Jacobיעקב
Description
Jacob, later given the name Israel, is the third Hebrew patriarch in Judaism and an important figure in the Abrahamic religions. He first appears in the Torah, where he is described in the Book of Genesis as a son of Isaac and Rebecca. Accordingly, alongside his older fraternal twin brother Esau, Jacob's paternal grandparents are Abraham and Sarah and his maternal grandfather is Bethuel, whose wife is not mentioned. He is said to have bought Esau's birthright and, with his mother's help, deceived his aging father to bless him instead of Esau. Then, following a severe drought in his homeland Canaan, Jacob and his descendants migrated to neighbouring Egypt through the efforts of his son Joseph, who had become a confidant of the pharaoh. After dying in Egypt at the age of 147, he is supposed to have been buried in the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron.
Facts
| Resting place | Cave of Machpelah, Hebron, Canaan (traditional), 31°31′29″N 35°06′39″E / 31.5247°N 35.1107°E / 31.5247; 35.1107 |
| Other name | Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל) |
| Known for | Being the third Hebrew patriarch and the forefather of the Israelites |
| Spouse(s) | Leah, Rachel |
| Partner(s) | Bilhah, Zilpah |
| Children | Oldest to youngest, per woman: With Leah Reuben Simeon Levi Judah Issachar Zebulun Dinah (daughter) With Rachel Joseph Benjamin With Bilhah Dan Naphtali With Zilpah Gad Asher |
| Parents | Isaac (father)Rebecca (mother) |
| Relatives | Abraham (paternal grandfather) Sarah (paternal grandmother) Bethuel (maternal grandfather) Ishmael (paternal half-uncle) Esau (fraternal twin brother) Laban (maternal uncle, father-in-law) |
Life & work in brief
Summarised by section — one row per topic, for fast reading.
| Topic | Summary |
|---|---|
| Etymology | According to the folk etymology found in Genesis 25:26, the name Yaʿaqōv יעקב is derived from ʿaqev עָקֵב "heel", as Jacob was born grasping the heel of his twin brother Esau. |
| Genesis narrative | The biblical account of the life of Jacob is found in the Book of Genesis, chapters 25–50. |
| Religious perspectives | There are two opinions in the Midrash as to how old Rebecca was at the time of her marriage and, consequently, at the twins' birth. |
| Historicity | Although archaeologist and biblical scholar William F. |
Prophecies
Key prophetic utterances and visions attributed to Jacob, with sources.
| Prophecy / vision | Source |
|---|---|
| You shall worship none but God; the creed of your fathers Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac | Quran 2:133 |
| We revealed to the prophets of the tribes: establish worship and give charity | Quran 19:58 |