Yes, modern Israel—in the broader sense of today’s Jewish people and the State of Israel—is the same Israel of which the Bible speaks and promises. We believe both biblical and historical evidence point to the reality that the Jewish people of today—both within the modern State of Israel and in the diaspora—make up what the Bible refers to as the people of Israel. We also believe that the State of Israel, established in 1948, is situated on the same territory as the ancient land promised to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:7) and is connected to God’s prophetic promises.
This question of whether the modern State of Israel and the Jewish people of today are the biblical Israel has become a hot topic recently among some social media influencers and podcasters.1 In this article, we will show why we believe both Scripture and external evidence demonstrate that the people of Israel of which the Bible speaks has never ceased to exist and are the same people of Israel today. We will also show that the current State of Israel, despite its flaws and different boundaries, is the land given by God to the ancient Israelites and thus to the present-day Jewish community.
Genetic, Cultural, and Historical Evidence
The Jewish people have had a continuous presence in the land of Israel since 1406 BCE, when Joshua led the Israelite army into the Promised Land. Though there have been various captivities and exiles throughout the last few thousand years, a remnant of Jewish people has always remained in the land.2
Even after Rome destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE and many Jewish people fled from the land, a remnant remained. Archaeology from the land consistently affirms the Jewish people’s ancient, continuous presence in and connection to the land of Israel.3
DNA evidence from Jewish people in Israel and in the diaspora also reveal common DNA markers and a shared Middle Eastern ancestry. According to prominent geneticist Doron Behar, this genetic composition is consistent with the view that modern Jewish people descended from the ancient biblical Israelites of the Levant.4
In addition, Jewish people living in the modern State of Israel and throughout the world practice many of the same ancient traditions and customs of biblical Israel, including Torah observance, circumcision, and the celebration of the Jewish festivals that God prescribed for Israel to follow in the Bible.
What Does the Bible Say?
Some Christians argue that the modern State of Israel cannot be biblical Israel because the modern nation is a secular state and God’s covenant with Israel (the Jewish people) was conditioned on obedience. These Christians see the people of Israel in a state of disbelief and disobedience and as ceasing to be in covenant with God, and therefore no longer biblical Israel.5
This view, however, fails to account for the history of the biblical people of Israel’s cycle of rebellion and redemption; when the people of Israel rebelled, God sent them prophets to rebuke and remind them of God’s possible restoration. Their disobedience never caused them to cease being the biblical people (or nation) of Israel. This view also fails to acknowledge God’s unconditional promises to Israel contained in the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 15:18, 17:8),6 as well as God’s promise that the people of Israel would remain a nation before Him forever, despite disobedience. The latter promise, found in Jeremiah 31:35–37, was even made to the nation while it was in a state of apostasy. The prophet Jeremiah wrote:
Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; the Lord of hosts is His name: “If this fixed order departs from before Me,” declares the Lord, “then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before Me forever.” Thus says the Lord, “If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out below, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,” declares the Lord.
The apostle Paul, claiming “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:28–29), affirmed Israel’s future salvation, despite the people’s current rejection of Messiah (Romans 11:25–26), as well as Israel’s continued chosenness before God. Jesus’ other apostles likewise understood God would one day fulfill His promises to national Israel, as evidenced in their question before His resurrection (Acts 1:6–8) and in Peter’s sermon to his fellow Jewish people, urging them to repent and recognize the Messiah so He could return and fulfill the promises made to their ancestors (Acts 3:19–21).
Although God scattered the Jewish people throughout the world because of sin and unbelief, He promised that one day He would regather the Jewish people back to the land of Israel because of His faithfulness, not theirs, and to show that He is the true God who keeps His promises:
Therefore say to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord God, ‘It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,’ declares the Lord God, ‘when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.’”(Ezekiel 36:22–24)
Note that God promised He would bring the nation of Israel—the Jewish people—back to the land—even while His people were profaning His name among the nations (in a state of disobedience)—because He wanted to vindicate His holy name. The return of the Jewish people to their land and the establishment of the modern State of Israel exists not because Israel is righteous and deserving, but because God is faithful to His promises. It is a testament to God’s faithfulness and holiness.
Likewise, the prophet Zechariah prophesied that Israel’s future repentance and acceptance of Messiah Jesus would occur while the Jewish people were back in the land of Israel. Zechariah paints a portrait of Israel being surrounded by enemies when Jesus returns, with the Jewish people alive in Israel at the time welcoming Him as their Messiah and Savior and realizing He was the one “whom they [had] pierced” at His first coming (Zechariah 12:9–10; cf. Matthew 23:39; Luke 21:24).
We look forward to and pray for the hastening of the people of Israel’s future salvation, which will bless the entire world (Romans 11:12). Until then, let us continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and proclaim the truth that modern Israel (both the people and the State of Israel)—although imperfect and sinful—remains biblical Israel and that God is faithful to keep His promises!
by Jennifer Miles, director of communications for the Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem
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1 Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens are two examples of popular conservative influencers who have publicly declared the modern State of Israel has nothing to do with biblical Israel.
2 Jennifer Miles, Israel: Whose Land Is It Anyway? (Bellmawr, NJ: The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc., 2019) 17–18.
3 “The Tel Dan Inscription: The First Historical Evidence of King David From the Bible,” Bible History Daily, May 31, 2025, https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/the-tel-dan-inscription-the-first-historical-evidence-of-the-king-david-bible-story/.
4 James Sinkinson, “Myth vs. Fact: Are Today’s Jews the Descendants of Ancient Israelites?” JNS.org, August 11, 2020, https://www.jns.org/myth-vs-fact-are-todays-jews-the-descendants-of-ancient-israelites/.
5 Michael W. Pahl, “Christians and Israel (2): Modern Israel is not Biblical Israel,” August 25, 2014, https://michaelpahl.com/2014/08/25/christians-and-israel-part-two/.
6 The Mosaic Covenant was conditional, but the Abrahamic Covenant was unconditional.
