And God said unto him, Thy name [is] Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.
10. Israel shall be thy name ] This change of name has been mentioned by J in Gen 32:28. For the change, cf. Gen 17:5; Gen 17:15, where Abraham and Sarah receive a change of name associated with a special promise.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Israel shall be thy name. I do not repent of the change which I made of thy name, but I do again confirm it; and as then thou didst prevail over thy brother Esau, so now thou shalt prevail over those of whom thou art afraid.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And God said unto him, thy name [is] Jacob,…. Which his parents gave him at his birth, and by, which he had been always called:
thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name; not Jacob only, as Aben Ezra and Ben Melech interpret it, but Israel also, and that more commonly and frequently, and not only he himself personally, but his posterity also:
and he called his name Israel; confirmed the name he had before given him, Ge 32:28; and by this confirmation of it signifying, that as he had prevailed over his brother Esau, and escaped his hands, so he should prevail over all that rose up against him, and opposed him, even as he had power with God, and prevailed: though some think this name was only promised him before, but now actually given him; but then they take the angel that appeared wrestling with him in the likeness of a man to be a created angel, and that what he promised in the name of God was now made, good by God himself; there is great reason to believe that that angel was the increased one, the Son of God, as here also.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
10. Thy name shall not be called any more Jacob. We have before given the meaning of these words. The former name is not abolished, but the dignity of the other, which was afterwards put upon him, is preferred: for he was called Jacob from the womb, because he had strongly wrestled with his brother; but he was afterwards called Israel, because he entered into contest with God, and obtained the victory; not that he had prevailed by his own power, (for he had borrowed courage and strength and arms from God alone,) but because it was the Lord’s will freely to confer upon him this honor. He therefore speaks comparatively, showing that the name Jacob is obscure and ignoble when compared with the name Israel. Some understand it thus, “Not only shalt thou be called Jacob, but the surname of Israel shall be added;” yet the former exposition seems to me the more simple; namely, that the old name, having in it less of splendor, should give place to the second. What Augustine adduces is specious rather than solid; namely, that he was called Jacob in reference to his present life, but Israel in reference to his future life. Let this, however, be regarded as settled, that a double name was given to the holy man, of which one was by far the most excellent; for we see that the prophets often combine them both, thus marking the constancy of God’s grace from the beginning to the end.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
‘And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name will not any longer be called Jacob, but Israel will be your name. And he called his name Israel.” ’
A change of name for Abram occurred at God’s first revelation of Himself as El Shaddai, and here a second change of name is referred to on God’s second revelation of Himself as El Shaddai. It would appear that such revelations required the transformation of the recipients resulting in a change of name.
But as we know, Jacob had already been given this name after wrestling with God at Penuel (Gen 32:28), and he had subsequently erected an altar to ‘God, the God of Israel’ (Gen 33:20). But he had delayed in returning to the family tribe and as so often in men’s lives such life-changing events can dim with time. The idea of him as Israel has become faded. It is almost forgotten. The old Jacob had reasserted itself. Thus at this crucial renewing of the covenant at Bethel the change of name is renewed and emphasised. It is emphasising that what happened at Penuel is now to come into fruition. He is to be Israel.
A change of name in ancient days was seen as having deep significance. This is why at this crucial moment in the life of Jacob and of the tribe God emphasises his changed name. He must remember that he is no longer Jacob, but Israel. The past is behind him. The old Jacob is behind him. This is a new beginning. He is the one with whom God has striven and through whom He will carry out his purposes (Israel means ‘God strives’).
We may see here an implied rebuke against Jacob’s long stay in Succoth and Shechem. He had previously been given the new name of Israel preparatory to returning to the family tribe. But he had not done so, he had delayed. Now it is necessary for him to be renamed after the period of backsliding. It is a salutary thought that had he previously been faithful the shame of Shechem would not have occurred.
This change of name is emphasised later in the following verses. Once his twelfth son has been born and the full complement of sons made up he will journey on as Israel (Gen 35:21). This also coincides with the death of Rachel. It is as though with her death, with the great hold she had had on him, he is now free to be what God wants him to be.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 32:28 Glorious name! El Shaddai, GOD All-mighty, GOD All-sufficient. As much as to say, I am able to fulfil all my promises. See what they are, Gen 17:1-9 . Confirmed to Jacob personally; Gen 28:13-15 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 35:10 And God said unto him, Thy name [is] Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.
Ver. 10. And God said unto him, &c. ] It is usual with God to revive and renew the promises with fresh supplies of comforts upon the hearts of his faithful servants, for the further confirmation of their faith and hope. Thus he seals to us at every sacrament, besides those sweet supplies of the Spirit of promise, , Php 1:19 whereby we are daily sealed to the day of redemption, as the merchant’s goods are signed with his seal. Eph 1:13 ; Eph 4:30
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Israel = GOD rules. See note on Gen 32:28.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Gen 17:5, Gen 17:15, Gen 32:27, Gen 32:28, 1Ki 18:31, 2Ki 17:34
Reciprocal: Gen 49:24 – the mighty 1Ch 16:13 – ye seed 2Ch 6:14 – O Lord God Isa 48:1 – which are
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 35:10-11. He called his name Israel So he had been named by the angel that wrestled with him, (Gen 32:28,) and the change of his name, then made, is here confirmed and ratified by the Divine Majesty, to encourage him against the fear of the Canaanites, and to assure him that, as he had prevailed over Esau, so he should now prevail over those of whom he was afraid. And he here renews and ratifies the covenant with him by the name of El-Shaddai, God all-sufficient, to fulfil his promises in due time, and to protect and provide for him at the present. Two things are here promised him; 1st, That he should be the father of a great nation; great in number, a company of nations shall be of thee. Every tribe of Israel was a nation, and all the twelve, a company of nations; great in honour and power; kings shall come out of thy loins. 2d, That he should be master of a good land, (Gen 35:12,) the land that was given to Abraham and Isaac being here entailed on Jacob and his seed. These two promises had also a spiritual signification, which we may suppose Jacob himself had some notion of; for, without doubt, Christ is the promised seed, and heaven is the promised land; the former is the foundation, and the latter the top-stone of all Gods favours.