Who was Jacob in the Bible?
Jacob — later renamed Israel — was the third patriarch whose twelve sons became the twelve tribes of Israel, the man who wrestled with God and walked the rest of his life with a limp and a new name.
Born grasping his twin Esau’s heel, Jacob lived up to a name meaning "he grasps." He bought Esau’s birthright and, with his mother’s help, took the blessing.
On the run from Esau, he saw a stairway to heaven and received God’s promise. He worked fourteen years for his wives Leah and Rachel and fathered twelve sons.
Returning home, he wrestled through the night with God and was renamed Israel, "he struggles with God." His life proves that grace works with crooked sticks — and reshapes them by stages.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.