Kabbalah Library

167) Jacob is the senior patriarch and contains all sides, right and left. This is why “He called his name Israel,” as it is written, “thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name.” It is also written, “and He called his name Israel.” Why did the Creator repeat Himself and called him “Jacob” many times? And everyone calls him “Jacob,” as before. And why it is written, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob”?

168) “The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man, like a man of war.” Why it is written, “like a mighty man,” and it is written, “ like a man”? It should have said “mighty” and “man.”

169) HaVaYaH [the Lord] is mercy [mercy] everywhere. HaVaYaH is the name of the Creator, as it is written, “I am the Lord, that is My name.” Sometimes His name is Elokim [God], which is judgment [judgment]. However, when righteous multiply in the world, His name is HaVaYaH, and He is called mercy. When the wicked multiply in the world, His name is Elokim. Thus, when Jacob was not among enemies, and not abroad, his name was “Israel.” And when he was among enemies or abroad, his name was “Jacob.”

170) But it is written, “Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had dwelled, in the land of Canaan,” that is, he was not abroad. But still, the name “Jacob” is used.

171) Just as the Creator is sometimes called HaVaYaH and sometimes called Elokim, depending on the degree, He is sometimes called “Israel” and sometimes called “Jacob.” When he has a degree of GAR and Rosh [head], he is called “Israel,” and when he is VAK, without a Rosh, he is called “Jacob.” And the reason why it is written, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob,” is so he will not remain with the name “Jacob” but have two names, “Jacob” and “Israel,” depending on the degree.

172) It is written, “Neither shall your name be called Abram any more, but your name shall be Abraham.” This is why he remained with that name. But with Jacob, it does not say “was” [a word that appears only in the Hebrew Bible text], but “Israel shall be thy name”; hence, at times he is called “Jacob,” and at times, “Israel.” And when his sons were crowned with priests and Levis and rose in the upper degrees, he was always crowned by the name, “Israel.”