Israel ישראל
Jacob's second name, given twice in Genesis, then a nation's. One spelling across 2,266 bare appearances.
- Found in the Torah
- 44,844
- Chance alone: 45,940
- Skips 2 to 76,212
- Found in the Tanakh
- 667,809
- Chance alone: 672,543
- Skips 2 to 299,260
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Jacob receives this name twice, once from the stranger at the Jabbok in Genesis 32:29 and again from God at Beth-el in Genesis 35:10. The first time, the reason is stated: thou hast striven with God and with men. After that the word does two jobs at once, naming one man and then his descendants. Genesis can say Israel and mean Jacob; Exodus says the children of Israel and means a nation of six hundred thousand on foot. The Tanakh writes the name one way only, ישראל, with no shorter spelling to set beside it. That makes it a clean term to search: there is no choice of spelling to make, and so one fewer way to fool yourself.
- As a whole word
- 2,266
- First, with any prefix
- Genesis 32:29
The measurement
Short skips behave differently from long ones, because neighboring letters in real Hebrew are not random. Israel has 19 sequences at skips 2 to 10 against 10.8 by chance, then falls 2.4 percent short over the whole range.
| At every skip | Torah | Tanakh |
|---|---|---|
| Found | 44,844 | 667,809 |
| Chance alone | 45,940 | 672,543 |
| P (≥ found) | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Shortest skip | 2 | 2 |
| Longest skip | 75,674 | 298,950 |
Counted forward and backward on the written text, with final letters treated as ordinary ones. At the laboratory's opening setting, skips 2 to 5,000, the Torah gives 5,755 against 5,829 by chance. How these figures are made.
The sequences, letter by letter
Each letter is shown in the verse it happens to stand in, nothing more. Tap one to read it in the Tanakh, with the rest of the sequence marked.
In the Torah
Shortest skip 2, forward from Deuteronomy 33:18
Shortest skip 2, backward from Exodus 14:31
וַיַּ֨רְא יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־הַיָּ֣ד הַגְּדֹלָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה יְקוָק֙ בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם וַיִּֽירְא֥וּ הָעָ֖ם אֶת־יְקוָ֑ק וַיַּֽאֲמִ֨ינוּ֙ בַּֽיקוָ֔ק וּבְמֹשֶׁ֖ה עַבְדּֽוֹ׃
And Israel saw the great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared the LORD; and they believed in the LORD, and in His servant Moses.
Short skip 50, backward from Genesis 2:3
וַיְבָ֤רֶךְ אֱ־לֹהִים֙ אֶת־י֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י וַיְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֹת֑וֹ כִּ֣י ב֤וֹ שָׁבַת֙ מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָ֥א אֱ־לֹהִ֖ים לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃
And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested from all His work which God in creating had made.
וַיְכַ֤ל אֱ־לֹהִים֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה וַיִּשְׁבֹּת֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה׃
And on the seventh day God finished His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.
וַיְכֻלּ֛וּ הַשָּׁמַ֥יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ וְכָל־צְבָאָֽם׃
And the heaven and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
וַיַּ֤רְא אֱ־לֹהִים֙ אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וְהִנֵּה־ט֖וֹב מְאֹ֑ד וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם הַשִּׁשִּֽׁי׃
And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
וּֽלְכָל־חַיַּ֣ת הָ֠אָרֶץ וּלְכָל־ע֨וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם וּלְכֹ֣ל רוֹמֵ֣שׂ עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֔ה אֶת־כָּל־יֶ֥רֶק עֵ֖שֶׂב לְאָכְלָ֑ה וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃
and to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is a living soul, [I have given] every green herb for food.’ And it was so.
Middle skip 512, forward from Numbers 6:21
… לַֽיקוָק֙ עַל־נִזְר֔וֹ מִלְּבַ֖ד אֲשֶׁר־תַּשִּׂ֣יג יָד֑וֹ כְּפִ֤י נִדְרוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִדֹּ֔ר …
This is the law of the Nazirite who voweth, and of his offering unto the LORD for his Naziriteship, beside that for which his means suffice; according to his vow which he voweth, so he must do after the law of his Naziriteship.
אֵ֣ת שְׁתֵּ֣י הָעֲגָלֹ֗ת וְאֵת֙ אַרְבַּ֣עַת הַבָּקָ֔ר נָתַ֖ן לִבְנֵ֣י גֵרְשׁ֑וֹן כְּפִ֖י עֲבֹדָתָֽם׃
Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service.
וּלְזֶ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִים֮ בָּקָ֣ר שְׁנַיִם֒ אֵילִ֤ם חֲמִשָּׁה֙ עַתּוּדִ֣ים חֲמִשָּׁ֔ה כְּבָשִׂ֥ים בְּנֵֽי־שָׁנָ֖ה חֲמִשָּׁ֑ה זֶ֛ה קָרְבַּ֥ן נַחְשׁ֖וֹן בֶּן־עַמִּינָדָֽב׃
and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
וּלְזֶ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִים֮ בָּקָ֣ר שְׁנַיִם֒ אֵילִ֤ם חֲמִשָּׁה֙ עַתֻּדִ֣ים חֲמִשָּׁ֔ה כְּבָשִׂ֥ים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָ֖ה חֲמִשָּׁ֑ה זֶ֛ה קָרְבַּ֥ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֹֽן׃
and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.
וּלְזֶ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִים֮ בָּקָ֣ר שְׁנַיִם֒ אֵילִ֤ם חֲמִשָּׁה֙ עַתֻּדִ֣ים חֲמִשָּׁ֔ה כְּבָשִׂ֥ים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָ֖ה חֲמִשָּׁ֑ה זֶ֛ה קָרְבַּ֥ן שְׁלֻמִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּרִֽישַׁדָּֽי׃
and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
Wide skip 5,001, forward from Leviticus 17:11
כִּ֣י נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַבָּשָׂר֮ בַּדָּ֣ם הִוא֒ וַאֲנִ֞י נְתַתִּ֤יו לָכֶם֙ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ לְכַפֵּ֖ר עַל־נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־הַדָּ֥ם ה֖וּא בַּנֶּ֥פֶשׁ יְכַפֵּֽר׃
For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life.
קְדֹשִׁ֤ים יִהְיוּ֙ לֵא־לֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם וְלֹ֣א יְחַלְּל֔וּ שֵׁ֖ם אֱ־לֹהֵיהֶ֑ם כִּי֩ אֶת־אִשֵּׁ֨י יְקוָ֜ק לֶ֧חֶם אֱ־לֹהֵיהֶ֛ם הֵ֥ם מַקְרִיבִ֖ם וְהָ֥יוּ קֹֽדֶשׁ׃
They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God; for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the bread of their God, they do offer; therefore they shall be holy.
עַ֚ל הַמְּנֹרָ֣ה הַטְּהֹרָ֔ה יַעֲרֹ֖ךְ אֶת־הַנֵּר֑וֹת לִפְנֵ֥י יְקוָ֖ק תָּמִֽיד׃
He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.
וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֖ם בְּשַׂ֣ר בְּנֵיכֶ֑ם וּבְשַׂ֥ר בְּנֹתֵיכֶ֖ם תֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃
And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.
וְחָנ֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִ֧ישׁ עַֽל־מַחֲנֵ֛הוּ וְאִ֥ישׁ עַל־דִּגְל֖וֹ לְצִבְאֹתָֽם׃
And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man with his own camp, and every man with his own standard, according to their hosts.
Outside the Torah
Shortest skip 2, backward from Joshua 4:21
Middle skip 500, forward from 1 Samuel 25:24
וַתִּפֹּל֙ עַל־רַגְלָ֔יו וַתֹּ֕אמֶר בִּי־אֲנִ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י הֶֽעָוֺ֑ן וּֽתְדַבֶּר־נָ֤א אֲמָֽתְךָ֙ בְּאָזְנֶ֔יךָ וּשְׁמַ֕ע אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י אֲמָתֶֽךָ׃
And she fell at his feet, and said: ‘Upon me, my lord, upon me be the iniquity; and let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine ears, and hear thou the words of thy handmaid.
וְהָיָ֗ה כִּֽי־יַעֲשֶׂ֤ה יְקוָק֙ לַֽאדֹנִ֔י כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר אֶת־הַטּוֹבָ֖ה עָלֶ֑יךָ וְצִוְּךָ֥ לְנָגִ֖יד עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that He hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee prince over Israel;
וַיְהִ֖י כַּעֲשֶׂ֣רֶת הַיָּמִ֑ים וַיִּגֹּ֧ף יְקוָ֛ק אֶת־נָבָ֖ל וַיָּמֹֽת׃
And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, so that he died.
וַיָּ֣קָם שָׁא֗וּל וַיֵּ֨רֶד֙ אֶל־מִדְבַּר־זִ֔יף וְאִתּ֛וֹ שְׁלֹֽשֶׁת־אֲלָפִ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ בְּחוּרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד בְּמִדְבַּר־זִֽיף׃
Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛ד אֶל־אֲבִישַׁ֖י אַל־תַּשְׁחִיתֵ֑הוּ כִּ֠י מִ֣י שָׁלַ֥ח יָד֛וֹ בִּמְשִׁ֥יחַ יְקוָ֖ק וְנִקָּֽה׃
And David said to Abishai: ‘Destroy him not; for who can put forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless?’
By skip range, shuffled texts and book
| Skips, Torah | Found | Chance alone |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 10 | 19 | 10.8 |
| 11 to 100 | 87 | 108 |
| 101 to 1,000 | 1,099 | 1,077 |
| 1,001 to 5,000 | 4,550 | 4,633 |
| 5,001 to 76,212 | 39,089 | 40,111 |
Shuffled Torahs
The Torah's own count at skips 2 to 1,000 is 1,205. Each family below rebuilt the text 100 times (seed 5787). What each family keeps.
| Control family | Runs at or above 1,205 | Median run | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter shuffle | 48/100 | 1,199 | 1,093 to 1,284 |
| Words within each verse | 18/100 | 1,170 | 1,080 to 1,252 |
Where the sequences start
| Torah | Found | Chance alone |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis | 11,817 | 11,765 |
| Exodus | 9,672 | 9,574 |
| Leviticus | 6,334 | 6,750 |
| Numbers | 9,297 | 9,576 |
| Deuteronomy | 7,724 | 8,275 |
| Tanakh | Found | Chance alone |
|---|---|---|
| Torah | 171,812 | 171,276 |
| Prophets | 310,878 | 311,137 |
| Writings | 185,119 | 190,130 |
Run this search yourself
Change the skips, set ישראל beside another word, and run the controls on your own question.
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