“And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”
Then the man said: your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome. Israel means one who struggles with God. The name change is the covenant transformation — the heel-grabber becomes the one who has wrestled with God and survived. Matthew 16:18 records Jesus renaming Peter — the same pattern of covenant name given at the moment of decisive encounter. The application: the name God gives at transformation defines the covenant identity going forward. Jacob becomes Israel.
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a note on this verse
0/2000
No notes on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!