Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The name "Israel" signifies not just that Jacob prevailed in his struggle, but that he has been made a "prince with God," meaning he now has a recognized standing and authority in his dealings with the divine. This wasn't just a physical wrestling match; it was a profound encounter that re-established Jacob's relationship with God, giving him a new identity rooted in divine favor.
Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This pivotal moment occurs after Jacob, fleeing from his brother Esau, spends a tense night alone by the Jabbok river. He wrestles with a divine being until dawn, a struggle that leaves him physically injured but spiritually transformed. This encounter directly precedes his meeting with Esau, setting the stage for their reconciliation and Jacob's new identity.
Jacob wrestled all night, and when the dust settled, he was fundamentally different. His name change wasn't just a new title; it marked a profound transformation.
Jacob’s name change from “Jacob” (meaning supplanter or heel-grabber) to “Israel” (meaning prince of God or one who strives with God) wasn’t merely an external award. It was the culmination of an intense, all-night struggle.
From Self-Reliance to Divine Dependence
Before this encounter, Jacob was known for his cleverness and his reliance on his own schemes to get ahead. He had supplanted his brother Esau and outwitted his father-in-law Laban. But in this wrestling match, his own strength failed him. When the divine opponent touched his thigh, Jacob was disabled. This physical injury mirrored his spiritual state: his self-reliance was broken.
Victory Through Surrender
It was in his weakness and surrender that Jacob found true strength. He clung to his opponent, refusing to let go until he received a blessing. This wasn’t the strength of a schemer, but the tenacity of someone utterly dependent on God. The name 'Israel' signifies this new reality – a prince with God, not by his own might, but through perseverance and surrender.
Receiving a new name in the ancient world was more than just a label; it was a declaration of identity, destiny, and divine favor. Jacob’s renaming was a pivotal moment.
The renaming of Jacob to Israel signifies a shift in his identity and purpose. The old name, Jacob, carried connotations of trickery and self-interest. The new name, Israel, is rich with meaning, suggesting someone who has wrestled with God and emerged victorious, a prince in God's sight.
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From Deception to Divine Trust
'Jacob' means supplanter or deceiver, reflecting his past. 'Israel' signifies 'he strives with God' or 'prince of God.' This new name wasn't just given; it was earned through a night of intense spiritual struggle and surrender. The narrative emphasizes that Jacob didn't just win a physical contest; he prevailed with God.
A Foundation for a Nation
This transformation is foundational. Jacob, now Israel, becomes the patriarch of a nation that would bear this very name. The struggles and triumphs of Israel the man set the stage for the identity and destiny of Israel the people. His new name declared his new character: no longer defined by his past deceptions, but by his present reliance on and relationship with God.
Understand the original words
Yisra'el · Hebrew Proper Noun
A name meaning 'God strives' or 'he who struggles with God.' It marks the transition of the patriarch from a self-reliant deceiver to a person who has wrestled with God and received His favor.
sarah · Hebrew Verb
To struggle, wrestle, or contend, often used in the context of persistent, strenuous, and intense exertion in the face of conflict or resistance.
Elohim · Hebrew Proper Noun
The sovereign Creator and Ruler of the universe, the covenant God of Israel who is distinct from, yet intimately involved with, His creation.
yakol · Hebrew Verb
To gain superiority, triumph, or be victorious in a conflict or test, frequently indicating a victory granted by divine intervention or endurance.
This divine encounter marks a profound transformation for Jacob, shifting his identity from a schemer relying on his own cunning to 'Israel,' a name signifying one who struggles with God and prevails, ready to face his brother and his future with newfound divine assurance.
c. 1800 BC
Jacob's youth and deception
Jacob, son of Isaac, deceives his elder brother Esau to obtain the birthright and later Isaac's blessing, forcing him to flee his home.
c. 1793 BC
Jacob flees to Haran
Jacob escapes to Haran to avoid Esau's wrath, beginning a long period of service under his uncle Laban.
c. 1776 BC
Jacob's return journey begins
After 20 years, Jacob, now prosperous with a large family, begins his journey back to Canaan, facing the imminent threat of meeting Esau.
c. 1775 BC— this verse
Jacob wrestles with God
Jacob wrestles with a divine being at the Jabbok ford throughout the night, receiving a divine blessing and a new name, Israel.
c. 1775 BC
Jacob meets Esau
Jacob, now renamed Israel, encounters Esau, who surprisingly receives him peacefully, indicating a reconciliation.
c. 1775 BC
Jacob settles in Canaan
Israel settles in the land of Canaan, eventually establishing a significant presence for his descendants.
This passage directly references Jacob's struggle, calling him 'prince with God' and mentioning that he 'prevailed over the angel and was strengthened,' echoing the core meaning of the name 'Israel' and the event in Genesis 32.
Romans 8:28This verse speaks to God's overarching plan, assuring believers that 'all things work together for good.' This resonates with Jacob's struggle and eventual transformation, where even a difficult wrestling match with God led to a new identity and a greater purpose.
John 1:12This verse states, 'But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.' Jacob’s struggle and receiving the new name 'Israel' (meaning striving with God) parallels the idea of receiving a new identity and status through faith and God's action.
Galatians 3:26-29Paul explains that through faith in Christ, 'you are all sons of God' and are clothed in Christ, making distinctions of identity based on earthly lineage irrelevant. This highlights how, like Jacob receiving a new name from God, our true identity in Christ transcends our previous selves.
Philippians 2:12-13This passage urges believers to 'work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you.' This reflects the dynamic of Jacob's struggle—his effort ('striving') was met by God's divine action and transformation, leading to a new reality and name.
calvinGenesis 32:1-32: "And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him."
And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.
Et dicetis etiam, Ecce servus tuus Iahacob est post nos: dixit enim, Placabo faciem ejus munere, quod vadit ante me, et postea videbo faciem ejus, si forte suscipiat faciem meam.
So went the present over be…
pooleGenesis 32:28: "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."
No more Jacob, not Jacob only. See the like manner of expression 1 Samuel 8:7 Jeremiah 23:7 John 7:16 1 Corinthians 1:17 . Israel signifies a prince or prevailer with God; or, a prince of God, i.e. a great prince and conqueror. Thou hast in some sort conquered both God in this conflict and men, Laban, Esau, &c., and hast prevailed; or, and…
The name "Israel" signifies not just that Jacob prevailed in his struggle, but that he has been made a "prince with God," meaning he now has a recognized standing and authority in his dealings with the divine. This wasn't just a physical wrestling match; it was a profound encounter that re-established Jacob's relationship with God, giving him a new identity rooted in divine favor.
This pivotal moment occurs after Jacob, fleeing from his brother Esau, spends a tense night alone by the Jabbok river. He wrestles with a divine being until dawn, a struggle that leaves him physically injured but spiritually transformed. This encounter directly precedes his meeting with Esau, setting the stage for their reconciliation and Jacob's new identity.
This pivotal moment occurs after Jacob, fleeing from his brother Esau, spends a tense night alone by the Jabbok river. He wrestles with a divine being until dawn, a struggle that leaves him physically injured but spiritually transformed. This encounter directly precedes his meeting with Esau, setting the stage for their reconciliation and Jacob's new identity.
"Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”" — The name "Israel" signifies not just that Jacob prevailed in his struggle, but that he has been made a "prince with God," meaning he now has a recognized standing and authority in his dealings with…
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Last reviewed October 2026