Genesis 35 10

Genesis 35:10 kjv

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.

Genesis 35:10 nkjv

And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name." So He called his name Israel.

Genesis 35:10 niv

God said to him, "Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel." So he named him Israel.

Genesis 35:10 esv

And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name." So he called his name Israel.

Genesis 35:10 nlt

saying, "Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on your name will be Israel." So God renamed him Israel.

Genesis 35 verses

Genesis 35 10 meaning

Genesis 35:10 records a pivotal moment where God Himself reappears to Jacob at Bethel and formally renames him Israel. This divine act not only reaffirms the name given earlier at Peniel (Gen 32:28) but gives it supreme divine sanction, transforming Jacob's identity from "supplanter" to "prince of God" or "one who strives with God," signifying a new covenant relationship and destiny. It underscores God's faithfulness to His promises and the spiritual maturation of Jacob, marking him as the patriarchal head from whom the nation of Israel would descend.

Genesis 35 10 Context

Genesis chapter 35 recounts Jacob's return to Bethel ("House of God"), fulfilling a vow he made to God during his earlier flight from Esau (Gen 28). This journey takes place after the traumatic events at Shechem, where his sons acted violently against the Canaanite inhabitants (Gen 34). God commands Jacob to go to Bethel and build an altar there (Gen 35:1). Before arriving, Jacob instructs his household to purify themselves and remove foreign gods, signifying a spiritual cleansing and renewal. Upon reaching Bethel, Jacob builds the altar (El-Bethel) as commanded. Following this act of obedience and worship (Gen 35:7), God appears to Jacob once more (Gen 35:9), not merely to bless him, but to re-affirm His covenant promises and formally bestow the name "Israel," solidifying Jacob's new identity in preparation for the future of the chosen nation.

Genesis 35 10 Word analysis

• And God said (וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים - vayyomer Elohim):
  • וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyomer): "And he said." This specific verbal form emphasizes a direct, active declaration. It signals a divine pronouncement, often preceding a significant decree or revelation.
  • אֱלֹהִים (Elohim): The Hebrew word for God. While often plural, it functions here as a singular referring to the one true God, emphasizing His power, majesty, and universal sovereignty. This is not just any deity but the supreme authority. Its use reinforces the weight and absolute nature of the naming.
• to him (אֵלָיו - elav): Direct, personal address to Jacob, highlighting the intimate and covenantal nature of this divine encounter.
• Your name is Jacob (שִׁמְךָ יַעֲקֹב - shimkha Ya'aqov):
  • שִׁמְךָ (shimkha): "Your name." The concept of "name" in ancient Hebrew thought encompassed identity, character, destiny, and reputation.
  • יַעֲקֹב (Ya'aqov): Jacob. Derived from "heel" (עָקֵב - aqeb) and associated with "to supplant" or "to deceive" (עָקַב - aqav). It signifies his birth gripping Esau's heel (Gen 25:26) and reflects his early character traits (Gen 27). This acknowledgement by God affirms Jacob's past, setting the stage for the transformation.
• no longer shall your name be called Jacob (לֹא־יִקָּרֵא שִׁמְךָ עוֹד יַעֲקֹב - lo yiqarei shimkha 'od Ya'aqov):
  • לֹא־ (lo-): A strong negative, meaning "no" or "not."
  • יִקָּרֵא (yiqqarei): "Shall be called," a passive form, indicating the universal acknowledgment or recognition of his new identity.
  • עוֹד ('od): "Any longer" or "still." Combined with "lo," it denotes a definitive cessation of the former name and its associated identity. This signifies a permanent and complete change in God's declaration.
• but Israel shall be your name (כִּי אִם־יִשְׂרָאֵל יִהְיֶה שְׁמֶךָ - ki im-Yisrael yihyeh sh'mekha):
  • כִּי אִם־ (ki im-): A strong adversative phrase, meaning "but indeed" or "on the contrary." It powerfully emphasizes the transformation and new identity being conferred.
  • יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrael): Israel. The name's etymology is debated but widely understood as "He struggles with God" or "God strives/rules" or "Prince of God." Given first in Gen 32:28 at Peniel. Here, it is God Himself reaffirming it directly, stamping it with ultimate divine authority. This is a name of divine recognition and purpose.
  • יִהְיֶה (yihyeh): "Shall be," indicating a future state that is established as a certainty by divine decree.
  • שְׁמֶךָ (sh'mekha): "Your name." Reinforces that this is a personal, definitive identification.
• So he called his name Israel (וַיִּקְרָא אֶת־שְׁמוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל - vayyiqra et-shmo Yisrael):
  • וַיִּקְרָא (vayyiqra): "And He called." The subject "He" here clearly refers to God, indicating that the naming is a divine act, not merely a human observation. This emphasizes God's direct role in conferring the name, giving it ultimate legitimacy.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And God said to him, 'Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.'": This sequence underscores the solemnity and authority of the divine address. It clearly presents the transition from the old identity ("Jacob," the supplanter, reflecting his past actions) to the new, divinely ordained identity ("Israel," signifying his struggle with God and elevated status as a prince of God). This isn't a mere suggestion but a declaration from the Creator of his destiny, transforming his character and foreshadowing the nation to come. The repetition of "your name" emphasizes that this change pertains to the essence of who Jacob is.
• "So he called his name Israel.": This concluding phrase affirms that God Himself formally executed the name change, making it a divine fiat rather than a human recognition. It confirms the absolute nature of the identity shift, reflecting God's ultimate authority in establishing names, character, and destinies. It is a formal bestowal, securing Jacob's role as the patriarch of the people of God, Israel.

Genesis 35 10 Bonus section

• The naming in Gen 35:10 occurs at Bethel, signifying a return to sacred ground where Jacob first made a vow to God, making this reaffirmation particularly poignant. Unlike the Peniel encounter, which was a nocturnal, mysterious struggle, the Bethel declaration is a direct, daylight appearance of God (Gen 35:9) to Jacob after a spiritual cleansing within his household (Gen 35:2-4), emphasizing a prepared heart and an obedient return to covenant commitments.
• The use of "Elohim" (God) for the Namer underscores the transcendent power and authority of the divine act, demonstrating that the God who names is not just a localized deity but the supreme sovereign.
• This renaming signifies God's intention to shape Jacob's future identity and character in accordance with His divine plan, highlighting a theme throughout Scripture where God gives new names to those whom He has a special purpose for (e.g., Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Simon to Peter). This typologically prefigures the "new name" promised to believers in the New Testament (Rev 2:17), symbolizing a transformed identity in Christ.
• The act is not merely linguistic but a re-calibration of destiny; Jacob's future descendants will forever be known as "the children of Israel," signifying their heritage and their unique covenant relationship with God.

Genesis 35 10 Commentary

Genesis 35:10 represents a definitive divine declaration that solidifies Jacob's transformation and prepares him for his role as the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. While Jacob had previously wrestled with God and received the name Israel at Peniel (Gen 32:28), this instance at Bethel is unique: it is God appearing to Jacob at the place of his first major divine encounter (Bethel, Gen 28) and formally bestowing the name, not merely acknowledging a struggle. This signifies not just a change in character earned through trial, but a direct, authoritative naming by the sovereign God, a public and solemn declaration of Jacob's new identity and covenantal standing. It moves beyond a personal wrestling match to a prophetic commissioning of the progenitor of a chosen nation. This moment validates God's commitment to His covenant with Abraham and Isaac through Jacob, transforming the deceiver into the "prince of God," establishing the foundation for the very name of God's chosen people.