Word: Israel Part of Speech: name 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 he:T: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. Pronunciation: /ˈɪz.ɹeɪ.əl/, /ˈɪz.ɹi.əl/, /ˈɪz.ɹeɪl/, /ˈɪz.ɹeɪ.ɛl/, /ˈɪz.ɹaɪ.ɛl/ 1. A country in Western Asia in the Middle East, at the eastern shore of the Mediterranean. Official name: State of Israel. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: 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 States of America would have to invent an Israel to protect her interest in the region; the United States would have to go out and invent an Israel. Example: And you know how we train for the army? We don’t train for defensive warfare. If the war against Israel ever had to be fought on Israeli soil – do I have to tell you? –, it’s an impossibility. So it’s the same thing. Don’t let the war of words ever be fought about Israel’s nature! 2. 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. Labels: countable, uncountable 3. An ancient kingdom in Western Asia, roughly coextensive with the modern State of Israel and the Land of Israel. Labels: countable, historical, uncountable 4. An ancient kingdom that occupied the northern part of the Land of Israel and modern State of Israel, as distinct from Judah. Labels: countable, historical, uncountable 5. The Jews as a people, taken collectively. Labels: countable, poetic, uncountable Example: Hear O’ Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One Example: For our ancestors, for us, for our children, for every generation of the people Israel, for all ages from the first to the last, His teachings are true, everlasting. 6. A male given name from Hebrew. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: IF VOLFER is happy, Transportation Minister Israel Katz seems almost jubilant. 7. A male given name from Hebrew. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: 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. 8. A surname. Labels: countable, uncountable 9. A barangay of Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: 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.