Song of Solomon 3:7 — Word Study
WLCהִנֵּ֗ה מִטָּתוֹ֙ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹ֔ה שִׁשִּׁ֥ים גִּבֹּרִ֖ים סָבִ֣יב לָ֑הּ מִגִּבֹּרֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
BSABeholdhinnêh [look, see] it is Solomon’sShᵉlômôh [the king of Israel] carriagemiṭṭâh [bed, litter, or sedan chair] escortedçâbîyb by sixtyshishshîym [threescore] of the mightiest mengibbôwr [strongest, most valiant, warriors, champions] of IsraelYisrâʼêl [the descendants of Jacob]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הִנֵּ֗ה | there! | Particle |
| מִטָּתוֹ֙ | bed his | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹ֔ה | which [belongs] to Solomon | Particle, preposition, noun proper masculine |
| שִׁשִּׁ֥ים | sixty | Adj |
| גִּבֹּרִ֖ים | warriors | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| סָבִ֣יב | [are] around | Noun common, both singular absolute |
| לָ֑הּ | it | Preposition, suffix |
| מִגִּבֹּרֵ֖י | some of [the] warriors of | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct |
| יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | Israel | Noun proper |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel. |
| KJV | Behold his bed, which is Solomon’s; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel. |
| ASV | Behold, it is the litter of Solomon; Threescore mighty men are about it, Of the mighty men of Israel. |
| YLT | Lo, his couch, that [is] Solomon's, Sixty mighty ones [are] around it, Of the mighty of Israel, |
| WEB | Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage! Sixty mighty men are around it, of the mighty men of Israel. |
| BBE | See, it is the bed of Solomon; sixty men of war are about it, of the army of Israel, |
Where they part company is שִׁשִּׁ֥ים — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause presents the subject, while the prepositional phrase elaborates on the escort, creating a clear image of the scene.
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Song of Solomon 3:7
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Royal Procession of Solomongenerated
Song of Solomon 3:7 presents a vivid image of King Solomon's carriage, which is escorted by a formidable group of sixty warriors. This scene highlights not only the king's status but also the strength of his retinue, emphasizing the grandeur of his royal presence. The surrounding context describes the beauty and majesty of the procession, drawing attention to the king's importance and the loyalty of his men, as seen in the verses before and after this one.
The Key Word — שִׁשִּׁ֥ים, shi.Shimgenerated
The word שִׁשִּׁים (shi.Shim) simply denotes the number sixty. It is derived from a root associated with counting and is commonly used in the Hebrew Bible to represent a quantity of sixty, often in military or large group contexts.
In this verse, it signifies the number of mighty men accompanying Solomon, underscoring the strength of his guard. The use of this numeral conveys not just quantity but also the significance of having such a formidable escort.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB has sixty, which is also used by the KJV, ASV, and other versions.
Where others part company with the BSB they part company over the rendering of שִׁשִּׁ֥ים. Some versions, like the ASV and KJV, use threescore, reflecting an older style of English.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of a main clause describing Solomon's carriage, with additional phrases providing detail about the warriors surrounding it. The structure emphasizes the carriage first, followed by the description of the escort, which highlights the importance of both elements.
The finite verb is implicit in the description of the carriage and its escort, with the noun phrases providing the main subjects and their attributes, creating a vivid image of the royal procession.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שִׁשִּׁים as ἑχήκοντα, which means sixty. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew, maintaining the numerical value while adapting to the Greek language.
The translation shows a direct correspondence in meaning, indicating that the LXX translators recognized the significance of the number as it pertains to the might of Solomon's warriors.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Song of Solomon 3:7 describes Solomon's carriage, which is surrounded by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel. This highlights the king's grandeur and the strength of his escort, emphasizing the royal authority and the loyalty of his warriors.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The number sixty represents a significant group of warriors, indicating the strength and protection surrounding King Solomon.
The detailed description of Solomon's carriage emphasizes his royal status and the grandeur of his procession.
The term 'mighty men' refers to strong and valiant warriors, highlighting the elite status of those who serve Solomon.
This verse contributes to the overall theme of love, beauty, and majesty, illustrating the splendor of Solomon and his court.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What qualities do you think made these warriors 'mighty' in the context of their service to Solomon?
- How does the imagery of Solomon's carriage enhance your understanding of his character as a king?
- In what ways can the loyalty of Solomon's warriors inspire us in our own commitments?
- How does this verse reflect the cultural significance of royal processions in ancient Israel?
The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel.
Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage! Sixty mighty men are around it, of the mighty men of Israel.
Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel.
Look! It is Solomon’s portable couch! It is surrounded by sixty warriors, some of Israel’s mightiest warriors.
Tyndale line
Behold his bed, which is Solomon’s; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.
Behold, it is the litter of Solomon; Threescore mighty men are about it, Of the mighty men of Israel.
Behold, it is the litter of Solomon; threescore mighty men are about it, of the mighty men of Israel.
Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; sixty valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.
Beholde his bed, which is Salomons: threescore strong men are round about it, of the valiant men of Israel.
Strictly literal
Behold his couch, Solomon's own: Threescore mighty men are about it, Of the mighty of Israel.
Lo, his couch, that [is] Solomon's, Sixty mighty ones [are] around it, Of the mighty of Israel,
Behold, his couch, that [is] of Solomon, || Sixty mighty ones [are] around it, || Of the mighty of Israel,
Behold, it is the bed, which is Solomon's, sixty valiant men are round about it, of the valiant ones of Israel.
Look, it is the bed of Solomon; sixty warriors surround it, sixty soldiers of Israel.
From the Latin
Behold threescore valiant ones of the most valiant of Israel, surrounded the bed of Solomon?
Simplified
Look, it's Solomon's sedan chair, accompanied by sixty of Israel's best warriors.
See, it is the bed of Solomon; sixty men of war are about it, of the army of Israel,
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads: "הִנֵּ֗ה מִטָּתוֹ֙ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹ֔ה שִׁשִּׁ֥ים גִּבֹּרִ֖ים סָבִ֣יב לָ֑הּ מִגִּבֹּרֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃" The Septuagint's word-by-word Greek matches 8 of the 9 words but has a different word order and articles. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q106 and 4Q108) contain similar phrases with some words restored by editors, indicating they agree with the Masoretic Text in essence but differ in the specifics of the text's preservation. Overall, the primary agreement is that the imagery of Solomon's carriage and the mightiest men is consistent across these witnesses.
הִנֵּ֗ה מִטָּתוֹ֙ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹ֔ה שִׁשִּׁ֥ים גִּבֹּרִ֖ים סָבִ֣יב לָ֑הּ מִגִּבֹּרֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
8 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[הנה] [מטת׳ו] [שלשלמה] [ששים] [גבורים] [סביב] [ל׳ה] [מגבורי] ישראל
1 word on the leather — 8 supplied entire by an editor.
[הנה] [מטת׳ו] [שלשלמה] ששים [גברים] [סביב] [ל׳ה] [מגברי] [ישראל]
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 8 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Song of Solomon 3:7
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a Hebrew word meaning 'behold' or 'lo!' It serves as a demonstrative particle used to draw attention, appearing in contexts such as Genesis 19:2. The word is derived from a prolongation of another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage beyond this.
הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!
base
H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!
2009 hinneh hin-nay'
prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.
see HEBREW for 02005
הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.
behold, lo, see, if
Part — ParticleHTj
מִטָּה (mittah) refers to a bed or couch, primarily a place for reclining, sleeping, or eating. It can also denote a bier or litter. The word is derived from a root meaning to extend, indicating its function as a surface for rest.
מִטָּה n.f. couch, bed (place of reclining)
base
H4296 מִטָּה couch, bed (place of reclining)
4296 mittah mit-taw'
from 5186; a bed (as extended) for sleeping or eating; by
analogy, a sofa, litter or bier:--bed((-chamber)), bier.
see HEBREW for 05186
מִטָּה (mit.tah) — bed.
couch, bed, bier
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3ms
שְׁלֹמֹה (Shlomoh) refers to Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, known as a king of Judah. The name means 'peaceful' and he is recognized as the third king of Israel, credited with authorship of Proverbs and Song of Songs. He is first mentioned in 2 Samuel 5:14.
שְׁלֹמֹה 293 n.pr.m. Solomon
base
H8010 שְׁלֹמֹה
8010 Shlomoh shel-o-mo'
from 7965; peaceful; Shelomah, David's successor:--Solomon.
see HEBREW for 07965
שְׁלֹמֹה (she.lo.moh) — Solomon.
A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.5.14;
son of: David (H1732) and Bathsheba (H1339);
brother of: Shammua (H8051H), Shobab (H7727) and Nathan (H5416);
half-brother of: Amnon (H0550), Chileab (H3609), Absalom (H0053), Adonijah (H0138), Shephatiah (H8203), Ithream (H3507), Ibhar (H2984), Elishua (H0474), Nepheg (H5298H), Japhia (H3309I), Elishama (H0476H), Eliada (H0450), Eliphelet (H0467), Tamar (H8559H), Elpelet (H0467I), Nogah (H5052) and Jerimoth (H3406N); married to daughter_of_Pharaoh (H6547P) and Naamah (H5279A);
father of: Taphath (H2955), Basemath (H1315) and Rehoboam (H7346); also called Jedidiah at 2Sa.12.25;
§ Solomon = "peace"
son of David by Bathsheba and 3rd king of Israel; author of Proverbs and Song of Songs
Rel | Prep | N-proper — Particle · preposition · noun proper masculineHTr/R/Npm
sol'-o-mun (shelomoh; New Testament Solomon):
I. EARLY LIFE
1. Name and Meaning
2. Sources
3. Birth and Upbringing
4. His Accession
5. Closing Days of David
II. REIGN OF SOLOMON
1. His Vision
2. His Policy
3. Its Results
4. Alliance with Tyre
5. Alliance with Egypt
6. Domestic Troubles
III. HIS BUILDINGS
1. The Temple
2. The Palace
3. Other Buildings
4. The Corvee
IV. HIS CHARACTER
1. Personal Qualities
2. His Wisdom
3. His Learning
4. Trade and Commerce
5. Officers of State
6. Wives
7. Revenues
8. Literary Works
LITERATURE
I. Early Life.
Solomon was the son of David and Bath-sheba, and became the 3rd king of Israel.
1. Name and Meaning:
He was so named by his mother (2Sa 12:24, Qere; see TEXT AND MANUSCRIPTS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT; TEXT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT), but by the prophet Nathan, or by his father (Vulgate), he was called Jedidiah--"loved of Yahweh." The name…
Solomon
Peaceful, (Heb. Shelomoh), David’s second son by Bathsheba, i.e., the first after their legal marriage (2 Sam. 12). He was probably born about B.C. 1035 (1 Chr. 22:5; 29:1). He succeeded his father on the throne in early manhood, probably about sixteen or eighteen years of age. Nathan, to whom his education was intrusted, called him Jedidiah, i.e., “beloved of the Lord” (2 Sam. 12:24, 25). He was the first king of Israel “born in the purple.” His father chose him as his successor, passing over the claims of his elder sons: “Assuredly Solomon my son shall reign after me.” His history is recorded in 1 Kings 1-11 and 2 Chr. 1-9. His elevation to the throne took place before his father’s death, and was hastened on mainly by Nathan and Bathsheba, in consequence of the rebellion…
(peaceful). I. Early life and occasion to the throne . --Solomon was the child of David’s old age, the last born of all his sons. (1 Chronicles 3:5) The yearnings of the "man of war" led him to give to the new-horn infant the name of Solomon (Shelomoth, the peaceful one). Nathan, with a marked reference to the meaning of the king’s own name (David, the darling, the beloved one), calls the infant Jedidiah (Jedid’yah), that is, the darling of the Lord. (2 Samuel 11:24,25) He was placed under the care of Nathan from his earliest infancy. At first, apparently, there was no distinct purpose to make him the heir. Absalom was still the king’s favorite son, (2 Samuel 13:37; 18:33) and was looked on by the people as the destined…
Peaceful, the son and successor of David, born of Bathsheba, B. C. 1033. The prophet Nathan called him Jedidiah, "beloved of the Lord," 2Sa 12:25 and he was a child of promise, 1Ch 22:9,10. At the age of eighteen he received from David the throne which his brother Adonijah had endeavored to usurp. Scripture records his earnest and pious petition for wisdom from above, that he might govern that great people well; and the bestowal of the wisdom, with numerous other blessings in its train, Mt 6:33. His unequalled learning and sagacity soon became renowned throughout the East, and continue so even to this day. In every kind of temporal prosperity he was preeminently favored. His unquestioned dominion extended from the Euphrates to…
שִׁשִּׁים (shishshiym) means 'sixty' in Hebrew. It is a numeral derived from the root associated with the number 8337. The term is used in various contexts in the Old Testament to denote the quantity of sixty, also referred to as 'three score.' There is an Aramaic equivalent, שִׁתִּין (shit.tin), which also means sixty.
שִׁשִּׁים 59 n.indecl. sixty
base
H8346 שִׁשִּׁים sixty
8346 shishshiym shish-sheem'
multiple of 8337; sixty:--sixty, three score.
see HEBREW for 08337
שִׁשִּׁים (shish.shim) — sixty.
sixty, three score
Aramaic equivalent: shit.tin (שִׁתִּין "sixty" H8361)
Adj — AdjHAcmpa
siks'-ti (shishshim; hexekonta).
See NUMBER.
גִּבּוֹר (gibbor) means strong or mighty, and can refer to a powerful person, such as a warrior or chief. It is built from a root that implies strength and valor, covering meanings related to strength and bravery. The entries consistently emphasize its use to describe a strong man or mighty figure.
גִּבּוֹר 159 adj. strong, mighty
base
H1368 גִּבּוֹר strong, mighty
1368 gibbowr ghib-bore'
or (shortened) gibbor {ghib-bore'}; intensive from the same
as 1397; powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant:--
champion, chief, X excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one),
strong (man), valiant man.
see HEBREW for 01397
גִּבּוֹר (gib.bor) — mighty man.
adj
1) strong, mighty
n m
2) strong man, brave man, mighty man
Adj — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
סָבִיב (cabiyb) primarily means 'around' and is used as a noun, adverb, and preposition. It denotes a circle, neighbors, or the surrounding area, often implying a sense of being on every side or in a circuit. The entries consistently emphasize its usage in contexts of proximity and encirclement.
סָבִיב 336 subst., used mostly as adv. and prep., circuit, round about
base
H5439 סָבִיב subst., used mostly as adv. and prep., circuit, round about
5439 cabiyb saw-beeb'
or (feminine) cbiybah {seb-ee-baw'}; from 5437; (as noun) a
circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with
or without preposition) around:--(place, round) about,
circuit, compass, on every side.
see HEBREW for 05437
סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around.
: around/border
subst
1) places round about, circuit, round about
adv
2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about
prep
3) in the circuit, from every side
סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around: side.
: side
subst
1) places round about, circuit, round about
adv
2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about
prep
3) in the circuit, from every side
סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around: whole.
: whole
subst
1) places round about, circuit, round about
adv
2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about
prep
3) in the circuit, from every side
סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around: neighours.
: neighours
subst
1) places round about, circuit, round about
adv
2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about
prep
3) in the circuit, from every side
N-cs — Noun common · both singular absoluteHNcbsa
הָ (ha) — her.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person feminine singular
HRd/Sp3fs — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp3fs
גִּבּוֹר (gibbor) means strong or mighty, and can refer to a powerful person, such as a warrior or chief. It is built from a root that implies strength and valor, covering meanings related to strength and bravery. The entries consistently emphasize its use to describe a strong man or mighty figure.
גִּבּוֹר 159 adj. strong, mighty
base
H1368 גִּבּוֹר strong, mighty
1368 gibbowr ghib-bore'
or (shortened) gibbor {ghib-bore'}; intensive from the same
as 1397; powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant:--
champion, chief, X excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one),
strong (man), valiant man.
see HEBREW for 01397
גִּבּוֹר (gib.bor) — mighty man.
adj
1) strong, mighty
n m
2) strong man, brave man, mighty man
HR/Ncmpc — Preposition · noun common masculine plural constructHR/Ncmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el) refers to both the second name of Jacob, meaning 'God prevails,' and the name of the Hebrew nation descended from him. It is derived from roots meaning 'to rule' and 'God.' The term encompasses Jacob's descendants and is used historically for the northern kingdom of Israel and the nation as a whole after the Babylonian exile.
יִשְׂרָאֵל 2507 n.pr.m. et gent. Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth)
n.pr.m. second name of Jacob
n.pr.gent. name of Hebrew nation
base
H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth) . n. pr. m. second name of Jacob
. n. pr. gent. name of Hebrew nation
3478 Yisra'el yis-raw-ale'
from 8280 and 410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical
name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity:
--Israel.
see HEBREW for 08280
see HEBREW for 0410
יִשְׂרָאֵל (yis.ra.el) — Israel.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26;
son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);
brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A);
father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently
§ Israel = "God prevails"
1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel
2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob
2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
iz'-ra-el.
See JACOB.
Israel
The name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel (Gen. 32:28), because “as a prince he had power with God and prevailed.” (See JACOB.) This is the common name given to Jacob’s descendants. The whole people of the twelve tribes are called “Israelites,” the “children of Israel” (Josh. 3:17; 7:25; Judg. 8:27; Jer. 3:21), and the “house of Israel” (Ex. 16:31; 40:38).
This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true Israel (Ps. 73:1: Isa. 45:17; 49:3;
(the prince that prevails with God). The name given, (Genesis 32:28) to Jacob after his wrestling with the angel, (Hosea 12:4) at Peniel. Gesenius interprets Israel "soldier of God." It became the national name of the twelve tribes collectively. They are so called in (Exodus 3:16) and afterward. It is used in a narrower sense, excluding Judah, in (1 Samuel 11:8; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16) Thenceforth it was assumed and accepted as the name of the northern kingdom. After the Babylonian captivity, the returned exiles resumed the name Israel as the designation of…
Who prevails with God, a name given to Jacob, after having wrestled with the Angel-Jehovah at Penuel. Ge 32:1,2,28,30 Ho 12:3. See JACOB. By the name Israel is sometimes understood all the posterity of Israel, the seed of Jacob, 1Co 10:18; sometimes all true believers, his spiritual seed, Ro 9:6; and sometimes the kingdom of Israel, or the ten tribes, as distinct from the kingdom of Judah.