God of Israel is one of many names of God that mention a relationship with an individual or group. In this case, it could refer to both. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel—sometimes the name refers to Jacob. Jacob (Israel) gave his name to the nation descended from him and so the name often refers to the nation. It is interesting to consider what kind of relationship Jacob and the nation had with God.
God of Israel in Hebrew:
אֱלֹֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (’Elohei Yisra’el)
Strong’s Concordance numbers: 430, 3478
Bible references: Ex. 24:10; 2 Sam. 23:3; Ps. 59:5; Isa. 29:23; 45:15 199X
The God of Israel spoke,
the Rock of Israel said to me:
‘When one rules over people in righteousness,
when he rules in the fear of God,
he is like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
that brings grass from the earth.’
“If my house were not right with God,
surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant,
arranged and secured in every part;
surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation
and grant me my every desire. (2 Samuel 23:3-5 NIV)
אֵלֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל (’El Yisra’el)
Strong’s Concordance numbers: 410, 3478
Bible reference: Ps. 68:35
O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God. (Psalm 68:35 KJV)
God of Israel in Greek:
Ὁ θεὸς του Ἰσραήλ (Ho Theos tou Israēl)
Strong’s Concordance numbers: 2316, 2474
Bible references: Matt. 15:31; Luke 1:68 (NIV, Msg, Amp)
So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:31)
Similar names for God are God of the Hebrews and Hope of Israel, King of Israel, Holy One of Israel, and the alternative, God of Jacob.
