Why does God sometimes address His words to Jacob and then to Israel even in the same verse of Scripture? I’m thinking about Isaiah 43:1.∼ Kathleen G.

Isa 43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

Dear Kathleen,

You make an excellent observation. Unlike Abraham, Sara or Joshua, who are never referred to by their original names once they are given a new one, Jacob occasionally remains Jacob even after he is renamed Israel. After the name change to Israel in Genesis 32:29, there are still many instances where Scripture talks about Jacob. In the instance to which you refer, both names appear in one verse.

In a nutshell and as a starting point, Jacob refers more to the individual family man while Israel refers more to his position as the head of a nation. Jacob has a dual nature as the patriarch who is both the father of the twelve tribes and the gateway to the ‘children of Israel’ as they morph into a nation. Though it is sometimes easier to spot than others, generally when he is called Jacob, it is in his private capacity as a father. However, when he is called Israel it is when he is acting as a towering figure whose life and all its details will impact the destiny of all who cleave to the God of Abraham for all times.

Want a Promotion? Change Your Name

By Chad Brooks | LiveScience.com

Parents wanting to give their children a leg up in the workforce can start early by giving them a simple name like Michael, Tom, Jane or Mary, new research suggests.

A study by professors at the University of Melbourne and New York University revealed that people with simple, easy-to-pronounce names were more likely to be favored for a promotion at work.

"The effect is not due merely to the length of a name or how foreign-sounding or unusual it is, but rather how easy it is to pronounce," said Simon Laham, the study's lead author from the University of Melbourne

In the first study of its kind, researchers analyzed how the pronunciation of names can influence impression formation and decision-making.

The findings were especially strong among lawyers, with attorneys with more pronounceable names rising more quickly to superior positions in their firm hierarchies.

New York University's Adam Alter, who conducted the law firm analysis, said that effect likely also exists in other industries and in many everyday contexts.

"People simply aren't aware of the subtle impact that names can have on their judgments," Alter said.

While President Obama may beg to differ, the research also found that political candidates with easy-to-pronounce names were more likely to win a race.

Laham said the results have important implications for the management of bias and discrimination in today's society.

"It's important to appreciate the subtle biases that shape our choices and judgments about others," he said. "Such an appreciation may help us de-bias our thinking, leading to fairer, more objective treatment of others."

The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, was based on research using a range of names from Anglo, Asian, and Western and Eastern European backgrounds.

This story was provided by BusinessNewsDaily, a sister site to LiveScience. Chad Brooks is a Chicago-based freelance writer who spent 10 years as a newspaper reporter before working in public relations. You can reach him at chadgbrooks@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @cbrooks76.

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