Jacob In the Bible | Character Study

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What is the story of Jacob in the Bible?

Most of us could think of at least a couple facts about Jacob in the Bible. For example, Jacob was a twin (the younger one if we want to get specific). He was tricked into marrying his first wife, and his son’s (which actually came from four different women) became what we know today as the 12 tribes of Israel.

Those details are on repeat in nearly every teaching about Jacob in the Bible. There’s more to Jacob’s story than the facts lead onto. While facts tend to point to his flaws, his story as a whole gives an entirely new perspective of God, His goodness, and faithfulness – one that many of us, like Jacob, have wrestled with.

This article serves as a brief Character study and free lesson about Jacob in the Bible. Through it we’ll answer the following questions:

• Who was Jacob in the Bible?
• Who did Jacob marry and why does that matter?
• Why did Jacob Wrestle with God?
• What’s the deal with Jacob’s name change? Click here to jump to Bible Study questions about Jacob that you can print (free of charge)!

What did Jacob do in the Bible that you and I can learn from today? Let’s dig in!

Who Was Jacob In the Bible?

Let’s start with the basics. Who is Jacob and what was he known for.

Jacob comes from the line of Abraham and Isaac. Jacob’s father was named Isaac and His mother was named Rebekah. Jacob and his twin brother Esau were both miracle babies. While Esau held a special place in his father’s heart (being the first born and miraculous answer to prayer) Jacob held a special place in his mother’s heart; partly because of the promise God had spoken over him.

What was Jacob in the Bible known for? Most of us know Jacob as the guy who stole his brothers birth right and blessing. Jacob was by no means perfect. He had character flaws like everyone. While he did scheme to claim his brother’s birth right (see Genesis 25:29-34)) receiving his brothers blessing was God’s doing. Follow that Scripture trail in this free Bible lesson: Rebekah Wild Act of Faith.

The short explanation, God chose Jacob to inherit the promises given to his father, Isaac and He confirmed this decision through the words spoken to Rebekah while her children were in her womb.

It’s these words that shape the life of Jacob wrestling with God in more ways than one.

Jacob Hears From God

We don’t know much about Jacob’s relationship with God prior to Genesis 28. Chances are had a knowledge of God, but there’s a difference between having knowledge of God and an actual relationship with God. Genesis 28 marks the beginning of a intimate relationship between God and Jacob. It starts with a jaw-dropping vision most of us know as the “stairway to heaven.”

“Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. Ad behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and east to the north and south; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 28:12-14

Rebekah had known it.
Isaac prophecies it.
Now, Jacob is hearing the promise from God Himself!

We can tell by Jacob’s response that hearing God this way was new for Him. He was in awe; carrying both fear and reverence (see Genesis 28:16-17) In response He makes a vow.

IF God will be with him and keep him (as promised in Genesis 28:15), provide for him, and bring reconciliation back into his home then he would serve God forever and give God a tenth of all he acquired (see Genesis 28:20).

IF…

The rest of Jacob’s story is how God turned that “if” into reality. He starts by giving Jacob a family of his own.

Who Did Jacob In the Bible Marry?

When Isaac and Rebekah sent Jacob away, they did so with one warning. Do NOT take a wife from the land of Canaan. Instead Jacob was to go to the land of his grand-father and find a wife (see Genesis 28:3). Which brings us to the story of Leah and Rachel in the Bible. And a few others…

You’ve probably heard that Jacob two wives. The question that typically follows that statement is, who did Jacob marry first? The answer to that question can be found in Genesis 29.

Jacob has traveled to Padan Aram like his parents requested and while there he stops at a well where shepherds were watering flocks of sheep. One of the flocks belonged to a Shepherdess named Rachel. Rachel was the daughter of Jacob’s uncle, Laban. The Bible describes Rachel as beautiful of form and appearance (see Genesis 29:17). When Laban realized that Jacob was related he invited him to stay in Padan Aram and work for him tending flocks. Jacob accepted.

Over time Jacob developed a love for Rachel and eventually popped the question to Laban (because culturally marriages are arranged through the father).

“I will serve you seven years for your daughter Rachel.”
Genesis 29:18

Laban agreed. Or so it seemed. The night of the wedding was a different story. The next morning after the celebration was over, the vows said and done, and the marriage consumated – Jacob woke up to find he had marriage the wrong girl. He was now the husband of none other than Leah, Rachel’s sister.

Why Did God Allow Jacob to Marry Leah?

The name of Jacob in the Bible’s wife was Leah. But it wasn’t supposed to be that way. At least, that’s not what Jacob planned. That leads many to ask why did God let it happen. The honest answer is an unpopular one. We don’t know. There are times when God steps in and says “no further.” Then there are times when God allows hard things to happen but in his sovereignty makes good of them. I believe that is what happened in this part of Jacob’s story.

In modern culture, Jacob marrying Leah would have been the end of any hope for Jacob and Rachel. At this time in history it was still considered normal to have more than one wife. So there was still a chance for marriage of Jacob and Rachel in the Bible. In fact, when Jacob confronted Laban about his deceit Laban responded by vowing that if Jacob would work for him another seven years, he could have Rachel as a wife too.

Because Jacob loved Rachel, he agreed.

Did Jacob Love Leah?

The little that we do know about the dynamic between Leah and Jacob paints a pretty sad picture of their marriage. If Jacob did love Leah, Leah didn’t recognize it. Scripture tells the story like this,

“When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has surely looked upon my affliction. Now therefor, my husband will love me.”
Genesis 29:31-32

Leah was counting on the fact that she bore Jacob’s first born son to improve things between them. Unfortunately, it didn’t. Rachel received a measure of love and affection from Jacob that Leah didn’t. Rachel was the favorite wife of Jacob. Leah was the favorite wife of Jacob. As hard as that may have been for Leah, God brought good out of it.

Leah welcomed 6 sons into the world. When she was no longer able to conceive her maidservant bore 2 sons for her.
Rachel bore 2 sons with Jacob and her maidservant bore 2 sons as well.
Together these 12 sons became the 12 tribes of the nation of Israel. They’re descendants became as innumerable as the stars of the sky. Find the 12 sons of Jacob Bible verse in Genesis 35:23-26.

Still, Jacob’s days of wrestling with God are still far from over.

Why Did Jacob Wrestle With God?

To answer the questions “why did Jacob wrestle with God?” we have to the different pieces of Jacob’s story starting with the details of his hasty exit from his homeland. To say he left on bad terms is an understatement. Jacob left home because of a death threat from His brother. In addition to his brother being anger, Jacob brought a wave of grief over his father. He left home not knowing if he would see his father again or if he would have a family to come back to.

That alone would put many of us in a season of emotionally and intellectually wrestling with God. For Jacob though, it’s more than that. He had literally given up his family, in order to accept God’s “calling” on his life. One thought he probably wrestled with is “was it worth it?”

After leaving Jacob meets Rachel, chooses her as a bride, but is tricked into marrying another. He probably wondered, “God, where are you in this?” Still God blesses him abundantly (See Genesis 30).

As the years go on Jacob is cheated out of livestock and wages owed to him by sneaky Uncle Laban. (see Genesis 31).

Eventually, and with God’s blessing (Genesis 31:13), Jacob leaves the house of Laban and ventures towards his homeland, only to have Laban come after him with ill intentions (see Genesis 31:29).

He longs for home, but has yet to reconcile with his brother, who at one point had every intention of killing Jacob (see Genesis 27:41). There is so much that seems stacked against him.

Have you ever heard clearly from God but then looked at your life and wondered why your circumstances don’t appear to match what He promised? And you struggle to try and reconcile the differences and push back the confusion to see what’s actually true. That’s what it means to wrestle with God. That’s the position Jacob was in. He heard what God had declared, but he also experienced the obstacles and life’s objections to it. So he wrestled; emotionally, intellectually, and yes, even physically.

Jacob Wrestles With God Bible Verse and Story

“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socked of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.

And He said, “Let me go for the day breaks.”

But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me.”
Genesis 32:25-26

This part of the story tends to raise a lot of questions. Who was Jacob wrestling with in the Bible? Did Jacob wrestle with God or an angel?

Some question whether this passage is literal or metaphorical. Scripture answers all of these questions.

“… for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
from Genesis 32:28

Every Jacob wrestles with God sermon I’ve ever heard talks about how Jacob wrestled with God. Few talk about his wrestle with man. Yet, here God finds his wrestling with men important enough to address.

None of what Jacob went through was hidden from God. Just like none of what you are going through today is hidden from God. He sees your wrestling. I believe that like Jacob, God’s hope is that we’ll bring our wrestling to Him.

Why Did God Allow Jacob to Wrestle With Him?

Sometimes we have to content for the things God promises in our lives. We can’t live about them passively. We can’t expect them to come to fruition if we aren’t hearing and walking with God. At some point our faith and our obedience have to work together and go the way God has ordained.

I believe that is why Jacob God allowed Jacob to wrestle with Him. This wrestling was Jacob’s way of contending for the promises of God.

Jacob’s Name Change

So we’ve worked through a brief “Jacob wrestles with God” summary. Now we’re going to look at God’s response to Jacob’s wrestling.

So He said to Him, “What is your name?”

He said, “Jacob.”

And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”
Genesis 3227-28

If you study Bible verses about name changes you’ll find that in Scripture names are often tied to prophetic declarations. For example, the meaning of Jacob in the Bible is supplanter, which means a person who seizes or usurps. It can also mean may God protect. Both of those meanings perfectly describe seasons of Jacob’s life. Jacob certainly did usurp his brother’s birth right. God certainly did protect him from the fury of his brother. And He continued to protect Him through all the wrestling between him and Laban.

In response to Jacob’s lifetime of wrestling with God to see what He said come to pass, Jacob’s name changed to Israel. Some other examples of names God changed in the Bible; Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Simon to Peter, Saul to Paul.

Why is Jacob’s new name so important?

The name Israel in Hebrew means “to wrestle”. It described Jacob’s life then, the days to come (Jacob did LOTS more wrestling with God) AND it described the nation built from Jacob’s descendants. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel to declare a new season that involved establishing God’s kingdom or dwelling place on the Earth.

Why is this important for you? It’s through this kingdom and family that the promised Messiah (Jesus) would come. It is also this kingdom and family that all who believe and follow Jesus are grafted into. And it’s through this family that all the families of the Earth will be blessed.

When Did Jacob Die?

Jacob lived a long full life. It wasn’t struggle free. He had to deal with the death of both wives, the rape of his daughter Dinah (Genesis 34), the loss of Joseph (Genesis 37-38), a violent famine (Genesis 41-47), and the threat of loosing his youngest son Benjamin (Genesis 42-44).

In each of these circumstances Jacob wrestled with God. And in each of these circumstances God showed Himself faithful and brought good out of the harshness.

Jacob’s death is recorded in the Bible in Genesis 49-50 shortly after being reunited with Joseph and moving his family to Egypt. Jacob was 147 years old when he died.

What Happened When Jacob Died?

After Jacob’s death the Joseph, his family, all the servants of Pharoah, the elders of Joseph’s house, and the elders of the land of Egypt, went to the tomb where Leah (his first wife), Isaac and Rebekah, and Abraham and Sarah were buried. There they laid Jacob’s body to rest. The work of reconciliation between brothers continued (see Genesis 50:15-21). And the nation of Israel began to thrive.

A free character study of Jacob in the Bible and the hope we gain from his story. Jacob In the Bible | Wrestling With God and Man Share on X

Bible Study Questions About Jacob In the Bible

Use the Bible study questions to help you get the most our of the story of Jacob in the Bible summary. Click here to print the study questions!

1. What promise did God give Rebekah regarding Isaac? How did this create tension? (see Genesis 25).
2. Describe the conflict between Jacob and Esau?
3. Why did Jacob have to leave home?
4. What instruction did Isaac give Jacob in regards to finding a wife? Why did this instruction matter?
5. What vow did Jacob make to God?
6. How many wives did Jacob have?
7. Why did Jacob marry Rachel and Leah?
8. What role did Jacob’s marriage(s) play in fulfilling God’s promise to Jacob?
9. Describe the conflict between Jacob and Laban? (see Genesis 29 and 30)
10. What were the names of Jacbo’s sons?
11. What fear did Jacob have about returning home?
12. What does it mean to wrestle with God?
13. Name some of the hard circumstances Jacob had to wrestle with in his life?
14. How do you relate to the story of Jacob wrestling with God and man?
15. What is the spiritual meaning of Jacob?
16. Why was Jacob’s name change significant?
17. What does Jacob’s name change have to do with the hope of the gospel?