The name Rock of Israel likens God to a massive rock, one with few cracks that is very safe and virtually impenetrable. The word tsur can even refer to a mountain. So this name of God speaks of God’s strength, endurance, and reliability toward His people. King David knew God in that way. It is significant that before he died, when he summarized his life, David reminisced on what the Rock of Israel had said to him as the future king.
Rock of Israel (Tsur Yisra’el) in the Hebrew text of 2 Sam. 23:3.
Rock of Israel in Hebrew:
Tsur Yisra’el
Strong’s Concordance numbers: 6697, 3478
Bible references: 2 Sam. 23:3; Isa. 30:29 (not KJV, which has Mighty One of Israel).
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.” (2 Sam. 23:3-4 NIV)
A similar name of God is Stone of Israel. He is also called the Rock of salvation and simply the Rock. In the New Testament, Paul explains that Jesus is the spiritual Rock. He is also called a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense.
