Meaning of Isra-eyl

[Gentile]

Hi Abu/Father Dar

Is this an Arabic forum name you have?

I think that when God says to Jacob [heel] that he will be called from now on 'Israel' he means that he will now be 'bound with El' i.e. connected with Him.

If you were to say "Beny Israel" in Lebanon, people would understand it as you saying "the people of Israel" or if you add the Lebanese word "men", then it becomes "a descendant of someone from Israel".

Interesting stuff here Father D. When you say 'Lebanese' though what do you mean? Arabic? When you say 'men' do you mean the word 'of/from'? However, clearly the word is used to mean follower/member and not only in the biological sense. Hence those of us who follow God's law are Beny Israel you see.

This is a linguistic point, as this is my concern on this Peshitta website [and Paul's as well I think] but this if course has a political link. Going by this understanding I am sure that Beny Israel does not refer to what we understand as 'Jews' in the modern sense.