Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Israel's Name


The Duggars and Dillards are thrilled to welcome Israel David Dillard. (Click here for details.) Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar now have four grandchildren and are looking forward to the birth of #5 in July.

Before finding out Baby Dilly's gender, Jill and Derick Dillard had two possible names picked out: Israel, which means "God will prevail," and Selah, which means "pause and reflect." When they found out they were expecting a boy, they settled on Israel. What is significant about that name?

Back in September 2011, Jill and her family traveled to Israel as part of their World Tour. It was the trip of a lifetime for the Duggars because it made the Bible come to life.

More than two years later and a few months after Jill and Derick began their courtship, Derick stopped in Israel on his way home from Nepal. Knowing how much Jill had enjoyed her trip to Israel, he purchased her engagement ring there.


Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com

127 comments:

  1. That's a beautiful story to be able to tell.

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  2. Two wonderful choices.. I hope that if/when they have a daughter they will use Selah.. also a bit concerned that Jill has an IV.. I pray that everything is OK.

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    1. Art, please rest assured that every woman that had a baby in a hospital gets hooked up to an IV.... they do this to Keep the mother hydrated and to administer any additional fluids that may be necessary ......it's strictly routine and they do it during triage when the mother gets checked in .....so sweet and thoughtful of you to show concern :)

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    2. Not every mother!! I had 2 babies and told the nurses I didn't need/want it, so they respected that!! It was on standby had there been an issue!!

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    3. Not every mom who has a baby in the hospital has to have an iv. Three of our babies were born medication free in a hospital with no iv. Likely she may have had to have pain meds. and therefore may have been requirde to have the iv. Regardless, they are both healthy, and that is the important thing. Bod bless their little family!

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    4. Yeah, I had 4 hospital births and didn't have an IV with any of them. Im thinking that Jill may have had a C section. One of the pictures shows Derick in scrubs. Because he was such a large baby her pelvis was probably not big enough for him.

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    5. All moms gets IV's when they deliver babies in a hospital! Mom is losing blood so we need to make sure she is staying hydrated and breast milk is coming in on time- I am a maternity nurse

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    6. I didn't have an IV with my last hospital birth, I didn't have an epidural either.

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    7. my guess is she had a C section. The baby's head is very nice and round. He was close to 10 pounds, so…...

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    8. Nurses know best! Its silly to refuse an IV

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    9. I love his name! All four of my babies have biblical names.
      John Daniel
      Rachel Naomi
      rebekah Jean( after g'ma)
      Benjamin David.
      Alot of thought went into their names.

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  3. Are you guys going to add Israel to the intro of the blog?

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  4. I love the names Isreal and Selah. They both have wonderful meanings! Also I love the back story to the name Isreal. So wonderful!
    I hope that Jill has a good recovery with such a big handsome baby boy. With The Lord by her side it should all go well!
    God Bless!
    ~AJ~

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  5. What a magnificent baby! Congratulations Jill and Derick. Welcome Baby Israel David! Your family is such a wonderful model of how to live the Christian faith daily, that is is no wonder that Baby Israel was born on Easter Monday! (In the Roman Catholic faith, Easter is such a monumental religious celebration, that it is celebrated in the church for 8 days known as the Easter Octave). Your family is such a positive inspiration to others (less than 24 hours after the birth of your son, you are already encouraging others with your uplifting video and testament of faith.) May God Bless you and your family as you embark on your new journey of parenthood. :)

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    1. That is the sweetest thing I think has ever been posted on the blog! It was simply beautiful!:) you are such a beautiful person!:)

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  6. Awwww... I think the name is awsome! Please keep us updated on this subject and I heard a rumor about Ben and Jessa going to have a baby is this true? Thank you for this blog. Blessings going to the new parents.

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  7. I think if the next one is a girl they should name her India since that is where they met for the first time.

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  8. Congratulations with the arrival of your son. That he may learn to know the Lord , what is only possible by grace. That he is born to be born again.
    Love, Wilma

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  9. Are you going to change the banner and add little Israel?

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  10. This is a trend -- naming the child after something that has significance for the parents, like Paris, North, Bodhi, Israel, etc. My only question is that an employer reviewing a resume usually likes to know the gender of the applicant, and that's not so easy with some of these names.

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    1. Usually they have a gender box to fill out :)

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    2. Gender shouldn't matter on a job application!

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    3. Israel is the name of a person, it also happens to be the name of a country. But the person came first. The country was named for the person.

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  11. Jill you shouldn't have all of your kids names start with the same letter they should all relate to names in the Bible like Israel Isaiah Isaiah Isaac and Selah liked you liked. And Anna should name her new daughter Melanie or Melody or Melodi Adelay or Adelaide I KNOW ALOT!!!!

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    1. jill has already said she wont have a letter theme for her babies.

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  12. So happy for the new parents of a healthy and beautiful baby boy!! Congrats!!

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  13. OMG!!!!!!!!!
    I'm so happy for you
    I hope God blesses your child and love the name

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  14. When will there be more pictures of Israel up?

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  15. LOVE!! They could have used Selah for him. I think it's a very strong, meaningful name for a boy. :)

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  16. But what about the middle name? Is he named after Derick's late father Rick? Or is it Derick's middle name? Was hoping they would honor his father in the part of the baby's name.

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    1. They said they wanted to go with biblical names for their children.

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    2. I thought so too!! I was sure they were going to name him after Derick's father. They had said they wanted to use family names along with biblical names. Very surprising

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  17. I love his name its a strong name I am so happy for the Dillard family

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  18. That is so cool how they chose Israel as a name. And Selah would have been beautiful as well!

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  19. Names are my passion and Israel is perfect and so meaningful for Jill and Derick! I'm so excited for them! Congratulations!

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  20. Beautiful name and congrats on your beautiful baby boy

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  21. A name I really like is Nevaeh....which is Heaven spelled backwords. There is a girl in the town I live in with that name. It is pronounced N-e (short e sound as in 'jet')- v- a(long 'A' sound as in 'bake) - ah (ahhhhh......as in 'Hannah')

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  22. The bible is filled with beautiful names. Great theme for a growing family. Love their choice!

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  23. That's so cool. I didn't know he bought her ring in Israel. So happy for them

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  24. Congrats on baby Israel! Selah is also a great name! We named our baby girl who was born last July Selah Grace����!

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    1. Congratulations!
      I have a Selah Grace too!
      Born 7/27/2005 😄

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  25. I think parents sometimes forget that their child is the one that has to live with the name. If Israel is so important to Jill and Derick, they could have used it for a middle name and gave the child a normal first name.

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  26. Are you going to call him Israel or David?

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  27. "Israel" in Hebrew does not mean "God will prevail". It means "He who wrestles with God". I'm from an Orthodox Jewish upbringing and am fluent in Hebrew, so I should know, eh?

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    1. That's what I thought... Because when Jacob wrestles with the Angel, then that's when his name is changed from Jacob to Israel...

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  28. Congratulations Jill and Derick! We have a Dairy Queen ice cream store here in Neenah, Wisconsin; they sell Dilly Bars which is ice cream on a stick dipped in chocolate or other flavors. I will have one in honor of Israel.

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  29. What a great story to tell him when he is older! My 3 boys love hearing about the significant of their names, your family has captivated a nation, even down here in Australia!

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  30. So happy to hear all went well, even if Israel decided he wanted to come a different way. Hugs to all.

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  31. That is so sweet. I love his name.

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  32. Love the name, the way they brought a place that has so much meaning to them both and gave it a bigger meaning to their lives.. What a beautiful way to say love to one another and to their son. May god always prevail in their lives.

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  33. So pleased for Jill & Derick & new son Israel. All are healthy & well. New subject.
    Is Josh Duggar really in law school? To gain admittance to law school one needs to Earn a 4 year college/Bachelors degree. Homeschooling doesn't cover 4 years of college. Perhaps CollegePlus may? Once a person earns a college degree taking the LSAT law school aptitude test is a requirement to gain admittance into law school. I am aware if this fact because a niiece & a nephew of mine are now practicing attorneys. I'll not be convinced otherwise.

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    1. Maybe he went to college after homeschooling...

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    2. You could take the bar exam without anymore than a high school diploma, if a lawyer you work under will vouch for you. I know because I'm in the legal profession. And indeed he has had time to complete his Bachelor's by now.

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  34. Super super cute and such meanings behind his name. Very special. :) Congratulations you guys. And Jill......high five girl. lol Big ole boy. :))))

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  35. That is so sweet

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  36. Congratulations on the families new arrival--may God bless your family and watch over you---you all are a inspiration to me and I look forward to every Tuesday to watch your families adventures. I am a single mom of 2 and your words of encouragement and positive outlook gives me hope and encouragement to do my best and be the best mom I can be--God Bless --Kimberly Ditto -Louisville Ky

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  37. When will there be more pictures of Israel up?

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  38. It is different for a 1st name but that helps explain it. Will they tell us if she had a c-section? He was a huge baby, seems like she should've been induced a week or 2 ago. I am glad they are both doing well but poor Jill....such a big baby for her 1st time!!

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    1. With the first baby doctors will generally let a mom go to 42 weeks before inducing. In subsequent pregnancies, you go to 41 weeks before induction.

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    2. My oldest was 9 lbs 11 oz and he was all natural. His size doesn't necessarily mean you have to have a c-section

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  39. Congratulations to the Dillards! Israel, you cant ask for a better family. The whole family is an inspiration to my family and I. God bless.

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  40. Jacob from the bible, his name was also changed to Israel :)

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  41. Nepal is not India.

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  42. That's beautiful and special meaning for you both! He is so beautiful, and Jill you look so pretty and full of happiness,as well as Derrick...he's beaming with pride. God bless your family.

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  43. So sweet! They look so happy. Can't wait to see more pictures of the new addition to their sweet family!

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  44. Personally...I don't prefer naming children after countries...i really thought they would have honored derick's father and used his name. Israel may be a beautiful place, but as a name it is a little weird!!! Like someone else just posted, the child is the one who has to live with it!

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  45. Anonomous 30,

    Sorry the site wouldn't let me reply to your comment directly. When Jacob wrestled with God, did He not prevail?

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  46. So why David as a second name.?

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  47. I think the name was purely political. They are saying that they stand with the Jewish people.

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  48. How sweet of Derick to purchase Jill's ring in a special place for her!! Honey - you have got yourself an amazing husband! And btw... I totally LOVE the name you chose for your precious baby boy! A name is so important, studies have shown how a persons name affects their entire life... Think about it - if you are hiring a new person to run your company, will you choose a Barbie or a Barbara?? Use your imagination on this, but I think Israel is a very strong name that will serve him well.... So happy for you all!!

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  49. Israel… is a beautiful name, it is quite common for hispanic families, whether the name is also a name of a Country or has a particular meaning to the parents or not--- he is their child and they can choose whatever they like… I think people are being a but judgemental and this was posted just for them to be able to share their joy and their son. If you have nothing nice to say then don't say anything at all. I'm glad that they are well and enjoying their son. God bless them all!

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  50. Love the story and his name!
    We have a Selah Grace who is nearing her 10th birthday. We get comments often on how beautiful her name is 😄 it also has led to wonderful stories as we explain her name to some or others say "ahhhh from Psalms!" 😄

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  51. In Australia an IV is not normal procedure for laboring woman. I had three hospital births. My first birth I had a drug free labor and only had an IV at the end when I needed an emergency C-section. I did not have IVs for my other two births. Going on the machines in the back ground.. I would say Jill had a C-section.. the machine could be patient administered pump for pain relief.
    Lovely name with meaning Jill and Derick!

    Lovely sentimental name Jill and Derick!

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    1. The machine in the picture is an Alaris IV pump. Impossible to tell if it was used. Most hospitals here keep IV pumps at the bedside in all rooms in case they are needed.

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  52. How are they going to call him when he is a baby/child?

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  53. @Anonymous
    I can't stand that name, in part because it is waaay overused. Also because everyone that uses it feels compelled to explain "It's Heaven spelled backwards" like they just made it up. I do birth certificates and cringe every time someone uses it.

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  54. I love this show and they chose the name of the boy just perfect but I agree all moms have to have a iv or there will be complications if u don't have an iv

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  55. Israel might be a cute name now what about when he is an adult? I wonder if he will still appreciate his meaningful name. I hope that they don't use the name Saleh or any other religious names most sound reticulum.

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  56. In the mexican culture (mine) I've noticed Israel is a common name.

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  57. Israel is a great name!! Congrats on you big beautiful bundle of joy!

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  58. So many people who are commenting negatively about the name Israel, apparently don't understand it's history. Israel is the name given to Jacob in the Bible. It was the name of a PERSON before it was the name of a COUNTRY. Also as someone else pointed out, the name Israel is more common in different cultures. Just because you may not hear it often in your culture doesn't mean you should call it strange or suggest that Jill and Derick are selfish for choosing it. Don't be rude.

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  59. Wow! Israel is such a cute little angel. I can see the love and endless care from you guys.

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  60. how come they did not go on the today show like josh and anna did. and who gives themselves a gender revial party.

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  61. Did Jill have a c-section? She looks well. Love the size of her baby!!!

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  62. Why did they pick David as the middle name?

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  63. Some hospitals do i.v. and some do not. I had the piece inserted but no tube unless necessary . In Missouri father's wear scrubs even if there is no c section.

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  64. Much joy to you all! Wonderful news. I thank God for you, and pray blessings on your
    precious new family.

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  65. Since Derek was in scrubs, I'm guessing she had to have a c-section.

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    1. Some hospitals are now requiring the husbands or helpers to wear shrubs.I heard they had to induce her so there is no telling if she had a c-section until we are officially informed.It really doesn't matter anyway on how he arrived as long as they are both safe and healthy.

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  66. Jill has already been beautiful, but you know how some women get more beautiful after they deliver...Well she is definitely one of them :-) She is just beaming...I really love that girl and her family! N

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    1. No, she's not. Everybody Else are beautiful. Even the Little God!

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  67. Congratulations Jill & Derick on the birth of your beautiful baby boy. Love your show & look forward to Tuesday night .

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  68. I know some boys named Israel and a girl too. I was thrilled to see Derick wearing the IDF shirt. Support for Israel is important to many people. Happy for the Dillard/Duggar family.

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  69. DO not publish this, but you did post one comment that has a bad word in it referencing Derick's IDF shirt. Just FYI. Again, please do not publish this comment. Thank you for all of your hard work.

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  70. When are you going to add Israel into the blog heading?

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  71. Congratulations on the birth of Israël David Dillard, wishing you lots of love, health, fun, joy, wisdom and most of all God's blessing to raise this beautiful boy.
    best regards from the Netherlands ♡ ♡ ♡.

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  72. Renee' M. from MissouriApril 9, 2015 at 1:14 PM

    Congrats to Israel, mommy & daddy!!! I love the name they chose...my husband and I have a friend named Israel....he's a very strong and honorable Christian man. I can imagine this child will grow up to be the same. Praying for a quick recovery for Jill.

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  73. Who cares about an IV? I like Israel! Apparently others don't. My cousin is named it and his grandparents offered to pay $100 to his parents to change it. (They didn't!)

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  74. He is 23 in? well I could not hold him my lap by the time he is 10 he will be sixth foot

    God bless you all. grow tall baby

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  75. Congrats to the Duggar/Dillard families on your precious new addition. I absolutely LOVE what u guys stand for and believe. The world would be a much better place if we all took your lead. God Bless u all and wishing lots of Love and Laughter in the days ahead..<3

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  76. Yes, Israel does mean "wrestles with God", or "strives with God." Yes, Jacob prevailed, but only after getting his hip dislocated and having to submit to God (see Genesis 32). But I think that's still great, because those who truly wrestle with God often have the most powerful testimonies. Wrestle with God; don't give up until He wins!

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  77. Israel, the place, was named for the person renamed Israel from Jacob. I don't think its a place name thing?

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  78. The couple is very blessed to have a beautiful and healthy baby boy. I love little Israel's name. This family is truly blessed.

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  79. Lilly and Ellie
    Are you going to change the family picture thing?

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  80. I understand them wanting to call the baby, Israel but I think that Derrick wearing an Israel Defense Forces T-Shirt was inappropriate and uncalled for.

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  81. I think it's a charming name. I've heard some boys names that have me going "Huh?". At least Israel is easy to pronounce and easy to spell.

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  82. I live in Missouri and when I gave birth to my daughter, my husband wasn't required to wear scrubs.

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  83. So happy for Jill and Derick!😃😃
    What blessing it is for the whole Duggar, and Dillard family! I hope baby Dilly is as sweet, loving, and an AMAZING person as both Jill,and Derick are! God bless!😃

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  84. So excited! Love the name they choose! God bless

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  85. Those first baby photos are some of the most precious - what a wonderful moment captured in time.

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  86. Interesting name!! That's a good thing!! Can't wait to watch the shows!!!

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  87. David was the King of Israel, and a man after God's own heart. Acts 13:22

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  88. Jill and Derrick chose a beautiful name for their first born child. I love the passage in scripture that says:
    "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
    and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:3

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  89. Hi Readers,

    We apologize for the profane comment that slipped through. It has been deleted. We would like to ensure you that we are committed to keeping our website family friendly.

    Blessings,
    Lily and Ellie

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  90. Those of you that have a daughter named Selah, is it pronounced Sa ( long a) or Se (long e)? I love the name but have heard it pronounced both ways

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  91. Me encanta la historia de los nombres , es precioso , esta familia me encanta y es una lástima que en España no saquen los capítulos por televisión .En cuanto al nombre veo que muchos en este blog lo ven raro , cosa que no entiendo porque aquí en España es un nombre muy común y bonito , lo que me intriga es como se pronunciara allí ...

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