Israel

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Israel

/ˈɪz.ɹeɪ.əl/
/ˈɪz.ɹi.əl/
/ˈɪz.ɹeɪl/ US
/ˈɪz.ɹeɪ.ɛl/
/ˈɪz.ɹaɪ.ɛl/
/ˈɪz.ɹɛəl/

Where it comes from

From Middle English Israel, from Old English, borrowed from Latin Israel, from Ancient Greek Ἰσραήλ (Israḗl), from Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל (yisra'él, “Israel”). In the Bible, it is said to be from the name יִשְׂרֶה אֵל (yisré 'él) given to Jacob in Genesis 32:29, after which his descendants came to be known as Israelites and their land as the "kingdom/land of Israel". The personal name, already attested in Eblaite 𒅖𒊏𒅋 (iš-ra-il) and Ugaritic 𐎊𐎌𐎗𐎛𐎍 (yšrỉl), has been variously translated as "he wrestles with God", "he prevails with God", or "God rules" (possibly from the same root ש־ר־ה/ש־ר־ר as שָׂרָה (“Sarah”)).

Line 27 of the Merneptah Stele (from about 1200 B.C.E.) is thought to contain the earliest attestation of the name Israel in any language, Egyptian ysrjꜣr.

: i-i-z:Z1s*Z1s:r-i-A-r:Z1*T14-A1*B1:Z2

Doublet of Yisroel.

proper noun Israels · Isr. · Isreal · Yisrael · Israhel

countable, uncountable A country in Western Asia in the Middle East, at the eastern shore of the Mediterranean. Official name: State of Israel. If we look at the Middle East, I think it’s about time we stop those of us, who support – as most of us do – Israel in this body, for apologizing for our support for Israel. There is no apology to be made. None. It is the best $3 billion investment we make. Were there not an Israel, the United State
Similar: State of Israel, Israhell, Jewsrael, Jewish state, Zionistan, Isn'treal, Zionist entity, Jewish colony, Zionist state
countable, uncountable A Biblical region of Western Asia roughly coextensive with the modern State of Israel, known in the Bible as the Land of Israel and considered the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people.
countable, historical, uncountable An ancient kingdom in Western Asia, roughly coextensive with the modern State of Israel and the Land of Israel.
Similar: Land of Israel, Palestine, Holy Land, Canaan
countable, historical, uncountable An ancient kingdom that occupied the northern part of the Land of Israel and modern State of Israel, as distinct from Judah.
countable, poetic, uncountable The Jews as a people, taken collectively. Hear O’ Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One
Similar: Children of Israel, Israelites, Jewry, Zion
countable, uncountable A male given name from Hebrew. IF VOLFER is happy, Transportation Minister Israel Katz seems almost jubilant.
countable, uncountable Another name for Jacob, notably after Genesis 32:28 and in later references. 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.
countable, uncountable A surname.
countable, uncountable A barangay of Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines. These are intended for the completion of the Construction of Level II Water System Project for barangays Mt. View, Little Baguio and Israel under the BuB-Water and Construction of Brgy. Bulongisan-Canaan Level II Water Supply under the SALINTUBIG Program.
Similar: Balian Israel

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: zion, yisrael, jerusalem, sharon, palestinian, syria, lebanon, israeli, zionist, hebrew, dayan, judah, barak, charette, country, mossad

Translations

Every language

name the state

Español	Israel
한국어	이스라엘 Iseura'el
日本語	イスラエル Isuraeru
中文	以色列 Yǐsèliè, 以國 /以国 Yǐguó, 一賜樂業 /一赐乐业 Yīcìlèyè
हिन्दी	इसराइल isrāil
Kiswahili	Israeli
Português	Israel
Français	Israël
Deutsch	Israel
Italiano	Israele
Ελληνικά	Ισραήλ Israḯl
Română	Israel
Русский	Изра́иль Izráilʹ
Tiếng Việt	I-xra-en, Ít-ra-en, Y-sơ-ra-ên
العربية	إِسْرَائِيل ʔisrāʔīl, دولة إسرائيل
עברית	יִשְׂרָאֵל yisra'el

name Biblical: name given to Jacob

Español	Israel
日本語	イスラエル
中文	以色列 Yǐsèliè
हिन्दी	इसराइल isrāil
Português	Israel
Français	Israël
Deutsch	Israel
Italiano	Israele
Română	Israel
Русский	Изра́иль Izráilʹ, Израи́л Izraíl, Исраэ́ль Israélʹ
العربية	إِسْرَائِيل ʔisrāʔīl
עברית	יִשְׂרָאֵל yisra'el

name given name

Português	Israel
Français	Israël
Italiano	Israele
Русский	Изра́иль Izráilʹ, Израи́л Izraíl, Исраэ́ль Israélʹ
العربية	إِسْرَائِيل ʔisrāʔīl
עברית	יִשְׂרָאֵל yisra'él

name the region

हिन्दी	इसराइल isrāil
עברית	אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל

name the ancient kingdom

हिन्दी	इसराइल isrāil

name the Jews, taken collectively

हिन्दी	इसराइल isrāil
Português	Israel
עברית	עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל ám yisra'él, יִשְׂרָאֵל yisra'él

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Cite this

MLA

"Israel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/israel. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

Israel. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/israel

Chicago

"Israel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/israel.

BibTeX

@misc{israel_2026,
  title = {Israel},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/israel},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}