Etymology

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 and Ugaritic texts, 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”)).