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Israel (name)
Israel is a Biblical  given name. The patriarch Jacob was given the name Israel (Hebrew: יִשְׂרָאֵל, Standard  Tiberian ; "Triumphant with God", "who prevails with God") after he wrestled with an angel ( and 35:10). The name already occurs in Eblaite and Ugaritic texts as a common name. Commentators differ on the original literal meaning. Some say the name comes from the verb śarar ("to rule, be strong, have authority over"), thereby making the name mean "God rules" or "God judges". Other possible meanings include "the prince of God" (from the King James Version) or "El fights/struggles". "The Jewish Study Bible" of Oxford University Press says on page 68 "The scientific etymology of Israel is uncertain, a good guess being '[The God] El rules.'" Jacob's descendants came to be known as the Israelites, eventually forming the tribes of Israel and ultimately the kingdom of Israel, whence came the name of modern-day Israel.

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