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Joseph Davidovits claims that the word "iisii-r-iar", "ysrỉar" or however you want to transcribe it, which appears on the Merneptah Stele, is an Egyptian phrase meaning "those who are exiled for their sins".

Now, this word is usually assumed to mean "Israel", and Davidovits agrees, meaning that he implies that "Israel" in fact means "Those who are Exiled for their sins", and since the God says that the Israelites are exiled for their sins in the bible, this sounds just a little bit too good to be true.

What I wonder is, what is the basis for his claims? Does he have anything real to base this on, or is it just wishful thinking?

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I think you're miss reading Davidovits. He doesn't think the table has anything at all to do with Israel. A recent BBC documentary I saw gives a totally different etymology for the word Israel. I've also seen the table used as evidence that Israel was invaded and thus proof that the bible is wrong. Basically, people read into the evidence want they want to believe and lack objectivity and scientific reasoning. If you believe the world is flat, you will only find evidence that proves your correct. If you question the shape of the world, you will find other possibilities. – Rincewind42 Oct 28 '11 at 16:52
@Rincewind42: Well, it's possible I misunderstood that part, but I don't think so. In any case it is irrelevant for the question, which is about the basis for his claims of what "iisii-r-iar" means and it's usage in other places. But it seems no-one knows, and I'll have to buy the book... And then it probably just turns out to be overactive imagination. That's usually how it is. – Lennart Regebro Oct 28 '11 at 21:54

1 Answer

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Isra'el means "he struggles with God" and is the name granted to Jacob after he wrestles with an angel in Genesis 32:

Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but [n]Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.”

[n]: I.e. he who strives with God; or God strives

Jacob is said to be the ancestor of all the tribes of Israel, to whom his name attached.

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ie, your answer is "There is no basis for the claim". :-) – Lennart Regebro Jul 6 '12 at 8:37
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Well, for arguments sake, one could always say that Israel or a name similar to it came first from some other source, and then the authors of Genesis created a new etymology more suitable for their own purposes. A kind of "how the leopard got its spots" story, y'know? That said, I've never heard of this "exiled for their sins" business, and like you said it sounds way too pat. – Evan Harper Jul 6 '12 at 11:38
Yeah, I have no problem in that the Bibles claim is just as unfounded as Davidovits. :-) – Lennart Regebro Jul 7 '12 at 6:18
Bible claims can be coroborated from hebrew language. The el simply means God. Isra means fighting I guess. – Jim Thio Jan 2 at 21:34

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