Question

Many of the local inhabitant clans of Canaan seem to have had El as their patron deity. This is where the name 'Israel' comes from. Why is this? Select one: a. Isra-el means the slave of El and Yahweh b. Isra-el meant the servants of El and Yahweh c. Isra-el meant the leader of El d. Isra-el means the servants of El e. Isra-el means the maid of El and Yahweh

Answer 1

The name 'Israel' translates to 'the servants of El' (d), reflecting ancient Canaanite worship practices where El was a central deity, before the Hebrews transitioned to the exclusive worship of Yahweh.

Step-by-step explanation:

• The name 'Israel' reflects the ancient connection between the local Canaanite inhabitants and their patron deity, El.
• When asking what 'Isra-el' means, the most accurate translation in this context is 'the servants of El,' corresponding to option d.
• This reflects the worship practices of the time, where El was a prevalent deity before the transition to the exclusive worship of Yahweh among the Hebrews, as part of the Yahwist religion that developed later on.

It is essential to note that, according to the Hebrew Bible, the patriarchs of the Hebrews originally left Mesopotamia and settled in Canaan where they encountered local deities, including El. Over time, the adoption of monotheism grew among the Hebrew people, particularly with Moses's Covenant where they agreed to worship only Yahweh, eventually forming the basis of Judaism.