Ἰσραήλ
Israḗl
G2474 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun denoting (1) the patriarch Israel (the renamed Jacob, son of Isaac); (2) a collective term for his descendants, the Israelites; (3) a term for the covenant people descended from Jacob/Israel and, by extension or in certain contexts, their polity or territory. Used also in post-exilic and Second Temple literature for the elect or faithful people distinct from other groups. Depending on context, may refer variously to the patriarch, the ancestral-national entity, the community of his descendants, or an eschatological group.
Semantic Range
the patriarch Israel (Jacob); the collective descendants of Jacob; the people or nation of Israel; the polity or territory of Israel; an eschatological or ideal 'people of God' in certain contexts
Root / Etymology
Greek Ἰσραήλ is a transliteration of the Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yiśrā’ēl), meaning 'El/God perseveres', 'God prevails', or 'one who strives with God'. The Greek form reproduces the consonantal and approximate vocalic shape of the Hebrew name. The etymology is rooted in the Genesis narrative (Gen 32:28), where the naming is linked to striving with God and humans.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In earliest usage (Septuagint and Hellenistic Jewish literature), Ἰσραήλ refers principally to the patriarch Jacob after receiving his new name, and collectively to his descendants, the Israelites—traditionally understood as comprising the twelve tribes. In the Hebrew Bible and the Greek Septuagint, Ἰσραὴλ as a people is contrasted with other ethnonyms (e.g., Ἰουδαῖοι/Judeans, ἐθνῆ/Gentiles). In post-exilic Hebrew and especially in Second Temple texts, the name 'Israel' retained both genealogical (descendants of Jacob) and covenantal/religious nuances—sometimes denoting the faithful remnant or the idealized people of God. In New Testament texts, Ἰσραήλ can refer to the ethnic/covenant people, their land, or, in a theological or eschatological sense, those counted among God's people (e.g., 'the true Israel', 'Israel of God'); however, these meanings must be determined carefully by context. English translations usually render Ἰσραὴλ as 'Israel', but this may not convey all nuances present in the original usage, especially the distinction between the patriarch himself, the ancestral collective, the polity, or an eschatological group. In the Greek translation tradition, Ἰσραὴλ was never replaced with a Greek ethnonym, preserving its foreign and ancient character. Distinct from Ἰουδαῖος (Judean), which refers to inhabitants of Judea or members of the Southern Kingdom after the division. 'Israel' and 'Judea/Judeans' remain distinct and overlapping terms within Second Temple and New Testament usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (יִשְׂרָאֵל); Israel (i.e. Jisrael), the adopted name of Jacob, including his descendants (literally or figuratively):--Israel.
Root Family
Ἰσραήλ (Israḗl) — Israel (proper name), the patriarch Jacob, his descendants
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2474-01 |
Ἰσραήλ | israel | N ACC M SG |
Israel | Israel | Israel | 68 |
Occurrences in Scripture
68 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2474-01 |
Romans 10:19 | Ἰσραὴλ | israel | N NOM M SG |
Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
Romans 10:21 | Ἰσραὴλ | israel | N ACC M SG |
Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
Romans 11:2 | Ἰσραήλ | israel | N GEN M SG |
Israel | Israel | |
G2474-01 |
Romans 11:7 | Ἰσραήλ | israel | N NOM M SG |
Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
Romans 11:25 | Ἰσραὴλ | israel | N DAT M SG |
Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
Romans 11:26 | Ἰσραὴλ | israel | N NOM M SG |
Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
1 Corinthians 10:18 | Ἰσραὴλ | israel | N ACC M SG |
Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
2 Corinthians 3:7 | Ἰσραὴλ | israel | N GEN M SG |
Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
2 Corinthians 3:13 | Ἰσραὴλ | israel | N GEN M SG |
of Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
Galatians 6:16 | Ἰσραὴλ | israel | N ACC M SG |
Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
Ephesians 2:12 | Ἰσραὴλ | israel | N GEN M SG |
Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
Philippians 3:5 | Ἰσραήλ | israel | N GEN M SG |
Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
Hebrews 8:8 | Ἰσραὴλ | israel | N GEN M SG |
of Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
Hebrews 8:10 | Ἰσραὴλ | israel | N GEN M SG |
of Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
Hebrews 11:22 | Ἰσραὴλ | israel | N GEN M SG |
of Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
Revelation 2:14 | Ἰσραήλ | israel | N GEN M SG |
of Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
Revelation 7:4 | Ἰσραήλ | israel | N GEN M SG |
of Israel | Israel | Israel |
G2474-01 |
Revelation 21:12 | Ἰσραήλ | israel | N GEN M SG |
Israel | Israel | Israel |