Often the meanings of Hebrew names are sound plays, not etymologies (cf. Gen. 32:28).  "Israel" becomes his assigned name (e.g., Gen. 35:10).
    2. It came to be used as a collective name for all of Jacob's twelve sons (e.g., Gen. 32:32; 49:16; Exod. 1:7; 4:22; 28:11; Deut. 3:18; 10:6).
    3. It came to designate the nation formed by the twelve tribes before the exodus (cf. Gen. 47:27; Exod. 4:22; 5:2) and after (cf. Deut. 1:1; 18:6; 33:10).
    4. After the united monarchy of Saul, David, and Solomon the tribes split under Rehoboam (cf. 1 Kings 12) in 922 B.C.
      1. the distinction starts even before the official split (e.g., II Sam. 3:10; 5:5; 20:1; 24:9; 1 Kgs. 1:35; 4:20)
      2. designates the northern tribes until the fall of Samaria to Assyria in 722 B.C.(cf. 2 Kings 17).
    5. Used of Judah in a few places (e.g., Isaiah 1; Micah 1:15-16).
    6. After the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles it became again the collective name for all of Jacob's descendants living in Palestine (e.g., Isa. 17:7,9; Jer. 2:4; 50:17,19).
    7. Used of laity in contradistinction from priests (cf. 1 Chr. 9:2; Ezra 10:25; Neh. 11:3).

  3. Usages in the NT
    1. Used in connection to Genesis 12; 15; 22
      1. Used of the Jewish nation of the time from the Maccabees to the fall of Jerusalem (i.e., Matt. 2:20,21; 8:10; 9:33; 10:6,23; 15:24; 27:42; Mark 15:32; Luke 1:80; 2:25,34; 4:25,27; 7:9; 24:21; John 1:31,40; 3:10)
      2. The God of the Patriarchs (i.e., Matt. 16:31; Acts 13:7) and their descendants (i.e., Matt. 12:28; Luke 1:16; 22:30; Acts 2:22,36; 3:12; 4:10
      3. Used in tht title of Jewish leaders (i.e., Acts 4:8; 5:21)
    2. Paul uses it of "a faithful remnant" of true believers in Rom. 9:6; 11:25-26
    3. Steve Gregg, in his YouTube video, "Romans 9-11," asserts that it does not refer to a future promised restoration of the Jews to a homeland (also view his video on "The Modern State of Israel").
    4. Most of Abraham's descendants were not faithful followers. The Mosaic Covenant is a performance-based, conditional covenant. Its promises applied only to a faithful follower, not a racial/ethnic group

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE REMNANT

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

 

Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International