Keraia
People

Israel

Israel, also named Jacob, was the son of Isaac, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, and a key patriarch of the Jewish people.

The name Israel means “who prevails with God”

MaleEarly PatriarchPatriarchs eraOld & New Testaments47 books3,504 verses

Summary

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Genesis 25:26; referred to as Israel (Aramiac יִשְׂרָאֵל), Jacob (יַעֲקֹב), Jeshurun (יְשֻׁרוּן), Israelite (יִשְׂרְאֵלִי), Israelitess (יִשְׂרְאֵלִית), Israelite (Ἰσραήλ), Jacob (Ἰακώβ), or Israel (Ἰσραηλίτης); son of Isaac and Rebekah; a brother of Esau; husband of Rachel and Leah, with concubines Zilpah and Bilhah; father of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah, Joseph and Benjamin.

Profile

Jacob was the younger twin son of Isaac and Rebekah. He struggled with his twin brother Esau in the womb and was born holding Esau’s heel (Genesis 25:21–26). God told Rebekah that the boys symbolized two nations and that the older son would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23).

Isaac favored Esau, who loved the outdoors, while Rebekah preferred Jacob, who enjoyed staying at home. One day, Esau came back very hungry from hunting, and Jacob traded him some red stew for his inheritance rights (Genesis 25:27–34; see Hebrews 12:16). Later, Isaac asked Esau to prepare wild game for him to eat so he could bless him (Genesis 27:1–4; compare 25:28). However, Rebekah sent Jacob to trick Isaac into giving him the blessing instead, and her plan worked (Genesis 27:5–29). Jacob's deception was soon discovered (Genesis 27:30–35). But legally, valid blessings were unchangeable promises (27:33). So Isaac gave Esau a lesser blessing (Genesis 27:36–40). Esau planned to kill Jacob (27:41). Rebekah persuaded Isaac to send Jacob to her brother Laban so Jacob could marry within the family (Genesis 27:42–46).

Isaac gave the covenant promises to Jacob and sent him to Haran (Genesis 28:1–5). On the way, God appeared to Jacob in a dream and confirmed the promises of land and descendants given to Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 28:10–15). Jacob worshiped the Lord and named the place Bethel, meaning "house of God."

In Haran, Jacob worked for his uncle Laban (Genesis 29–31). Jacob loved Laban's daughter Rachel and worked seven years to marry her. However, Laban tricked him by giving him his older daughter Leah on the wedding night. Jacob then worked another seven years for Rachel and six more years to build his own flocks (Genesis 30:25–43; see also 31:38–42). Despite many challenges, he had thirteen children and became very wealthy.

After twenty years, God told Jacob to return to Canaan (Genesis 31:3). Jacob feared Laban and his sons (Genesis 31:1–2). So, he organized his caravan and left while Laban was away (31:4–21). Laban chased after him, but God stopped him from harming Jacob (Genesis 31:22–24, 29). Instead, Laban scolded Jacob for leaving secretly and accused him of stealing his idols (Genesis 31:25–30). Jacob allowed Laban to search his tents, but the idols were not found (Genesis 31:33–35). Jacob then became angry (Genesis 31:36–42). Although their conflict was unresolved, the two men made a peace agreement (Genesis 31:43–54). The location became a lasting boundary between Israel and Aram.

Jacob now faced Esau and God. When Esau came with four hundred men, Jacob asked for God's protection and sent gifts to make peace with his brother, whom he had not seen for many years (Genesis 32:3–21). That night, in an event symbolizing his life, Jacob wrestled with a man who dislocated his hip and gave him the blessing he wanted (Genesis 32:22–32). God also changed his name to Israel, meaning "God fights."

In the morning, Jacob met Esau, and they reconciled (Genesis 33:1–11). Esau was kind and forgiving, and Jacob shared some of his blessings. Esau then returned to Seir, while Jacob continued to Canaan. In Shechem, Jacob bought land and built an altar (Genesis 33:18–20). He then moved to Bethel and removed all foreign idols from his household (Genesis 35:1–8). God reaffirmed Jacob's new name, Israel, and renewed his promises of land and descendants (Genesis 35:9–15).

Jacob favored Rachel and her son Joseph (Genesis 37:1–3). Joseph's brothers grew jealous and hated him. Joseph's dreams made them angrier (Genesis 37:4–11), so they sold him as a slave (Genesis 37:12–28). For over twenty years, Jacob thought Joseph was dead. Jacob only learned Joseph was alive after sending Benjamin to Egypt with Judah. Joseph then helped his family during the famine (Genesis 43:1–14; 45:24–28). Jacob felt renewed and moved to Egypt. He joyfully reunited with Joseph in Goshen (Genesis 46:28–30) and thrived for seventeen more years.

When Jacob was near death at age 147, he planned for his family's future. He made Joseph promise to bury him in Canaan (Genesis 47:29–31; 49:29–32). He gave Joseph’s sons his main blessing and placed Ephraim, the younger son, first (Genesis 48:1–20). He assured the family they would return to Canaan (Genesis 48:21–22). Then he blessed each of his sons and predicted the future of their descendants (Genesis 49:1–28). He died and was buried in the cave of Machpelah, accompanied by his sons and a large Egyptian procession (Genesis 49:33–50:13). His death marked the end of the patriarchal age and the start of Israel’s growth as a nation in Egypt until they returned to live in the promised land (see Exodus—Joshua).

The name "Jacob" became another name for the nation of Israel (see Numbers 23:7, 21; 24:5; Hosea 12:2). God called the nation to serve him as their ancestors did (Hosea 12:3–14). He promised Israel the same love he showed Jacob (Malachi 1:2). He also promised that a powerful leader would come from Jacob's descendants (Genesis 49:8–12; Numbers 24:17–19).

Passages for Further Study

Genesis 25:19–34; 27:1–35:29; 37:1–35; 42:1–4, 29–38; 43:1–13; 45:25–50:14; Exodus 1:1–5; Numbers 23:7–10, 20–23; 24:5–9, 17–19; Deuteronomy 26:5; Joshua 24:4, 32; Hosea 12:2–14; Malachi 1:2; John 4:5–6, 12; Acts 7:8–16; Romans 9:10–13; Hebrews 11:8–9, 20–21

Events

Dates are approximate

Glossary entries

Jacob Jeshurun Israel (Person) Israelite Jesurun

Family members

Father

Isaac

Mother

Rebekah

Spouse

Bilhah Leah Rachel Zilpah

Siblings

Esau

Children

Asher Benjamin Dan Dinah Gad Issachar Joseph Judah Levi Naphtali Reuben Simeon Zebulun

Family tree

0 people
Loading the family network…
Lines join parents and children, and spouses. Zoom in to see more names. Larger circles: mentioned more often. Click a person to see their line.

Alternative names

Mentions

3,504 verses

Includes 926 verses that refer to Israel without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.

  1. Genesis 30:42יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    But if the animals were weak, he did not set out the branches. So the weaker animals went to Laban and the stronger ones to Jacob.
  2. Genesis 31:1יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Now Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken away all that belonged to our father and built all this wealth at our father’s expense.”
  3. Genesis 31:2יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.
  4. Genesis 31:3יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”
  5. Genesis 31:4יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    So Jacob sent word and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flocks were,
  6. Genesis 31:5Referred to, not named
    …and he told them, “I can see from your father’s countenance that his attitude toward me has changed; but the God of my father has been with me.
  7. Genesis 31:6Referred to, not named
    You know that I have served your father with all my strength.
  8. Genesis 31:7Referred to, not named
    And although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me.
  9. Genesis 31:8Referred to, not named
    If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore speckled offspring. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore streaked offspring.
  10. Genesis 31:9Referred to, not named
    Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.
  11. Genesis 31:10Referred to, not named
    When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females.
  12. Genesis 31:11יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Here I am.’
  13. Genesis 31:12Referred to, not named
    ‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you.
  14. Genesis 31:13Referred to, not named
    I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up, leave this land at once, and return to your native land.’”
  15. Genesis 31:14Referred to, not named
    And Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we have any portion or inheritance left in our father’s house?
  16. Genesis 31:16Referred to, not named
    Surely all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has told you.”
  17. Genesis 31:17יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels,
  18. Genesis 31:18Referred to, not named
    …and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan.
  19. Genesis 31:20יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away.
  20. Genesis 31:21Referred to, not named
    So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
  21. Genesis 31:22יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    On the third day Laban was informed that Jacob had fled.
  22. Genesis 31:23Referred to, not named
    So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.
  23. Genesis 31:24יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
  24. Genesis 31:25יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there as well.
  25. Genesis 31:26יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war!
  26. Genesis 31:27Referred to, not named
    Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps.
  27. Genesis 31:28Referred to, not named
    But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing.
  28. Genesis 31:29יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’
  29. Genesis 31:30Referred to, not named
    Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?”
  30. Genesis 31:31יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    “I was afraid,” Jacob answered, “for I thought you would take your daughters from me by force.
  31. Genesis 31:32יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.
  32. Genesis 31:33יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    So Laban went into Jacob’s tent, then Leah’s tent, and then the tents of the two maidservants, but he found nothing. Then he left Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.
  33. Genesis 31:36יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Then Jacob became incensed and challenged Laban. “What is my crime?” he said. “For what sin of mine have you so hotly pursued me?
  34. Genesis 31:37Referred to, not named
    You have searched all my goods! Have you found anything that belongs to you? Put it here before my brothers and yours, that they may judge between the two of us.
  35. Genesis 31:38Referred to, not named
    I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock.
  36. Genesis 31:39Referred to, not named
    I did not bring you anything torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for what was stolen by day or night.
  37. Genesis 31:40Referred to, not named
    As it was, the heat consumed me by day and the frost by night, and sleep fled from my eyes.
  38. Genesis 31:41Referred to, not named
    Thus for twenty years I have served in your household—fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks—and you have changed my wages ten times!
  39. Genesis 31:42Referred to, not named
    If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment.”
  40. Genesis 31:43יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    But Laban answered Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, these sons are my sons, and these flocks are my flocks! Everything you see is mine! Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine or the children they have borne?
  41. Genesis 31:44Referred to, not named
    Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between you and me.”
  42. Genesis 31:45יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a pillar,
  43. Genesis 31:46יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    …and he said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and made a mound, and there by the mound they ate.
  44. Genesis 31:47יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.
  45. Genesis 31:51יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is the mound, and here is the pillar I have set up between you and me.
  46. Genesis 31:52Referred to, not named
    This mound is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this mound to harm you, and you will not go past this mound and pillar to harm me.
  47. Genesis 31:53יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.
  48. Genesis 31:54יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal. And after they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.
  49. Genesis 32:1יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
  50. Genesis 32:2יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
  51. Genesis 32:3יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
  52. Genesis 32:4יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    He instructed them, “You are to say to my master Esau, ‘Your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban and have remained there until now.
  53. Genesis 32:6יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you—he and four hundred men with him.”
  54. Genesis 32:7יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    In great fear and distress, Jacob divided his people into two camps, as well as the flocks and herds and camels.
  55. Genesis 32:8Referred to, not named
    He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one camp, then the other camp can escape.”
  56. Genesis 32:9יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Then Jacob declared, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, the LORD who told me, ‘Go back to your country and to your kindred, and I will make you prosper,’
  57. Genesis 32:10Referred to, not named
    I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. Indeed, with only my staff I came across the Jordan, but now I have become two camps.
  58. Genesis 32:13Referred to, not named
    Jacob spent the night there, and from what he had brought with him, he selected a gift for his brother Esau:
  59. Genesis 32:16Referred to, not named
    He entrusted them to his servants in separate herds and told them, “Go on ahead of me, and keep some distance between the herds.”
  60. Genesis 32:17Referred to, not named
    He instructed the one in the lead, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘To whom do you belong, where are you going, and whose animals are these before you?’
  61. Genesis 32:18יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    …then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift, sent to my lord Esau. And behold, Jacob is behind us.’”
  62. Genesis 32:19Referred to, not named
    He also instructed the second, the third, and all those following behind the herds: “When you meet Esau, you are to say the same thing to him.
  63. Genesis 32:20יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    You are also to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’” For he thought, “I will appease Esau with the gift that is going before me. After that I can face him, and perhaps he will accept me.”
  64. Genesis 32:21Referred to, not named
    So Jacob’s gifts went on before him, while he spent the night in the camp.
  65. Genesis 32:22Referred to, not named
    During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
  66. Genesis 32:23Referred to, not named
    He took them and sent them across the stream, along with all his possessions.
  67. Genesis 32:24יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    So Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
  68. Genesis 32:25יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he struck the socket of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it as they wrestled.
  69. Genesis 32:26Referred to, not named
    Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
  70. Genesis 32:27יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    “What is your name?” the man asked. “Jacob,” he replied.
  71. Genesis 32:28יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel; יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”
  72. Genesis 32:29יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    And Jacob requested, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there.
  73. Genesis 32:30יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
  74. Genesis 32:31Referred to, not named
    The sun rose above him as he passed by Penuel, and he was limping because of his hip.
  75. Genesis 32:32יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel; יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was struck near that tendon.
  76. Genesis 33:1יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.
  77. Genesis 33:2Referred to, not named
    He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.
  78. Genesis 33:3Referred to, not named
    But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
  79. Genesis 33:4Referred to, not named
    Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
  80. Genesis 33:5Referred to, not named
    When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered, “These are the children God has graciously given your servant.”
  81. Genesis 33:8Referred to, not named
    “What do you mean by sending this whole company to meet me?” asked Esau. “To find favor in your sight, my lord,” Jacob answered.
  82. Genesis 33:10יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably.
  83. Genesis 33:11Referred to, not named
    Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.
  84. Genesis 33:12Referred to, not named
    Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way, and I will go ahead of you.”
  85. Genesis 33:13Referred to, not named
    But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die.
  86. Genesis 33:14Referred to, not named
    Please let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a comfortable pace for the livestock and children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”
  87. Genesis 33:15Referred to, not named
    “Let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said. But Jacob replied, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”
  88. Genesis 33:17יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    …but Jacob went on to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.
  89. Genesis 33:18יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    After Jacob had come from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped just outside the city.
  90. Genesis 33:19Referred to, not named
    And the plot of ground where he pitched his tent, he purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver.
  91. Genesis 33:20Referred to, not named
    There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
  92. Genesis 34:1יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the daughters of the land.
  93. Genesis 34:3יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young girl and spoke to her tenderly.
  94. Genesis 34:5יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter Dinah, but since his sons were with his livestock in the field, he remained silent about it until they returned.
  95. Genesis 34:6יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Meanwhile, Shechem’s father Hamor came to speak with Jacob.
  96. Genesis 34:7יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel; יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    When Jacob’s sons heard what had happened, they returned from the field. They were filled with grief and fury, because Shechem had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done.
  97. Genesis 34:8Referred to, not named
    But Hamor said to them, “My son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife.
  98. Genesis 34:9Referred to, not named
    Intermarry with us; give us your daughters and take our daughters for yourselves.
  99. Genesis 34:10Referred to, not named
    You may settle among us, and the land will be open to you. Live here, move about freely, and acquire your own property.”
  100. Genesis 34:13יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    But because Shechem had defiled their sister Dinah, Jacob’s sons answered him and his father Hamor deceitfully.