A person through the Bible

Jacob, who was called Israel

His life story by story, under both his names: born holding his brother's heel, renamed Israel, and remembered to the end of the Bible, where his name is the name of a people.

Explanation, not Scripture Grouping his life into these parts is a way of reading it. Where the Hebrew is explained, the page says which word book it comes from.

Born holding the heel

2
  • Born holding Esau's heel

    Genesis 25:26Read the verse
    And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel Genesis 25:26

    And his name was called Jacob (the same verse). Strong's gives the name as "heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter)" (H3290).

    Read it: Genesis 25:26

  • A plain man, dwelling in tents

    Genesis 25:27Read the verse
    and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. Genesis 25:27

    Isaac loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob (Genesis 25:28).

    Read it: Genesis 25:27-28

The birthright and the blessing

3
  • Esau sold his birthright

    Genesis 25:33Read the verse
    and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Genesis 25:33

    For bread and pottage of lentiles (Genesis 25:34).

    Read it: Genesis 25:33

  • I am Esau thy firstborn

    Genesis 27:19Read the verse

    Jacob said to Isaac

    I am Esau thy firstborn Genesis 27:19

    Rebekah told him to do it (Genesis 27:6-10).

    Read it: Genesis 27:19

  • Is not he rightly named Jacob?

    Genesis 27:36Read the verse

    Esau said

    Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: Genesis 27:36

    Read it: Genesis 27:36

Bethel: the ladder

3
  • A ladder set up on the earth

    Genesis 28:12Read the verse
    And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: Genesis 28:12

    On the way to Haran, fleeing from Esau (Genesis 27:43; 28:10).

    Read it: Genesis 28:12

  • I am with thee

    Genesis 28:15Read the verse

    The LORD said

    And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, Genesis 28:15

    Read it: Genesis 28:15

  • He called the place Bethel

    Genesis 28:19Read the verse
    And he called the name of that place Bethel: Genesis 28:19

    Strong's gives Bethel as "house of God" (H1008); Jacob said, "this is none other but the house of God" (Genesis 28:17).

    Read it: Genesis 28:19

With Laban

2
  • Seven years for Rachel

    Genesis 29:20Read the verse
    And Jacob served seven years for Rachel Genesis 29:20

    And they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her (the same verse).

    Read it: Genesis 29:20

  • Wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

    Genesis 29:25Read the verse

    Jacob said to Laban

    What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? Genesis 29:25

    In the morning, it was Leah.

    Read it: Genesis 29:25

Wrestling, and a new name

4
  • There wrestled a man with him

    Genesis 32:24Read the verse
    and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. Genesis 32:24

    Jacob was left alone (the same verse), the night before he met Esau again.

    Read it: Genesis 32:24

  • Except thou bless me

    Genesis 32:26Read the verse

    Jacob said

    I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Genesis 32:26

    Read it: Genesis 32:26

  • No more Jacob, but Israel

    Genesis 32:28Read the verse
    Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. Genesis 32:28

    The Hebrew word for "power" here (sârâh, Strong's H8280) is used only here and in Hosea 12:3, where the same night is told again.

    Read it: Genesis 32:28

  • I have seen God face to face

    Genesis 32:30Read the verse
    And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. Genesis 32:30

    He halted upon his thigh (Genesis 32:31).

    Read it: Genesis 32:30

Esau again

2
  • Esau ran to meet him

    Genesis 33:4Read the verse
    And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. Genesis 33:4

    Read it: Genesis 33:4

  • EleloheIsrael

    Genesis 33:20Read the verse
    And he erected there an altar, and called it EleloheIsrael. Genesis 33:20

    An altar named with his new name; Strong's builds it from El, Elohim and Israel (H415).

    Read it: Genesis 33:20

Bethel again: the name given by God

2
  • Israel shall be thy name

    Genesis 35:10Read the verse

    God said

    thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. Genesis 35:10

    Read it: Genesis 35:10

  • I am God Almighty

    Genesis 35:11Read the verse

    God said

    I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply Genesis 35:11

    A nation and a company of nations shall be of thee (the same verse).

    Read it: Genesis 35:11

Joseph

3
  • Israel loved Joseph

    Genesis 37:3Read the verse
    Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: Genesis 37:3

    From here on Genesis uses both names: Jacob in 42 verses after Genesis 35:10, Israel in 35 (counted from the KJV text).

    Read it: Genesis 37:3

  • He mourned for his son

    Genesis 37:34Read the verse
    And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. Genesis 37:34

    Read it: Genesis 37:34

  • Joseph my son is yet alive

    Genesis 45:28Read the verse

    Israel said

    Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. Genesis 45:28

    Read it: Genesis 45:28

Into Egypt

2
  • Jacob, Jacob

    Genesis 46:2Read the verse
    And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. Genesis 46:2

    God still calls him Jacob, and says: fear not to go down into Egypt (Genesis 46:3).

    Read it: Genesis 46:2-3

  • Few and evil have the days been

    Genesis 47:9Read the verse

    Jacob said to Pharaoh

    The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, Genesis 47:9

    Read it: Genesis 47:9

His blessing and his death

3
  • He crossed his hands

    Genesis 48:14Read the verse
    And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, Genesis 48:14

    See The younger above the elder.

    Read it: Genesis 48:14

  • Gather yourselves together

    Genesis 49:1Read the verse

    Jacob said

    Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Genesis 49:1

    He blessed his twelve sons, "the twelve tribes of Israel" (Genesis 49:28).

    Read it: Genesis 49:1

  • He yielded up the ghost

    Genesis 49:33Read the verse
    he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people. Genesis 49:33

    His sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which Abraham bought (Genesis 50:13).

    Read it: Genesis 49:33

Remembered

6
  • Israel shall be thy name

    1 Kings 18:31Read the verse
    And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 1 Kings 18:31

    See also 2 Kings 17:34.

    Read it: 1 Kings 18:31

  • He had power with God

    Hosea 12:3 and 1 moreRead the verses
    He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Hosea 12:3
    Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: Hosea 12:4

    Read it: Hosea 12:3-4

  • Yet I loved Jacob

    Malachi 1:2Read the verse

    The LORD said

    Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, Malachi 1:2

    Paul quotes it in Romans 9:13.

    Read it: Malachi 1:2

  • The God of Jacob

    Matthew 22:32Read the verse

    Jesus said

    I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Matthew 22:32

    Read it: Matthew 22:32

  • Jacob's well

    John 4:6Read the verse
    Now Jacob’s well was there. John 4:6

    Where Jesus spoke with the woman of Samaria (John 4:7).

    Read it: John 4:6

  • By faith Jacob

    Hebrews 11:21Read the verse
    By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph Hebrews 11:21

    And worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff (the same verse).

    Read it: Hebrews 11:21

His name on a people

4
  • The children of Israel

    Exodus 1:1Read the verse
    Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt Exodus 1:1

    Every man and his household came with Jacob (the same verse). From here the name is mostly the people's.

    Read it: Exodus 1:1

  • Israel is my son, even my firstborn

    Exodus 4:22Read the verse

    The LORD said to Moses

    Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: Exodus 4:22

    Read it: Exodus 4:22

  • Both names, for the people

    Isaiah 41:14Read the verse
    Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel Isaiah 41:14

    81 verses name both Jacob and Israel, most often as a pair for the people (counted from the KJV text and the Strong's numbers).

    Read it: Isaiah 41:14

  • Not all Israel which are of Israel

    Romans 9:6Read the verse
    For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Romans 9:6

    Where readers differ: some read this, and "the Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16), to mean all who believe, Jew and Gentile; others read them to mean believing Jews, or the nation, with "all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:26) still to come.

    Read it: Romans 9:6