Genesis 32:28

Israel That is, He who striveth with God, or, God striveth. The name is clearly a title of victory, from a root meaning "to persevere." (a) The meaning seems here to be applied to Jacob as "the perseverer with God." It is commonly compared with Jerubbaal = "he that striveth with Baal" (Judges 6:32). The prophet Hosea gives this meaning in Genesis 12:3-4, "in his manhood [or -strength"] he had power [or -persevered," -strove"] with God; yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed." (b) The meaning, on the analogy of similarly formed words, would be "El persevereth"; and would be exactly similar to Seraiah = "Jah perseveres"; Ishmael = "God hears." Another suggested derivation is from sar= "prince." See another account of the origin of the name "Israel" given by P in Genesis 35:10.

The narrative of

J, from this point onwards, shews a marked preference for the name "Israel" in its application to the patriarch.

The name of "Israel" has been found, as is generally believed, in the inscription of the Egyptian king, Merneptah (circ. 1230 b.c.), as Ysir'r; and in Assyrian inscriptions as Sirlai.

thou hast striven, &c. R.V. marg. thou hast had power with God, and thou shalt prevail against men. LXX ἐνίσχυσας … δυνατὸς ἔσῃ; Lat. fortis fuisti … praevalebis. Jacob had prevailed in his contest with Laban; now, also, the promise of deliverance from Esau is contained in the pasttense, "hast striven and hast prevailed." The rendering of the R.V. text gives the literal translation of the Hebrew. The past and the future are embraced in one thought.