Bible Characters
Who Was Jacob in the Bible? The Patriarch Renamed Israel
Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, the grandson of Abraham, and the father of the twelve sons whose descendants became the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 25:26; 35:22-26). God renamed him Israel after he wrestled with a man at the Jabbok River (Genesis 32:28). His life story takes up most of Genesis 25 through 50.
Jacob is one of the three patriarchs. God later identified himself to Moses as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Exodus 3:6).
Quick Facts About Jacob
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Name meaning | Jacob: "he grasps the heel," also understood as "he deceives" (Genesis 25:26; 27:36). Israel: "he struggles with God" (Genesis 32:28) |
| Testament | Old Testament |
| Key books | Genesis |
| Time period | About 2006 to 1859 BC (traditional dating) |
| Known for | Taking Esau's birthright and blessing, the ladder dream at Bethel, wrestling with God, fathering the twelve tribes |
Birth and Early Life
Twins in Conflict
Rebekah was unable to have children until Isaac prayed for her (Genesis 25:21). The twins jostled within her, and God told her that two nations were in her womb and the older would serve the younger (Genesis 25:22-23). Esau was born first, and Jacob came out grasping Esau's heel (Genesis 25:25-26). Isaac was sixty years old at their birth (Genesis 25:26).
Esau became a skillful hunter, while Jacob was content to stay among the tents. Isaac favored Esau, and Rebekah favored Jacob (Genesis 25:27-28).
The Birthright
One day Esau came in famished and asked for some of Jacob's red stew. Jacob asked for Esau's birthright in exchange, and Esau swore an oath and sold it (Genesis 25:29-33). The text says Esau despised his birthright (Genesis 25:34).
The Stolen Blessing
When Isaac was old and his eyes were weak, he sent Esau to hunt game so he could bless him (Genesis 27:1-4). Rebekah prepared a meal and had Jacob dress in Esau's clothes, with goatskins on his hands and neck (Genesis 27:5-17). Isaac said the voice was Jacob's but the hands were Esau's, and he blessed Jacob (Genesis 27:22-29).
When Esau returned, Isaac trembled and said he could not take the blessing back (Genesis 27:33-37). Esau planned to kill Jacob after Isaac died, so Rebekah sent Jacob to her brother Laban in Harran (Genesis 27:41-45).
Jacob's Dream at Bethel
On the way to Harran, Jacob slept with a stone under his head. He dreamed of a stairway reaching to heaven with angels going up and down on it, and the Lord standing above it (Genesis 28:11-13). God repeated to Jacob the promises made to Abraham: land, descendants like the dust of the earth, and blessing to all peoples through his offspring. God also promised to be with him and bring him back (Genesis 28:13-15).
Jacob named the place Bethel, meaning "house of God," and vowed that the Lord would be his God if he returned safely (Genesis 28:16-22). Jesus referred to this dream when he told Nathanael he would see angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man (John 1:51).
Jacob in Harran
Rachel and Leah
Jacob met Rachel, Laban's younger daughter, at a well (Genesis 29:9-12). He agreed to work seven years for her, and his love for her made the time pass quickly (Genesis 29:18-20). On the wedding night Laban gave him Leah, the older daughter, instead (Genesis 29:23-25). Jacob then worked another seven years for Rachel (Genesis 29:27-30).
Jacob's Children
Jacob had twelve sons and a daughter through Leah, Rachel, and their servants Zilpah and Bilhah (Genesis 29:31-30:24; 35:16-18):
- Leah: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and a daughter, Dinah
- Bilhah (Rachel's servant): Dan, Naphtali
- Zilpah (Leah's servant): Gad, Asher
- Rachel: Joseph, Benjamin
Prospering Under Laban
Laban changed Jacob's wages ten times (Genesis 31:7). God still caused Jacob's flocks to increase, and Jacob grew very prosperous (Genesis 30:43; 31:9). After twenty years, God told him to return to his homeland (Genesis 31:3, 38). Jacob left secretly, and Rachel took her father's household gods (Genesis 31:19-20). Laban pursued them, but God warned Laban in a dream, and the two men made a covenant at Mizpah (Genesis 31:24, 44-49).
Who Was Jacob in the Bible After He Wrestled With God?
As he approached home, Jacob learned Esau was coming with four hundred men. He was afraid, divided his people into two groups, prayed, and sent gifts ahead (Genesis 32:6-20).
That night at the ford of the Jabbok, a man wrestled with Jacob until daybreak. The man touched Jacob's hip and wrenched it, but Jacob would not let go without a blessing (Genesis 32:22-26). The man then gave him a new name:
"Then the man said, 'Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.'" (Genesis 32:28, NIV)
Jacob named the place Peniel, saying he had seen God face to face and his life was spared. He left limping (Genesis 32:30-31). The prophet Hosea later recalled this night, describing Jacob weeping and pleading for the angel's favor (Hosea 12:3-4).
Reconciliation With Esau
Jacob bowed to the ground seven times as he approached Esau. Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, and they wept (Genesis 33:3-4). The brothers later buried their father Isaac together (Genesis 35:29).
Return to Canaan and Family Grief
Jacob's daughter Dinah was violated by Shechem, and her brothers Simeon and Levi took revenge on the city (Genesis 34:1-2, 25-30). God told Jacob to go back to Bethel, where Jacob had his household get rid of their foreign gods (Genesis 35:1-4). God confirmed the name Israel there (Genesis 35:9-12).
Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin near Bethlehem (Genesis 35:16-20).
Losing Joseph
Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons and gave him an ornate robe (Genesis 37:3). The brothers sold Joseph to traders and brought the blood-stained robe to Jacob, who concluded a wild animal had killed him. Jacob mourned for many days and refused to be comforted (Genesis 37:28-35). Read the rest of this account in our profile of Joseph in the Bible.
Jacob in Egypt
During a severe famine, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt for grain (Genesis 42:1-3). He later learned Joseph was alive and ruling in Egypt (Genesis 45:25-28). God told Jacob at Beersheba not to be afraid to go down to Egypt (Genesis 46:1-4). Seventy members of Jacob's family went to Egypt (Genesis 46:27).
Jacob blessed Pharaoh and told him he was 130 years old (Genesis 47:7-9). He blessed Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh, crossing his hands to put the younger ahead of the older (Genesis 48:13-20). He then gave each of his twelve sons a final word, including the prophecy that the scepter would not depart from Judah (Genesis 49:1-28, 10).
Jacob died at 147 years old (Genesis 47:28). He was embalmed in Egypt, and his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah in Canaan with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah (Genesis 49:29-33; 50:2-13).
Key Lessons From Jacob's Life
- God's choice rests on grace. God chose Jacob before he was born (Genesis 25:23; Romans 9:10-13).
- Deception brings consequences. Jacob deceived his father and was later deceived by Laban and by his own sons (Genesis 27:19; 29:25; 37:31-33).
- God keeps his promises. God brought Jacob back to the land as he promised at Bethel (Genesis 28:15; 35:6-7).
- Favoritism divides families. Parental favoritism in two generations led to conflict between brothers (Genesis 25:28; 37:3-4).
Where Jacob Appears in the Bible
- Genesis: chapters 25-50
- Exodus: 3:6, 15; 6:3
- Hosea: 12:2-4, 12
- Malachi: 1:2-3
- Gospels: Matthew 1:2; 22:32; John 4:5-6, 12
- Acts: 7:8-16
- Romans: 9:10-13
- Hebrews: 11:9, 20-21
To see how Jacob's story starts, read our profile of his grandfather Abraham. Jacob's 147 years also appear in our post on the oldest person in the Bible.
Can you tell Jacob, Isaac, and Joseph apart from their clues? Play Who Am I? Bible Edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Jacob's name changed to Israel?
After Jacob wrestled with a man at the Jabbok River and refused to let go without a blessing, he was renamed Israel because he had struggled with God and with humans and had overcome (Genesis 32:24-28). God confirmed the name at Bethel (Genesis 35:10).
How many sons did Jacob have?
Jacob had twelve sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Joseph, and Benjamin (Genesis 35:22-26). He also had a daughter named Dinah (Genesis 30:21).
Who were Jacob's wives?
Jacob married the sisters Leah and Rachel, the daughters of Laban (Genesis 29:23-28). Their servants Bilhah and Zilpah also bore him children (Genesis 30:3-13).
How old was Jacob when he died?
Jacob died in Egypt at 147 years old (Genesis 47:28). He was buried in the cave of Machpelah in Canaan (Genesis 50:13).
What was Jacob's ladder?
Jacob's ladder refers to his dream at Bethel of a stairway reaching to heaven with angels going up and down on it (Genesis 28:12). In the dream, God renewed the promises he had made to Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 28:13-15).