Genesis 35:10 Meaning: Why God Reaffirmed the Name Israel

Two names stand at the center of this verse, and behind them are whole stories. Jacob (H3290, Ya‘aqov) comes from the word for “heel” or “supplanter”, he was born grasping his brother’s heel, and his life had been marked by trickery and striving. Israel (H3478, Yisra’el) is often understood as “he who struggles with God” or “prince with God.” The change is not just a label; it is a new character and calling.

The verb behind “shall not be called” (yikkare, from H7121 qara) is in a passive form that emphasizes God as the one doing the naming. God is not asking for Jacob’s input. He is declaring a new reality. And the word name (shem, H8034) can carry the sense of reputation and identity. So when God says “your name will be Israel,” He is giving Jacob a new reputation and a new story. The old name of trickster gives way to the name of one who has wrestled with God and prevailed. That is not something Jacob earned; it is something God gave him.

Christians across traditions have seen this reaffirmation as deeply significant. The Reformed commentator John Calvin wrote that the old name is not abolished, but the new name is preferred, the two names appear together in later passages, showing the constancy of God’s grace. John Wesley, the Methodist founder, saw it as ratification to encourage Jacob against the fear of the Canaanites: “Who can be too hard for Israel, a prince with God?” The Baptist theologian John Gill understood it as confirmation of the name given in Genesis 32, signifying that Jacob would prevail over all who opposed him. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges compares it to the renaming of Abram and Sarai, connecting it to the covenant promise. All agree that God is confirming a new identity, even if they describe the implications in slightly different ways.

Some readers assume that after God says “your name shall not be called any more Jacob,” the old name vanishes from the Bible forever. But in fact, the narrative continues to call him Jacob many times after this event. The change is not an erasure of his past but a transformation of his identity. As Calvin put it, the old name is not abolished; it simply becomes secondary to the greater name. God’s work does not wipe away our history, it redefines our future.

You might know what it feels like to be defined by an old name: “the one who messed up,” “the anxious one,” “the person who can’t change.” This week, when that voice rises, remember that God has a new name for you. He does not deny your past, but He gives you a new identity rooted in His calling. Just as Jacob was renamed Israel at Bethel, you are invited to hear God’s name over your life. Let that identity shape how you face your fears. You are not just a struggler; you are one with whom God has walked and whom He calls His own.