Who Was Jacob In The Bible? A Character Study

Jacob is one of the main characters in the Bible as we shall read. His character changed so dramatically that God changed his name.

Jacob, the Supplanter

Jacob’s name means “supplanter” or “he takes by the heel” and “cheater” and this name fits Jacob perfectly, as we will later see. When Jacob was born it was written that “Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob” (Gen 25:26) and “When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents” (Gen 25:26) so Jacob was a homebody while Esau his brother, was an outdoorsman who was rugged and skilled in hunting. The devotion between the two parents was divided as “Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob” (Gen 25:27).

Selling out the Birthright

Esau, as was his custom, was out hunting but this time he was unsuccessful and “when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted” and likely felt like he was starving to death (Gen 25:29) so what does Jacob do? Esau said “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom (meaning “red”)” and Jacob said, sure, just “Sell me your birthright now” (Gen 25:31) so Jacob made Esau swear to this so (Gen 25:33). “Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright” (Gen 25:34). Just like that, Esau had given up his birthright, which went to the firstborn, all for one meal. That’s why it was written that Esau despised his birthright. He sold his birthright it to satisfy his hunger, which was only temporary, for a birthright that gave him rights for a lifetime.

Stealing Isaac’s Blessing

Another indication that Jacob was a cheater came when Isaac was ready to bless Esau “When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am” (said Jacob) (Gen 27:1) and Isaac asked Esau to go out and hunt some game for him and prepare a meal for him so that is what Esau set off to do (Gen 27:2-3). Rebekah had overheard what Isaac had asked of Esau and told Jacob “my son, obey my voice as I command you. Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies” (Gen 27:8-10). “Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob” (Gen 27:15-17) so Jacob’s mother was in on the deception too. Isaac, thinking it was Esau, blessed Jacob (Gen 27:23) and so for the second time, Jacob had cheated Esau; the first time cheating Esau out of his birthright and now cheating his brother out of the blessing.

Esau’s Anger

When Esau returned with the meal, Isaac said that he had already given his blessing, but apparently on Jacob and not on Esau so “Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing” (Gen 27:36). After this, “Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran” (Gen 27:41b-43) so Jacob ran for his life and went to live with Rebekah’s brother, Laban until things cooled off (Gen 27:41-42).

Jacob Wrestles with God

One night, Jacob and a man “wrestled with until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” (Gen 32:24-26) and when Jacob asked what the man’s name was he told Jacob “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed” (Gen 32:28) so this was how Jacob’s name was changed to Israel which means “he strives with God” and like Israel’s name indicates, throughout the history of the nation of Israel, they would strive with God over and over again.

Conclusion

Jacob is mentioned almost more than anyone else (361 times) because Jacob is one of the main characters in the Bible and his character changed so radically that God changed his name. Today, God is still choosing a people for Himself as He did Israel in the past and these are they who have repented and trusted in the one and only Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Blind Chance or Intelligent Design available on Amazon.