What do the names Jacob and Israel mean in the Bible?
Jacob denotes the old life, the supplanter and deceiver, while Israel denotes the spiritual side and the changed man. The name change reflects a transformation: Jacob will limp the rest of his life but will never again be a deceiver, as God blessed him and changed his nature.
Les explains that the delineating part is Jacob represents the old life—the old supplanter and deceiver—while Israel is the spiritual side, so his name is changed. God makes the point that he is a changed man: he will limp the rest of his life but will never again be a deceiver. In Genesis 32:29 Jacob asks God's name, and God blesses him there. Les notes only God can do that. Jacob calls the place Phaneel, saying he has seen God face to face and his life is preserved. Les clarifies that no one has seen the invisible Godhead, but they have seen God the Son in Old Testament theophanies.