Jacob
Who is Jacob (the patriarch)? He is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, the brother of Esau, and the patriarch renamed Israel; his family story, journeys, and wrestling with God stand at the center of Israel's origins.
Jacob stands out in Genesis as the third great patriarch in Abraham's line. He is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, the twin brother of Esau, and is known for family conflict, long journeys, marriages, children, and encounters with God. His vision at Bethel and his wrestling at Peniel mark major turning points in his life. His later name, Israel, signals not only a personal change but also the identity of the people who would come from his line. He also remains important in the Joseph narrative as a father figure. You can explore Jacob's life, family, and major narrative turning points in the sections below.
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Related topics
Related places
Related verse collections
- Bible Verses About Creation
- Bible Verses About Family
- Bible Verses About Marriage
- Bible Verses About Trials and Testing
- Bible Verses About God's Promises
- Bible Verses About Work and Labor
Reading plans
- The Bible for Beginners — 10 Days
- Advent — 24 Days to Christmas
- The Bible in a Year — 365 Days from Cover to Cover
Books
People in the Bible
Why is Jacob also called Israel?
In the Genesis narrative, Jacob begins to be called Israel after wrestling with God. The name change marks a turning point in his life and also points to the identity of the people who would come from his line.
What is Jacob's relationship to the Twelve Tribes?
Jacob is the father of the twelve sons later associated with the tribes of Israel. For that reason, his family story is one of the foundational narratives for the origins of the people of Israel.