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Index/Topics/Merneptah Stele and Israel

Merneptah Stele and Israel

The Merneptah Stele is an Egyptian victory inscription that contains a line mentioning a group conventionally read as 'Israel'. The stele is dated to the late 13th century BCE and is the earliest generally accepted extra-biblical reference to a name read as Israel.

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Feb 1, 2026

What does the Merneptah Stele actually say about 'Israel' and how do scholars interpret it?

The Stele is a late 13th‑century BCE victory inscription that contains a short, much‑discussed line mentioning a group conventionally read as “,” usually translated along the lines of “Israel is waste...