- Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebecca, twin brother of Esau, husband of the sisters Rachel and Leah, and father of the twelve sons who became the ancestors of the twelve ...
- Rachel, his beloved wife, mother of Joseph & Benjamin, died giving birth to Benjamin
- Leah her older sister, also married to Jacob. The ‘unloved’ wife who all the same bore her husband six sons and a daughter.
- Joseph, favored son of Jacob
- Labin, father of Rachel and Leah
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What was Jacob in the Bible known for?
According to Genesis, Jacob displayed favoritism among his wives and children, preferring Rachel and her sons, Joseph and Benjamin, causing tension within the family—culminating in Joseph's older brothers selling him into slavery.
What does Jacob symbolize in the Bible?
Jacob is a classic and popular boy name. It comes from the Old Testament and means “supplanter,” which is often interpreted as someone who seizes, circumvents, or usurps. In the book of Genesis, the twins Jacob and Esau were born to Isaac and Rebecca; Esau came first, making him the first-born son.
What kind of character is Jacob in the Bible?
At the start of the novel, Jacob is a confident and charismatic man, favored by his god. He is a good husband and a kind and gentle lover to each of his wives, giving and taking satisfaction in equal measure.
What is the personality of a Jacob?
When people hear the name Jacob, they perceive you as someone who is sympathetic, compassionate, and generous. People feel comfortable with and count on you for support. You don't care about fashion and are often shabbily dressed. Others see you as a maternal or paternal figure.
Why did Jacob wrestle the angel?
Like some Jewish commentators, Islamic commentators described the event as punishment for Jacob failing to give tithes to God but making an offering like a tithe to Esau.
What did God change Jacob's name?
IsraelHe demonstrated that he was willing to let God prevail in his life. In response, God changed Jacob's name to Israel, meaning 'let God prevail.
Why was Jacob special to God?
Along his journey Jacob received a special revelation from God; God promised Jacob lands and numerous offspring that would prove to be the blessing of the entire Earth. Jacob named the place where he received his vision Bethel (“House of God”).
What is Jacob's experience?
In Genesis 27, Isaac blessed Jacob that he would have prosperity and would rule over his older brother, Esau. The greatest blessings Jacob could obtain, however, were the blessings of the covenant given to his grandfather Abraham and his father, Isaac.
Why did Jacob deceive his father?
Jacob, who had deceived his father, is in turn deceived and cheated by his uncle Laban concerning Jacob's seven years of service (lacking money for a dowry) for the hand of Laban's daughter Rachel, receiving his older daughter Leah instead.
How many wives did Jacob have?
The latter third of the book of Genesis relates the complex and vola- tile relationship of the patriarch Jacob, his four wives, and their thirteen children (twelve sons, one daughter).
What is Jacob's name in Genesis?
As a twin in the womb with Esau, he jostled for position and was born grasping his brother’s heel. Jacob’s name is translated as “he deceives” ( Genesis 25:26 ). When his mother, Rebekah, asked God during her pregnancy what was happening to her, God told her that there were two nations within her womb who would become divided. One would be stronger than the other, and the older would serve the younger ( Genesis 25:23 ).
What did Jacob pray for in the Bible?
Jacob prayed for God to save him, reminding God that He had sent Jacob back to the land of Abraham and had promised to make him prosper and his descendants numerous ( Genesis 32:9–12 ). Jacob selected more gifts for Esau, which he sent ahead with servants in waves, hoping to pacify Esau.
Why did Jacob work for Laban?
However, Jacob was to discover that his uncle Laban could be just as much a deceiver as he had been. On Jacob’s wedding night, Laban substituted his older daughter, Leah, for Rachel ( Genesis 29:23-25 ).
What was Jacob's favoritism for Joseph?
Such was Jacob’s favoritism for Joseph that it caused great resentment among his brothers and nearly cost Joseph his life. When Isaac was old and his eyesight faded, he thought he was near to his death and made arrangements with Esau to pass on to him the blessings due to the firstborn son ( Genesis 27:1-4 ).
Why did Jacob cross his hands?
Unlike his father who had been deceived into giving the blessing of the firstborn to Jacob, Jacob crossed his hands to purposefully give the uncustomary blessing. The similarities in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are striking. In their stories we see the importance of family and the influence of example.
What is the difference between Jacob and Esau?
One would be stronger than the other, and the older would serve the younger ( Genesis 25:23 ). Jacob and Esau grew up together living a nomadic life. Es au became a fine hunter and loved to be out in the countryside while Jacob "was content to stay at home among the tents" ( Genesis 25:27 ). Esau, being a hunter, was his father’s favorite as Isaac ...
What did Jacob say to the man who touched his hip?
The man touched Jacob’s hip, putting it out of socket, but at daybreak Jacob still refused to let the man go. He asked for a blessing and was told, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome" ( Genesis 32:28 ).
Who is Jacob in the Bible?
Jacob first appears in the Book of Genesis, where he is described as the son of Isaac and Rebecca, and the grandson of Abraham, Sarah and Bethuel. According to the biblical account, he was the second-born of Isaac's children, the elder being Jacob's fraternal twin brother, Esau.
What does Jacob mean in Hebrew?
The second son they named יעקב, Jacob (Ya'aqob or Ya'aqov, meaning "heel-catcher", "supplanter", "leg-puller", "he who follows upon the heels of one", from Hebrew: עקב , 'aqab or 'aqav, "seize by the heel", "circumvent", "restrain", a wordplay upon Hebrew: עקבה , 'iqqebah or 'iqqbah, "heel").
Why did Rachel give Jacob her handmaid?
Rachel, however, remained barren. Following the example of Sarah, who gave her handmaid to Abraham after years of infertility, Rachel gave Jacob her handmaid, Bilhah, in marriage so that Rachel could raise children through her. Bilhah gave birth to Dan and Naphtali.
How old was Rebecca when she married Jacob?
According to the second opinion, Rebecca was 14 years old at the time of their marriage, and 34 years old at the birth of Jacob and Essau. In either case, Isaac and Rebecca were married for 20 years before Jacob and Esau were born.
What is the story of Esau and Jacob?
This passage tells that Esau, returning famished from the fields, begged Jacob to give him some of the stew that Jacob had just made.
Why did Isaac want to give Esau his birthright?
As Isaac aged, he became blind and was uncertain when he would die, so he decided to bestow Esau's birthright upon him. He requested that Esau go out to the fields with his weapons (quiver and bow) to kill some venison. Isaac then requested that Esau make "savory meat" for him out of the venison, according to the way he enjoyed it the most, so that he could eat it and bless Esau.
How many children did Jacob have?
Children of Jacob. Jacob, through his two wives and his two concubines had 12 biological sons; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin and at least one daughter, Dinah (if there were other daughters, they are not mentioned in the Genesis story).
The birth of Esau and Jacob
Rebecca, wife of Isaac, bore twin sons, Esau and Jacob. When they were born they seemed to be scrambling for first place: Esau came first, but Jacob came out holding onto Esau’s tiny heel. They were in competition from the start.
Theft of the Birthright and Blessing
Jacob hated being second in line. He always wanted the birthright – the eldest son was entitled to twice the inheritance that any of his brothers got when their father died.
Jacob marries two sisters
Then he set out again on his journey to his mother’s family. He came to a well where some shepherds were watering their flocks. A young girl wanted to draw water from the well, and Jacob learnt from the shepherds she was Rachel, a cousin of his, daughter of his mother’s brother Laban.
Jacob the trickster is tricked
But Laban tricked him into marrying Leah instead – the face of the bride was hidden during the wedding, and once they’d had sexual intercourse in the darkness of the wedding night, there was no going back.
Jacob outwits Laban
Jacob now had four wives – two full wives in Leah and Rachel, and their two maids Zilpah and Bilhah. He loved Rachel, but she did not seem able to conceive.
Jacob escapes from Laban
One day, without any farewell, Jacob gathered up his wives, children and flocks, and left.
Where did Jacob live?
Jacob ( Yaakov in Hebrew) was the third and final of the Jewish Patriarchs. Jacob lived in the Land of Canaan, Haran, and Egypt. Unlike Abraham and Isaac , Jacob’s entire family remained righteous—his 12 sons became the 12 tribes of Israel, the Shevatim.
Where did Jacob spend his time?
Jacob took his time getting back to his parents. On the way, he spent a year and a half in a place called Sukkot before purchasing a field near the city of Shechem , modern day Nablus. 16
How long did Jacob shelter Laban?
Laban agreed to shelter him for a month, in exchange for Jacob tending to his flock. 8. Jacob and Rachel loved each other, and after a month passed Jacob asked Laban for permission to marry her. Laban agreed, but he stipulated that the marriage take place after Jacob would tend his flocks for seven years.
How old were Jacob and Esau when Abraham passed away?
When Jacob and Esau were 15 years old, Abraham passed away. Jacob was cooking a red lentil soup for his bereaved father when his brother Esau arrived. Esau was ravenously hungry—the Midrash explains that he had just committed his first murder—and he demanded that Jacob feed him the soup. 3
What happened to Jacob after Esau's grandson attacked him?
Jacob set out for Haran all alone. After an attack by Esau’s grandson, he was left penniless too. 5 He rested in a field for the night, placing 12 stones around his head for protection. 6
What did Isaac tell Esau to do?
Isaac called Esau and told him to go catch wild animals and prepare a good meal for his father to eat. Afterwards, Isaac would bless Esau to fulfill Abraham’s destiny. 4
What did the Jewish Sages call Jacob?
The Jewish Sages call Jacob the "favorite" of the Patriarchs. 1 After Jacob successfully fought off an angel, G‑d named him Israel (Yisrael in Hebrew)—the name that the entire Jewish people became known by as “Bnei Yisrael,” the Nation of Israel. Check out these in-depth summaries of Jacob’s life and times.
What does the Bible say about Jacob?
He was an opportunist, co-conspirator, shifty, untrustworthy, negligent, and a father who picked favorites. Yet God said, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” (Romans 9:13). God blessed him with many children, a productive lifestyle, and a long life.
What does Jacob's story remind us?
Jacob’s story reminds believers that God is in the business of transforming our struggles for His purposes and our good.
What are Jacob's struggles?
Yet he was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob’s struggles are our struggles. As believers we don’t always understand the meaning of our struggles, but we hold fast to the conviction that God is in control and He uses our pain to grow us up in the faith. Start today with releasing all your struggles to the Lord and He will bring you peace in the midst of adversity.
Who was Abraham's first son?
Abraham had one son, Isaac, who had twin boys, Esau and Jacob. Although Esau was the firstborn, he was man of natural passions without regard for spiritual things. United in their deception, Rebekah (Jacob’s mother) and Jacob tricked Isaac into blessing him instead of Esau.
Where did Jacob come from?
Jacob was two generations removed from Abraham who came from Mesopotamia. That is the branch of the family Isaac went to, to get his wife and also Jacob. God had made a special covenant with Abraham and Isaac, one he would also extend to Jacob. Not much text is devoted to Jacob’s father Isaac.
Where in the Bible does it say that Jacob was left alone?
Genesis 32:22-32 – The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.
What does Genesis 28:4 mean?
Genesis 28:4 – May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!”. When Isaac blessed Jacob, he prayed that God would give him the land of his sojournings.
What does Esau say to Jacob?
And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.”.
Why did Jacob throw himself on God's mercy?
Although he often relied on himself in the past, he realized that the good things in his life were solely because of God’s blessing and God’s faithfulness to keep His promise. About to enter a dangerous situation, Jacob throws himself on God’s mercy and claims God’s promise to protect him.
What does Rebekah do when her twins are born?
Genesis 25:27 says Jacob spent most of his time at home. So Rebekah takes over his life and arranges everything for him. She teaches him how to cook.
Why did Jacob keep moving?
, Esau’s threats, Laban’s angry countenance, and the likely revenge of the Canaanites for killing the people of Shechem all caused Jacob to move at various times.
How many sons did Jacob have?
Jacob’s Sons. The twelve sons of Jacob (Israel) from oldest to youngest were as follows. Leah was the mother of 1. Reuben, 2. Simeon, 3. Levi and 4. Judah (Genesis 29:31-35). Bilhah (Rachel’s maid) was the mother of 5. Dan and 6.
Who was Joseph in the Bible?
Joseph was the first son of Rachel and Jacob, and the 11th of Jacob’s 12 sons (Genesis 30:22-24). Jacob’s sons, including Joseph, are listed at the end of this page. Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt (Genesis 37). Joseph became the slave of Potiphar a very high official in Egypt. Joseph did very well with God’s help.
What did Jospeh believe?
Jospeh had great faith in God. For example, just before his death he predicted that God would visit the children of Israel and lead them out of Egypt and into the promised land (Genesis 50:22-26). "By faith Joseph, when he was dying, said confidently that the children of Israel would leave Egypt.
Why did Potiphar's wife put Joseph in jail?
Potiphar’s wife took a fancy to Joseph, but he refused to sin with her. She became angry and told lies about him, so he was put in jail (Genesis 39). Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams got him out of jail and into great favour with Pharoah. Joseph was made a ruler over Egypt second to Pharoah. (Genesis 41).
Where were Joseph's bones buried?
(Hebrews 11:22). "The bones of Joseph which the children of Israel had brought up from the land of Egypt, they buried at Shechem in the plot of ground that Jacob had purchased from the sons of Hamor...". (Joshua 24:32).
Where did Joseph's family live when the famine came?
When the famine came which Pharoah had dreampt of, and Joseph had predicted, Joseph's father, brothers, and their families, settled in Egypt where there was food. So Joseph was reunited with his family (Genesis 42-50). Joseph lived to the age of 110, having known his sons’ children and even their children (Genesis 50:22-26).
Who gave Joseph the name Zaphenath?
Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath‑Paneah and gave him Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife (Genesis 41:45). Jacob, before he died, gave his blessing to Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. However Jacob gave the greater blessing to the younger Ephraim (Genesis 48). Moses, before he died, gave a similar blessing ...
Overview
Genesis narrative
The biblical account of the life of Jacob is found in the Book of Genesis, chapters 25–50.
Jacob and his twin brother, Esau, were born to Isaac and Rebecca after 20 years of marriage, when Isaac was 60 years of age. Rebecca was uncomfortable during her pregnancy and went to inquire of God why she was suffering. She re…
Etymology
According to the folk etymology found in Genesis 25:26, the name Yaʿaqōv יעקב is derived from ʿaqev עָקֵב "heel", as Jacob was born grasping the heel of his twin brother Esau. The historical origin of the name is uncertain, although similar names have been recorded. Yaqub-Har is recorded as a place name in a list by Thutmose III (15th century BC), and later as the nomen of a Hyksos pharaoh. The hieroglyphs are ambiguous, and can be read as "Yaqub-Har", "Yaqubaal", or "Yaqub …
Religious perspectives
There are two opinions in the Midrash as to how old Rebecca was at the time of her marriage and, consequently, at the twins' birth. According to the traditional counting cited by Rashi, Isaac was 37 years old at the time of the Binding of Isaac, and news of Rebecca's birth reached Abraham immediately after that event. In that case, since Isaac was 60 when Jacob and Essau were born and t…
Historicity
Although archaeologist and biblical scholar William F. Albright maintained (c. 1961) that the narratives of Abraham and Jacob could be dated to about the 19th century BCE; , John J. Bimson wrote in 1980: "Since then ... there has been a strong reaction against the use of archaeological evidence in support of the biblical traditions, and Albright's comment could not be repeated with any truth today." Nahum M. Sarna (1978) noted that an inability to date the narratives of the patri…
Further reading
• Trachtenberg, Joshua (1939), Jewish Magic and Superstition: A Study in Folk Religion, New York: Behrman's Jewish Book house
• Buechner, Frederick (1993), The Son of Laughter, New York: HarperSanFrancisco
External links
• Texts on Wikisource: