ISRAEL THEN AND NOW: from covenant nation to secular state
Article revised and reviewed by Rev. Dr. Yohanna Katanacho (Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), distinguished Professor of Old Testament and the Academic Dean at Nazareth Evangelical College.
Another question that often comes up after my sessions on the Middle East is this:
Is Israel today the same as Israel in the Bible? And connected to that, people ask: How do we think about the suffering in Gaza, the accusations of genocide, and the actions of the modern State of Israel if the Bible speaks of Israel as God’s chosen people?
As Christians, thinking rightly about Israel is both important and sensitive. If we recognise that the modern nation‑state of Israel is NOT the same as ancient Israel, then our prayers, our theology, and our posture must reflect the way of Jesus — seeking God’s kingdom and God’s justice for the good of all people, Israelis and Palestinians alike, not only one group.
This claim often surprises people, because the Old Testament contains strong promises to Israel, and the New Testament echoes these promises in places like Romans 9:4–5 and 11:28–29. But despite these historical realities, the modern State of Israel is NOT the continuation of biblical Israel, nor does it automatically inherit the covenant promises given to Abraham’s descendants. If we are open enough to explore this statement, the answers will transform our approach to the conflicts in the region.
FIRSTLY, HERE IS WHY IT MATTERS
a) The Bible speaks about a covenant people, not a modern nation state
Biblical Israel was a tribal people defined by genealogy, covenant, the Torah, and temple worship. Modern Israel is a secular democratic state made up of Jews from global diasporas as well as Arab Muslims, Arab Christians, Druze, Bedouin, and others. It matters therefore because these are not the same “category of people.”
b) Biblical promises were given to a covenant community, not a future political entity
Scriptural promises of land, blessing, protection, and restoration were spoken to the descendants of Abraham who lived as a covenant people under the Torah. It matters therefore because a state created four thousand years later through diplomacy, war, and geopolitics does not automatically inherit or extend those same promises.
c) Confusing the two leads to theological errors
Merging biblical Israel with modern Israel weaponize prophecy for political propaganda, misuses Scripture to justify military actions, and causes the church to lose clarity about justice and suffering. It matters therefore because Christians risk blessing a government simply because it shares a name with an ancient people.
d) It protects the integrity of Scripture
Treating modern Israel as a direct continuation of biblical Israel flattens 2,000 years of biblical history. It matters therefore because it ignores the transformation of Jewish identity, and misreads Paul’s teaching in Romans 9–11.
e) It allows us to love the Jewish people without endorsing every action of a modern government
Distinguishing the two helps Christians honour Jewish history and suffering, pray for peace, and still speak honestly about injustice or political decisions. It matters therefore because understanding this will prevent antisemitism and promote pro‑truth.
CORE DIFFERENCES
Biblical Israel and the modern State of Israel are not the same because they exist within different time-frames, are located within different borders, arise from different identities, and operate under different authorities. Although they share ancestry and memory, they resemble each other far less today than thousands of years ago. Biblical Israel is an ancient covenant people; modern Israel is a secular nation‑state formed in the 20th century.
Understanding this requires clarity about geographical borders, ethnic population, religious diversity, and political identity.
1. GEOGRAPHICAL BORDERS: THEN VS NOW
a) Biblical Borders: Fluid, Theological, and Varied
The Hebrew Bible presents multiple border descriptions. Genesis 15:18 describes a vast “Nile to Euphrates” ideal, while other passages define smaller tribal territories. Even under David and Solomon, Israel’s largest territory was exceptional. Biblical borders shift with narrative and covenant; they are fluid and never standardized.
b) Modern Israel’s Borders: 20th–21st Century, Political, and Contested
Modern Israel emerged from the British Mandate, and its borders were never fixed at independence. They were shaped by the 1948 war, the 1967 Six‑Day War, and later treaties. Sinai was returned to Egypt, Gaza’s administration changed in 2005, the West Bank and East Jerusalem remain disputed, and the Golan Heights is claimed but not internationally recognized. Modern borders are defined by diplomacy, armistice lines, treaties, military occupation, and international law—not theology.
There is no overlaying between ancient and modern Israel except that Israel is still in the same region with geographical borders that have changed through the centuries and recent decades (see picture)
c) Why Biblical and Modern Borders Cannot Be Mapped Onto Each Other
Biblical maps were tribal and theological. Modern borders reflect nation‑state logic, cartographic precision, and international recognition systems unknown in antiquity. One is ancient and fluid; the other modern and legal.
Biblical Israel moved from tribal confederation to monarchy to post‑exilic community. Modern Israel is a parliamentary democracy with political parties, civil law, and citizenship categories. No independent Jewish state existed between 63 BCE and 1948 CE—a 2,000‑year gap.
Geographically it is not the same nation
2. THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL: THEN VS NOW
Biblical Israel was a covenant people defined by lineage, worship, and tribal belonging. Modern Israel is a multi‑ethnic population defined by citizenship, immigration, and national identity. They overlap in ancestry and memory but are not the same community.
a) Biblical Israel: A Tribal, Genealogical People
Biblical Israel descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, organized into twelve tribes with distinct land and identity. They were unified by covenant and worship, ethnically homogeneous, and lived without diaspora until later exiles. Foreigners who joined were absorbed into religious‑tribal identity, not civic identity.
b) Modern Israel: A Global, Multi‑Ethnic Jewish Population + Non‑Jewish Minorities
Modern Israel includes Jews from Europe, Spain, the Balkans, the Middle East, North Africa, Ethiopia, India, Russia, Ukraine, America, South Africa, and converts from many nations—each with different languages, cultures, genetics, and religious practices. It also includes Arab Muslims, Arab Christians, Druze, Bedouin, Circassians, Armenians, and others. Millions of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza are not citizens but are part of the land’s demographic reality.
3. RELIGIOUSLY DEFINED: THEN VS NOW
a) Biblical Israel was uniformly religious, defined by the Torah and temple worship.
Deuteronomy 7:6 – “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God.” affirms that Israel’s identity was covenantal and religious, not political. Their consecration was defined by the Torah, worship, sacrifice, and obedience — not by citizenship or national structures. Biblical Israel existed as a worshiping community, not a secular state.
But biblical Israel was not only chosen by God but consecrated by God to be a blessing to all nations. Genesis 12:2–3 – “I will bless you… and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
This foundational covenant shows that Israel is not special as a chosen nation by God but special by design as missional and spiritual: to be a blessing to the nations. Their identity was rooted in God’s calling, not in territorial borders or modern political authority.
b) Modern Israel on the other hand is predominantly secular;
This is critical to understand. Israel has abandoned her devotion and betrayed her calling. Around 65% of Jewish Israelis today are non‑religious or Atheists. A nation once separated by God – and for God – is now one of the most secular nations in the world. Judaism now includes secular, Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Haredi, and cultural expressions. Religion is now personal, not national anymore.
4. POLITICAL IDENTITY: THEN VS NOW
Also important to understand is the political transformation that separates biblical Israel and modern Israel.
a) Biblical Israel had no citizenship, passports, political parties, or immigration systems. Identity was inherited.
b) Modern Israel defines identity through legal citizenship, which includes non‑Jews. National identity is civic rather than covenantal.
5. CONTINUITY AND DISCONTINUITY: THEN VS NOW
a) Continuity includes shared ancestry, revived Hebrew, festivals, cultural memory, and the enduring idea of Israel. But tribal structure disappeared, temple worship ended, diaspora reshaped identity, and citizenship replaced genealogy.
b) Modern Israel is a nation‑state, not a covenant community.
6. PURPOSE AND IDENTITY: THEN VS NOW
a) Biblical Israel was defined by covenant, worship, and divine mission.
b) Modern Israel is defined by citizenship, security, sovereignty, and international law. Some political movements use biblical language, but this is ideological rather than a restoration of ancient Israel.
WHAT IS CONTINUOUS?
Jewish people today share ancestry with ancient Israelites, and Hebrew language, prayers, festivals, and cultural memory persist. The land remains central to Jewish identity. But reshaped borders, continuity of people, transformed political authority and abandoned purpose, does not equal continuity of state.
CONCLUSION
Biblical Israel is an ancient covenant people; modern Israel is a 20th‑century nation‑state. They share common customs and a form of cultural faith in Judaism and memory, but they are not the same religious, political or territorial entity.