Definition and Meaning:
El-elohe-Israel is a Hebrew phrase meaning "God, the God of Israel." This name signifies a personal acknowledgment and dedication to God by Jacob, one of the patriarchs of Israel. It reflects a deep, personal relationship with God and an acknowledgment of His sovereignty and faithfulness.

Biblical Reference:
The name El-elohe-Israel is found in the Book of Genesis. After Jacob's reconciliation with his brother Esau, he travels to Shechem in the land of Canaan. There, he purchases a plot of land and erects an altar, naming it El-elohe-Israel. The relevant passage is Genesis 33:20: "There he set up an altar and called it El-elohe-Israel" .

Historical and Theological Context:
Jacob's journey to Shechem marks a significant moment in his life. Having wrestled with God and received the new name "Israel," Jacob's act of building an altar and naming it El-elohe-Israel is a testament to his transformed identity and renewed faith. This event occurs after Jacob's return from Paddan-aram, where he had fled to escape his brother Esau's wrath. During his time away, Jacob experienced God's protection and blessing, which culminated in his encounter with God at Peniel, where he wrestled with the angel and was blessed.

The naming of the altar as El-elohe-Israel signifies Jacob's recognition of God's personal involvement in his life and the fulfillment of God's promises to his forefathers, Abraham and Isaac. It is an expression of gratitude and acknowledgment of God's providence and covenant faithfulness.

Significance in Israel's History:
The altar at Shechem, named El-elohe-Israel, holds historical significance as it represents one of the early acts of worship by the patriarchs in the Promised Land. It symbolizes the establishment of a place dedicated to the worship of the one true God amidst a land filled with pagan practices. This act of worship by Jacob sets a precedent for his descendants, the Israelites, to recognize and honor God as their sovereign Lord.

Theological Implications:
El-elohe-Israel underscores the personal nature of God's relationship with His people. It highlights the importance of acknowledging God not only as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe but also as a personal God who is intimately involved in the lives of His followers. This name serves as a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and Israel, a relationship characterized by faithfulness, guidance, and blessing.

In the broader narrative of Scripture, El-elohe-Israel points to the continuity of God's promises and His unwavering commitment to His people. It foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant through Jesus Christ, who establishes a new covenant with believers, making them part of the spiritual Israel.

Conclusion:
The name El-elohe-Israel, therefore, is a profound declaration of faith and a testament to the enduring relationship between God and His chosen people. It invites believers to reflect on their own relationship with God and to recognize His active presence and guidance in their lives.El-Elohe-Israel

God, the God of Israel

EL-ELOHE-ISRAEL

el-e-lo'-he-iz'-ra-el, el-el'-o-he-iz'-ra-el ('el 'elohe yisra'el, translated "God, the God of Israel" in the American Revised Version, margin and the King James Version margin):

Found only in Genesis 33:20 as the name given to the altar erected at Shechem by Jacob, henceforth, known as Israel, on the parcel of ground purchased by him from the inhabitants of Shechem, his first encampment of length and importance since the return to Palestine from Paddan-aram and the eventful night at Peniel (Genesis 32:30). This unusual combination of names has given occasion for much speculation and for various text emendations. Already the Septuagint sought to meet the difficulty by reading wa-yiqra' 'el 'elohe yisra'el, "and he called upon the God of Israel," instead of the wa-yiqra' lo 'el of Massoretic Text, "and he called it El" etc. Wellhausen, followed by Dillmann, Driver and others, changes "altar" to "pillar," because the Hebrew verb, hitstsibh, is used with mitstsbhah, "pillar," in Genesis 35:14, 20, so making this religious act a parallel to that at Bethel. But Delitzsch, New Commentary on Genesis, properly rejects this purely fanciful change, and understands the compound name as the altar's inscription. Dillmann well suggests that "altar" (or "pillar") be supplied, reading thus: "called it the altar of El, the God of Israel." The peculiar phrase is best and most readily understood in its close connection with the struggle at Peniel, recorded in Genesis 32. Being victorious in that struggle, Jacob received the new name "Israel"; and to his first altar in Palestine he gave that name of God which appeared in his own new name, further explaining it by the appositive phrase "Elohe-Israel." Thus, his altar was called, or dedicated to, "El, the God of Israel."

Edward Mack

415. El Elohe Yisrael -- "the mighty God of Israel," an altar of ...
... mighty God of Israel," an altar of Jacob. Transliteration: El Elohe Yisrael Phonetic
Spelling: (ale el-o-hay' yis-raw-ale') Short Definition: El-Elohe-Israel. ...
/hebrew/415.htm - 6k

Chapter xxxiii
... a hundred kesitas. There he erected an altar and called it: El-Elohe-Israel
(ie A Mighty God is the God of Israel). How long the ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxiii.htm

Eleloheisrael (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia EL-ELOHE-ISRAEL. el-e-lo'-he ... Edward Mack.
Multi-Version Concordance Eleloheisrael (1 Occurrence). Genesis 33 ...
/e/eleloheisrael.htm - 8k

El-elohe-Israel (1 Occurrence)
El-elohe-Israel. Eleloheisrael, El-elohe-Israel. El-el'ohe-Israel . Int. ...
Eleloheisrael, El-elohe-Israel. El-el'ohe-Israel . Reference Bible.
/e/el-elohe-israel.htm - 8k

El-el'ohe-Israel (1 Occurrence)
El-el'ohe-Israel. El-elohe-Israel, El-el'ohe-Israel. EleloheIsreal . ... Genesis
33:20 And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel. (See RSV). ...
/e/el-el'ohe-israel.htm - 6k

Names (133 Occurrences)
... 2. 'El-'Elohe-Israel: The name 'El is combined with a number of descriptive adjectives
to represent God in His various attributes; and these by usage have ...
/n/names.htm - 101k

Elohe (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Elohe (1 Occurrence). Genesis 33:20 He erected an altar
there, and called it ElEloheIsrael. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS NIV). ...
/e/elohe.htm - 6k

El (8 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Genesis 33:20 He
erected an altar there, and called it ElEloheIsrael. (WEB ...
/e/el.htm - 9k

Elegant (2 Occurrences)

/e/elegant.htm - 7k

Erected (26 Occurrences)
... the LORD. (WBS). Genesis 33:20 He erected an altar there, and called it
ElEloheIsrael. (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV). Genesis 35 ...
/e/erected.htm - 14k

Shechem (61 Occurrences)
... Genesis 33:19). Here also he raised an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel,
"God, the God of Israel" (Genesis 33:20). Then follows ...
/s/shechem.htm - 38k

What is the meaning of the word Elohim? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Jacob in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does Israel mean in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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