This study investigates how ancient Jewish and early Christian writers interpreted the name 'Israel' to define character, destiny, and identity. C. T. R. Hayward, a scholar of ancient Judaism, analyzes a wide range of primary sources to determine how etymological explanations of the name functioned within theological and historical discourse. By examining how the name was understood from the period of the Second Temple through the Talmudic era, the author constructs a framework for understanding the evolving self-conception of Jewish identity in antiquity.

Scholars recognize this work as a rigorous contribution to the study of ancient nomenclature and its role in shaping religious identity. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the author's meticulous attention to linguistic nuance in primary source materials.