# Israel, Israelites

## Facts:

The term “Israel” is the name that God gave to Jacob. Often it refers to the nation that is descended from him.

* The name Israel probably means “He struggles with God.”
* The descendants of Jacob became known as the “sons of Israel” or the “people of Israel” or the “nation of Israel” or the “Israelites.”
* God formed his covenant with the people of Israel. They were his chosen people.
* The nation of Israel consisted of twelve tribes.
* Soon after King Solomon died, Israel was divided into two kingdoms: the southern kingdom, called “Judah,” and the northern kingdom, called “Israel.”
* Often the term “Israel” can be translated as “the people of Israel” or “the nation of Israel,” depending on the context.

(See also: [Jacob](../names/jacob.md), [kingdom of Israel](../names/kingdomofisrael.md), [Judah](../names/kingdomofjudah.md), [nation](../other/nation.md), [twelve tribes of Israel](../other/12tribesofisrael.md))

## Bible References:

* [1 Chronicles 10:1](rc://en/tn/help/1ch/10/01)
* [1 Kings 8:2](rc://en/tn/help/1ki/08/02)
* [Acts 2:36](rc://en/tn/help/act/02/36)
* [Acts 7:24](rc://en/tn/help/act/07/24)
* [Acts 13:23](rc://en/tn/help/act/13/23)
* [John 1:49-51](rc://en/tn/help/jhn/01/49)
* [Luke 24:21](rc://en/tn/help/luk/24/21)
* [Mark 12:29](rc://en/tn/help/mrk/12/29)
* [Matthew 2:6](rc://en/tn/help/mat/02/06)
* [Matthew 27:9](rc://en/tn/help/mat/27/09)
* [Philippians 3:4-5](rc://en/tn/help/php/03/04)

## Examples from the Bible stories:

* __[8:15](rc://en/tn/help/obs/08/15)__ The descendants of the twelve sons became the twelve tribes of __Israel__.
* __[9:3](rc://en/tn/help/obs/09/03)__ The Egyptians forced the __Israelites__ to build many buildings and even whole cities.
* __[9:5](rc://en/tn/help/obs/09/05)__ A certain __Israelite__ woman gave birth to a baby boy.
* __[10:1](rc://en/tn/help/obs/10/01)__ They said, “This is what the God of __Israel__ says, ‘Let my people go!’”
* __[14:12](rc://en/tn/help/obs/14/12)__ But despite all this, the people of __Israel __ complained and grumbled against God and against Moses.
* __[15:9](rc://en/tn/help/obs/15/09)__ God fought for __Israel__ that day. He caused the Amorites to be confused and he sent large hailstones that killed many of the Amorites.
* __[15:12](rc://en/tn/help/obs/15/12)__ After this battle, God gave each tribe of __Israel __ its own section of the Promised Land. Then God gave __Israel__ peace along all its borders.
* __[16:16](rc://en/tn/help/obs/16/16)__ So God punished __Israel __ again for worshiping idols.
* __[43:6](rc://en/tn/help/obs/43/06)__ “Men of __Israel__, Jesus was a man who did many mighty signs and wonders by the power of God, as you have seen and already know.”

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H3478, H3479, H3481, H3482, G09350, G24740, G24750
