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. Psalm 78:33Referred to, not named
    So He ended their days in futility, and their years in sudden terror.
  2. Psalm 78:34Referred to, not named
    When He slew them, they would seek Him; they repented and searched for God.
  3. Psalm 78:35Referred to, not named
    And they remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.
  4. Psalm 78:36Referred to, not named
    But they deceived Him with their mouths, and lied to Him with their tongues.
  5. Psalm 78:37Referred to, not named
    Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant.
  6. Psalm 78:39Referred to, not named
    He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.
  7. Psalm 78:40Referred to, not named
    How often they disobeyed Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert!
  8. Psalm 78:41יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Again and again they tested God and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
  9. Psalm 78:42Referred to, not named
    They did not remember His power—the day He redeemed them from the adversary,
  10. Psalm 78:55יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    He drove out nations before them and apportioned their inheritance; He settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.
  11. Psalm 78:56Referred to, not named
    But they tested and disobeyed God Most High, for they did not keep His decrees.
  12. Psalm 78:57Referred to, not named
    They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow.
  13. Psalm 78:58Referred to, not named
    They enraged Him with their high places and provoked His jealousy with their idols.
  14. Psalm 78:59יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    On hearing it, God was furious and rejected Israel completely.
  15. Psalm 78:63Referred to, not named
    Fire consumed His young men, and their maidens were left without wedding songs.
  16. Psalm 78:64Referred to, not named
    His priests fell by the sword, but their widows could not lament.
  17. Psalm 78:71יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel; יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    …from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance.
  18. Psalm 78:72Referred to, not named
    So David shepherded them with integrity of heart and guided them with skillful hands.
  19. Psalm 79:7יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    …for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.
  20. Psalm 80:1יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm of Asaph. Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth
  21. Psalm 80:2Referred to, not named
    …before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Rally Your mighty power and come to save us.
  22. Psalm 80:3Referred to, not named
    Restore us, O God, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.
  23. Psalm 81:1יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.
  24. Psalm 81:2Referred to, not named
    Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.
  25. Psalm 81:3Referred to, not named
    Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and at the full moon on the day of our Feast.
  26. Psalm 81:4יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel; יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
  27. Psalm 81:6Referred to, not named
    “I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.
  28. Psalm 81:7Referred to, not named
    You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
  29. Psalm 81:8יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Hear, O My people, and I will warn you: O Israel, if only you would listen to Me!
  30. Psalm 81:9Referred to, not named
    There must be no strange god among you, nor shall you bow to a foreign god.
  31. Psalm 81:10Referred to, not named
    I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.
  32. Psalm 81:11יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.
  33. Psalm 81:12Referred to, not named
    So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.
  34. Psalm 81:13יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,
  35. Psalm 81:14Referred to, not named
    …how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!
  36. Psalm 81:16Referred to, not named
    But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
  37. Psalm 83:4יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    …saying, “Come, let us erase them as a nation; may the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
  38. Psalm 84:8יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    O LORD God of Hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah
  39. Psalm 84:9Referred to, not named
    Take notice of our shield, O God, and look with favor on the face of Your anointed.
  40. Psalm 85:1יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. You showed favor to Your land, O LORD; You restored Jacob from captivity.
  41. Psalm 87:2יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
  42. Psalm 89:18יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Surely our shield belongs to the LORD, and our king to the Holy One of Israel.
  43. Psalm 94:7יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.”
  44. Psalm 98:3יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    He has remembered His love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
  45. Psalm 99:4יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    The mighty King loves justice. You have established equity; You have exercised justice and righteousness in Jacob.
  46. Psalm 103:7יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel.
  47. Psalm 105:6יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    O offspring of His servant Abraham, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.
  48. Psalm 105:10יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel; יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
  49. Psalm 105:11Referred to, not named
    “I will give you the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.”
  50. Psalm 105:12Referred to, not named
    When they were few in number, few indeed, and strangers in the land,
  51. Psalm 105:13Referred to, not named
    …they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
  52. Psalm 105:14Referred to, not named
    He let no man oppress them; He rebuked kings on their behalf:
  53. Psalm 105:17Referred to, not named
    He sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave.
  54. Psalm 105:23יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel; יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.
  55. Psalm 106:48יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Hallelujah!
  56. Psalm 114:1יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel; יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    When Israel departed from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
  57. Psalm 114:2יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel His dominion.
  58. Psalm 114:7יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,
  59. Psalm 115:1Referred to, not named
    Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness.
  60. Psalm 115:2Referred to, not named
    Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
  61. Psalm 115:3Referred to, not named
    Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.
  62. Psalm 115:9יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and shield.
  63. Psalm 115:12יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    The LORD is mindful of us; He will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron;
  64. Psalm 118:1Referred to, not named
    Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
  65. Psalm 118:2יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Let Israel say, “His loving devotion endures forever.”
  66. Psalm 118:23Referred to, not named
    This is from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
  67. Psalm 118:24Referred to, not named
    This is the day that the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
  68. Psalm 118:26Referred to, not named
    Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.
  69. Psalm 118:27Referred to, not named
    The LORD is God; He has made His light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
  70. Psalm 118:29Referred to, not named
    Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
  71. Psalm 121:4יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
  72. Psalm 122:4יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    …where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as a testimony for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
  73. Psalm 124:1יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now declare—
  74. Psalm 125:5יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.
  75. Psalm 128:6יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    …that you may see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!
  76. Psalm 129:1יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    A song of ascents. Many a time they have persecuted me from my youth—let Israel now declare—
  77. Psalm 129:2Referred to, not named
    …many a time they have persecuted me from my youth, but they have not prevailed against me.
  78. Psalm 129:3Referred to, not named
    The plowmen plowed over my back; they made their furrows long.
  79. Psalm 130:7יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is loving devotion, and with Him is redemption in abundance.
  80. Psalm 130:8יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    And He will redeem Israel from all iniquity.
  81. Psalm 131:3יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, both now and forevermore.
  82. Psalm 132:2יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    …how he swore an oath to the LORD, and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:
  83. Psalm 132:5יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    …until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
  84. Psalm 135:4יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel; יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    For the LORD has chosen Jacob as His own, Israel as His treasured possession.
  85. Psalm 135:12יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    He gave their land as an inheritance, as a heritage to His people Israel.
  86. Psalm 135:19יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    O house of Israel, bless the LORD; O house of Aaron, bless the LORD;
  87. Psalm 136:1Referred to, not named
    Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His loving devotion endures forever.
  88. Psalm 136:2Referred to, not named
    Give thanks to the God of gods. His loving devotion endures forever.
  89. Psalm 136:3Referred to, not named
    Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His loving devotion endures forever.
  90. Psalm 136:11יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    …and brought Israel out from among them His loving devotion endures forever.
  91. Psalm 136:14יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    …and led Israel through the midst, His loving devotion endures forever.
  92. Psalm 136:22יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    …a heritage to His servant Israel. His loving devotion endures forever.
  93. Psalm 136:23Referred to, not named
    He remembered us in our low estate His loving devotion endures forever.
  94. Psalm 136:24Referred to, not named
    …and freed us from our enemies. His loving devotion endures forever.
  95. Psalm 136:26Referred to, not named
    Give thanks to the God of heaven! His loving devotion endures forever.
  96. Psalm 146:5יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
  97. Psalm 147:2יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the exiles of Israel.
  98. Psalm 147:19יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel; יַעֲקֹב · Jacob
    He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel.
  99. Psalm 148:14יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    He has raised up a horn for His people, the praise of all His saints, of Israel, a people near to Him. Hallelujah!
  100. Psalm 149:2יִשְׂרָאֵל · God; יִשְׂרָאֵל · Israel
    Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.