israel
israel Lexical Profile
• noun
A country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea, possessing profound historical and religious significance and established as a modern state in 1948.
"She traveled to Israel to study Middle Eastern history at a university in Jerusalem."
The biblical land promised to the Israelites in antiquity, or the descendants of the patriarch Jacob considered collectively as a people.
"In the historical narrative of the Exodus, the children of Israel were led out of Egypt to seek the Promised Land."
Word Nuance & Usage
In contemporary usage, 'Israel' typically refers to the modern nation-state established in 1948, whereas in biblical and historical texts, it may refer to the ancient Land of Israel, the northern kingdom of the Israelites, or the Jewish people collectively.
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew name 'Yisra'el', meaning 'he who wrestles with God' or 'God perseveres'. In biblical tradition, it is the name given to the patriarch Jacob after he wrestled with an angel.