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

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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. Ezra 10:10יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel.
  2. Ezra 10:25יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    And among the other Israelites, from the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah.
  3. Nehemiah 1:6יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    …let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.
  4. Nehemiah 2:10יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.
  5. Nehemiah 7:7יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    …accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. This is the count of the men of Israel:
  6. Nehemiah 7:61יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    The following came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove that their families were descended from Israel:
  7. Nehemiah 7:73יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    So the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with some of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. And by the seventh month the Israelites had settled in their towns.
  8. Nehemiah 8:1יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.
  9. Nehemiah 8:14יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month,
  10. Nehemiah 8:17יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    The whole assembly that had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this. And there was great rejoicing.
  11. Nehemiah 9:1יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth, with dust on their heads.
  12. Nehemiah 9:2יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all the foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.
  13. Nehemiah 10:33יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    …for the showbread, for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings, for the Sabbath offerings, for the New Moons and appointed feasts, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the duties of the house of our God.
  14. Nehemiah 10:39יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers stay. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.”
  15. Nehemiah 11:3יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    These are the heads of the provinces who settled in Jerusalem. (In the villages of Judah, however, each lived on his own property in their towns—the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants—
  16. Nehemiah 11:20יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inheritance.
  17. Nehemiah 12:47יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    So in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside daily portions for the Levites, and the Levites set aside daily portions for the descendants of Aaron.
  18. Nehemiah 13:2יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    …because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).
  19. Nehemiah 13:3יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    As soon as the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all of foreign descent.
  20. Nehemiah 13:18יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Did not your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling His wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!”
  21. Nehemiah 13:26יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.
  22. Psalm 14:7יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel; יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!
  23. Psalm 20:1יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
  24. Psalm 20:5Referred to, not named
    May we shout for joy at your victory and raise a banner in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your petitions.
  25. Psalm 20:7Referred to, not named
    Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
  26. Psalm 20:8Referred to, not named
    They collapse and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
  27. Psalm 20:9Referred to, not named
    O LORD, save the king. Answer us on the day we call.
  28. Psalm 22:3יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
  29. Psalm 22:4Referred to, not named
    In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You delivered them.
  30. Psalm 22:23יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel; יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    You who fear the LORD, praise Him! All descendants of Jacob, honor Him! All offspring of Israel, revere Him!
  31. Psalm 24:6יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Selah
  32. Psalm 25:22יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Redeem Israel, O God, from all its distress.
  33. Psalm 41:13יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
  34. Psalm 44:4יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    You are my King, O God, who ordains victories for Jacob.
  35. Psalm 44:5Referred to, not named
    Through You we repel our foes; through Your name we trample our enemies.
  36. Psalm 44:7Referred to, not named
    For You save us from our enemies; You put those who hate us to shame.
  37. Psalm 44:8Referred to, not named
    In God we have boasted all day long, and Your name we will praise forever. Selah
  38. Psalm 44:9Referred to, not named
    But You have rejected and humbled us; You no longer go forth with our armies.
  39. Psalm 44:10Referred to, not named
    You have made us retreat from the foe, and those who hate us have plundered us.
  40. Psalm 44:11Referred to, not named
    You have given us up as sheep to be devoured; You have scattered us among the nations.
  41. Psalm 44:13Referred to, not named
    You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, a mockery and derision to those around us.
  42. Psalm 44:14Referred to, not named
    You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.
  43. Psalm 44:17Referred to, not named
    All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten You or betrayed Your covenant.
  44. Psalm 44:18Referred to, not named
    Our hearts have not turned back; our steps have not strayed from Your path.
  45. Psalm 44:19Referred to, not named
    But You have crushed us in the lair of jackals; You have covered us with deepest darkness.
  46. Psalm 44:20Referred to, not named
    If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
  47. Psalm 44:22Referred to, not named
    Yet for Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
  48. Psalm 44:24Referred to, not named
    Why do You hide Your face and forget our affliction and oppression?
  49. Psalm 44:25Referred to, not named
    For our soul has sunk to the dust; our bodies cling to the earth.
  50. Psalm 44:26Referred to, not named
    Rise up; be our help! Redeem us on account of Your loving devotion.
  51. Psalm 46:1Referred to, not named
    For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
  52. Psalm 46:2Referred to, not named
    Therefore we will not fear, though the earth is transformed and the mountains are toppled into the depths of the seas,
  53. Psalm 46:7יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
  54. Psalm 46:8Referred to, not named
    Come, see the works of the LORD, who brings devastation upon the earth.
  55. Psalm 46:10Referred to, not named
    “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”
  56. Psalm 46:11יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
  57. Psalm 47:3Referred to, not named
    He subdues nations beneath us, and peoples under our feet.
  58. Psalm 47:4יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    He chooses our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom He loves. Selah
  59. Psalm 47:6Referred to, not named
    Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises!
  60. Psalm 47:7Referred to, not named
    For God is King of all the earth; sing to Him a psalm of praise.
  61. Psalm 50:7יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    “Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.
  62. Psalm 50:8Referred to, not named
    I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, and your burnt offerings are ever before Me.
  63. Psalm 50:9Referred to, not named
    I have no need for a bull from your stall or goats from your pens,
  64. Psalm 50:12Referred to, not named
    If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.
  65. Psalm 50:14Referred to, not named
    Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
  66. Psalm 50:15Referred to, not named
    Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”
  67. Psalm 53:6יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel; יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When God restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!
  68. Psalm 59:5יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    O LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah
  69. Psalm 59:13יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, so it may be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah
  70. Psalm 68:8יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    …the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain before God, the One on Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
  71. Psalm 68:19Referred to, not named
    Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God of our salvation. Selah
  72. Psalm 68:20Referred to, not named
    Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death.
  73. Psalm 68:23Referred to, not named
    …that your foot may be dipped in the blood of your foes—the tongues of your dogs in the same.”
  74. Psalm 68:24Referred to, not named
    They have seen Your procession, O God—the march of my God and King into the sanctuary.
  75. Psalm 68:26יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Bless God in the great congregation; bless the LORD from the fountain of Israel.
  76. Psalm 68:27Referred to, not named
    There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Judah in their company, the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.
  77. Psalm 68:28Referred to, not named
    Summon Your power, O God; show Your strength, O God, which You have exerted on our behalf.
  78. Psalm 68:34יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Ascribe the power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose strength is in the skies.
  79. Psalm 68:35יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!
  80. Psalm 69:6יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    May those who hope in You not be ashamed through me, O Lord GOD of Hosts; may those who seek You not be dishonored through me, O God of Israel.
  81. Psalm 71:22יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    So I will praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to You with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.
  82. Psalm 72:18יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
  83. Psalm 73:1יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
  84. Psalm 75:1Referred to, not named
    For the choirmaster: To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Psalm of Asaph. A song. We give thanks to You, O God; we give thanks, for Your Name is near. The people declare Your wondrous works.
  85. Psalm 75:9יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    But I will proclaim Him forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.
  86. Psalm 76:1יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A song. God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel.
  87. Psalm 76:6יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both horse and rider lie stunned.
  88. Psalm 76:11Referred to, not named
    Make and fulfill your vows to the LORD your God; let all the neighboring lands bring tribute to Him who is to be feared.
  89. Psalm 77:15יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    With power You redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
  90. Psalm 78:5יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel; יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children,
  91. Psalm 78:21יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel; יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Therefore the LORD heard and was filled with wrath; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and His anger flared against Israel,
  92. Psalm 78:22Referred to, not named
    …because they did not believe God or rely on His salvation.
  93. Psalm 78:24Referred to, not named
    He rained down manna for them to eat; He gave them grain from heaven.
  94. Psalm 78:25Referred to, not named
    Man ate the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance.
  95. Psalm 78:27Referred to, not named
    He rained meat on them like dust, and winged birds like the sand of the sea.
  96. Psalm 78:28Referred to, not named
    He felled them in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings.
  97. Psalm 78:29Referred to, not named
    So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them what they craved.
  98. Psalm 78:30Referred to, not named
    Yet before they had filled their desire, with the food still in their mouths,
  99. Psalm 78:31יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    God’s anger flared against them, and He put to death their strongest and subdued the young men of Israel.
  100. Psalm 78:32Referred to, not named
    In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; despite His wonderful works, they did not believe.