Distinction between Ethnic and Spiritual Israel in Scripture
The term "Israel" originally referred to Jacob, who was renamed "Israel" after wrestling with an angel at Peniel [2, 4]. His descendants, the twelve tribes, collectively became known as Israel, Israelites, or the children of Israel [1, 2, 3, 4]. This ethnic designation identifies those descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob [1].
However, biblical texts and subsequent theological interpretation distinguish between this ethnic or "fleshly" Israel and a "spiritual" Israel. The apostle Paul, for instance, refers to "Israel after the flesh" in 1 Corinthians 10:18, differentiating them from a spiritual Israel [6, 10]. This distinction highlights that not all who are physically descended from Jacob are considered part of God's true people in a spiritual sense [11].
The concept of a "spiritual Israel" encompasses those who genuinely belong to God, whether Jew or Gentile, through faith [11]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, notes that "Israel after the flesh" refers to Jacob's descendants by natural birth who might be "carnal men, in the flesh, in a state of unregeneracy," engaged in "carnal worship" [6]. In contrast, the "spiritual Israel" are those "born again, believe in the true Messiah, worship God in a spiritual manner, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in fleshly things" [6].
The Old Testament itself contains hints of this distinction, particularly in the development of the idea of a "righteous remnant" within Israel [11]. While God chose and loved the ethnic Israelites and established a covenant with them, marked by circumcision [1], their chastisement and exile were due to their sin and profanation of God's name [5, 9]. God promised restoration for Israel, not solely based on their ethnicity, but for His own name's sake, involving a spiritual renewal of their hearts [5]. Isaiah 45:17 speaks of Israel being "saved in the Lord," which John Gill interprets as referring to the "spiritual Israel of God," those appointed to salvation and redeemed by Christ's blood, rather than exclusively the "carnal seed of Israel" [7].
The spiritual rest God desired for Israel was not merely physical security in the land but a "spiritual, cultural, and emotional rest of a right relationship with him and each other" [8]. This spiritual dimension of Israel's identity is crucial for understanding God's ultimate redemptive plan, which extends beyond ethnic boundaries to include all who are united to Him by faith [11].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Jews, The — Descended from Abraham -- Isa 51:2; Joh 8:39. Divided into twelve tribes -- Ge 35:22; 49:28. Called Hebrews. -- Ge 14:13; 40:15; 2Co 11:22. Israelites. -- Ex 9:7; Jos 3:17. Seed of Abraham. -- Ps 105:6; Isa 41:8. Seed of Jacob. -- Jer 33:26. Seed of Israel. -- 1Ch 16:13. Children of Jacob. -- 1Ch 16:13. Children of Israel. -- Ge 50:25; Isa 27:12. Jeshurun. -- De 32:15. Chosen and loved by God -- De 7:6,7. Circumcised in token of their covenant relation -- Ge 17:10,11; Ac 7:8. Separated from all other nations -- Ex 33:16; Le 20:24; 1Ki 8:53. Described as A”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Israel — (the prince that prevails with God). + The name given, (Genesis 32:28) to Jacob after his wrestling with the angel, (Hosea 12:4) at Peniel. Gesenius interprets Israel "soldier of God." + It became the national name of the twelve tribes collectively. They are so called in (Exodus 3:16) and afterward. + It is used in a narrower sense, excluding Judah, in (1 Samuel 11:8; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16) Thenceforth it was assumed and accepted as the name of the northern kingdom. + After the Babylonian captivity, the returned exiles resumed the name Israel as the de”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Tribes of Israel, The — Were twelve in number -- Ge 49:28; Ac 26:12; Jas 1:1. Descended from Jacob's sons -- Ge 35:22-26. Manasseh and Ephraim numbered among, instead of Joseph and Levi -- Ge 48:5; Jos 14:3,4. Predictions respecting each of -- Ge 49:3-27; De 33:6-29. Each of Under a president or chief. -- Nu 1:4-16. Divided into families. -- Nu 1:2; 26:5-50; Jos 7:14. Usually furnished an equal number of men for war. -- Nu 31:4. Each family of, had a chief or head -- Nu 36:1; 1Ch 4:38. Total strength of, on leaving Egypt -- Ex 12:37; Nu 1:44-46; 2:32. Divided into fo”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Israel — The name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel (Gen. 32:28), because "as a prince he had power with God and prevailed." (See [301]JACOB.) This is the common name given to Jacob's descendants. The whole people of the twelve tribes are called "Israelites," the "children of Israel" (Josh. 3:17; 7:25; Judg. 8:27; Jer. 3:21), and the "house of Israel" (Ex. 16:31; 40:38). This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true Israel (Ps. 73:1: Isa. 45:17; 49:3; John 1:47; Rom. 9:6; 11:26). After the death of Saul the ten tribes arrogat”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 35:15: (Oba 1:12, Oba 1:15). The distinction between Israel and the heathen (as Edom) is: Israel has a covenant relation to God ensuring restoration after chastisement, so that the heathen's hope of getting possession of the elect people's inheritance must fail, and they themselves be made desolate (Eze 36:1-15). The reason for the chastisement of Israel was Israel's sin and profanation of God's name (Eze 36:16-21). God has good in store for Israel, for His own name's sake, to revive His people; first, by a spiritual renewal of their hearts, and, next, by ”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 10:18: Behold Israel after the flesh,.... So the apostle calls them, to distinguish them from the Israel of God, the spiritual Israel, whether Jews or Gentiles; who are born again, believe in the true Messiah, worship God in a spiritual manner, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in fleshly things; but these were the descendants of Jacob or Israel by carnal generation, were carnal men, in the flesh, in a state of unregeneracy, and were employed in a carnal worship, in the observance of carnal commandments and ordinances; these the apostle directs to, to s”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 45:17: But Israel shall be saved in the Lord,.... Not the carnal seed of Israel, or the natural posterity of Jacob, for only a remnant of them were saved; indeed, in the latter day, when there will be a general conversion of them, there will be a general salvation of them, all Israel shall be saved; but here the spiritual Israel of God are meant, such as God has appointed unto salvation; who are taken into the covenant of his grace, in which their salvation is secured; who are his spiritual people, whom Christ saves from their sins; who are redeemed by the blood of Christ”
- Joshua (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joshua 1:13: 1:13 God wanted the people of Israel to experience the spiritual, cultural, and emotional rest of a right relationship with him and each other, not just the physical rest of living in a secure and abundant land (see Heb 4:1-11).”
- Ezek (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezek 36:16: 36:16-38 Ezekiel reminded his hearers of their guilt and their need for God to change their hearts. In the future, God would cleanse his people. • Objects and people are divided in the Old Testament into the categories of “clean” and “unclean,” “sacred” and “profane” (see “Clean, Unclean, and Holy” Theme Note). God had made Israel clean, while the Gentile nations had remained unclean. Then Israel as a nation became unclean because of their bloodshed and idolatry, which defiled the land. Because they behaved like the unclean nations, Israel’s punishment of being sca”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 10:18: Israel after the flesh--the literal, as distinguished from the spiritual, Israel (Rom 2:29; Rom 4:1; Rom 9:3; Gal 4:29). partakers of the altar--and so of God, whose is the altar; they have fellowship in God and His worship, of which the altar is the symbol.”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 9:6: 9:6 are truly members of God’s people (literally are Israel): “Israel” can refer to the people of Israel in a biological sense, i.e., everyone descended from Jacob. But in the latter part of the Old Testament and in Judaism, the idea of a “righteous remnant” within Israel developed (see Isa 11:10-16). On at least one occasion in the New Testament, Israel refers to everyone, Jew and Gentile, who belongs to God in a spiritual sense (Gal 6:16). Paul is stating that there is now an “Israel within Israel,” a community consisting of both Jews and Gentiles who truly belie”