from עָקַב; heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch; Jacob.
Transliteration:Yaʻăqôb
Pronunciation:yah-ak-obe'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb), Strong's `{{H3290}}`, is derived from the verbal root `{{H6117}}` (ʻāqab), which carries the primary meaning of "to seize by the heel," "to circumvent," "to overreach," or "to supplant."
* **Literal Meaning:** In its most direct sense, Yaʻăqôb means "heel-catcher." This meaning is explicitly linked to the circumstances of his birth, where he was born holding onto the heel of his twin brother, Esau ([[Genesis 25:26]]).
* **Figurative Meaning:** Beyond the literal, the name quickly acquires the figurative sense of "supplanter" or "deceiver." Esau himself articulates this understanding, lamenting, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing" ([[Genesis 27:36]]).
* **Semantic Range:** The name encapsulates both Jacob's initial character—marked by cunning and a tendency to manipulate—and the divine purpose that works through and transforms him. While it begins with negative connotations of trickery, it evolves to represent the foundational patriarch of the nation of Israel, whose life demonstrates God's sovereign choice and redemptive power.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The name Yaʻăqôb (Jacob) is overwhelmingly prevalent in the Old Testament, particularly throughout the book of Genesis, where he is a central figure in the patriarchal narratives.
* **Genesis Narratives:**
* **Birth and Early Life:** Jacob's name and character are introduced at his birth, where he grasps Esau's heel, foreshadowing their contentious relationship and the theme of reversal ([[Genesis 25:26]]). His early life is marked by his acquisition of the birthright from Esau ([[Genesis 25:29-34]]) and his deception of Isaac to receive the paternal blessing ([[Genesis 27:1-40]]). These actions, though morally ambiguous, are presented within the larger framework of God's sovereign plan for the covenant's continuation.
* **Journeys and Divine Encounters:** Jacob's life is a series of significant journeys and encounters with God.
* **Bethel:** Fleeing Esau, Jacob experiences a profound dream at Bethel, where God reaffirms the Abrahamic covenant promises to him and his descendants ([[Genesis 28:10-22]]). This marks a crucial moment of divine assurance.
* **Laban's Household:** His years with Laban are characterized by further instances of trickery (from both sides) but also by the formation of his large family, the foundation of the twelve tribes ([[Genesis 29-31]]).
* **Peniel:** The pivotal event in Jacob's life is his wrestling match with a divine being at the Jabbok ford, resulting in his new name, Israel ([[Genesis 32:22-32]]). This renaming signifies a transformation from "supplanter" to "one who strives with God" or "God strives." This encounter highlights a deep spiritual struggle and a new relationship with the divine.
* **Father of the Twelve Tribes:** Jacob becomes the father of the twelve sons who form the twelve tribes of Israel ([[Genesis 35:23-26]]), thereby establishing the lineage through whom God's covenant promises would be fulfilled.
* **Later Biblical Usage:** Beyond Genesis, the name Jacob is frequently used interchangeably with "Israel" to refer to the nation descended from him (e.g., "house of Jacob," "seed of Jacob," "sons of Jacob"). This usage emphasizes the continuity of God's covenant with His chosen people (e.g., [[Isaiah 41:8]], [[Jeremiah 10:16]]). In the New Testament, Jacob is acknowledged as a key patriarch and an ancestor in the lineage of Jesus Christ ([[Matthew 1:2]], [[Luke 3:34]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
* **`{{H6117}}` (ʻāqab):** The verbal root from which Yaʻăqôb is derived. Understanding this root ("to seize by the heel," "to circumvent," "to supplant") is essential for grasping the initial characterization of Jacob and the prophetic significance of his birth.
* **`{{H3478}}` (Yiśrāʼēl - Israel):** Jacob's divinely bestowed new name, given after his wrestling match at Peniel ([[Genesis 32:28]]). This name signifies a profound transformation from "supplanter" to "one who strives with God" or "God strives," marking a new identity and destiny for the patriarch and, by extension, the nation that would bear his new name.
* **Birthright (בְּכֹרָה, `{{H1062}}`):** The special inheritance and position of leadership belonging to the firstborn son. Jacob's narrative is deeply intertwined with his desire for and acquisition of the birthright from Esau.
* **Blessing (בְּרָכָה, `{{H1293}}`):** The paternal blessing, particularly the covenantal blessing passed down from Abraham and Isaac, was of immense spiritual and material significance. Jacob's efforts to obtain this blessing through deception underscore its perceived value.
* **Covenant (בְּרִית, `{{H1285}}`):** Jacob is a crucial link in the chain of God's covenant promises to Abraham. Through him, the promises of land, numerous descendants, and a blessing to all nations are continued and reaffirmed.
### Theological Significance
* **God's Sovereign Election and Purpose:** Jacob's story powerfully illustrates God's sovereign choice, often operating independently of human merit or conventional expectations. Despite Jacob's flaws and deceitful nature, God chose him over Esau before their birth ([[Romans 9:10-13]]), demonstrating that His election is based on His divine will and not on human performance.
* **Transformation and Redemptive Grace:** The narrative of Jacob's life is a profound testament to God's transformative grace. From a cunning "supplanter" (Jacob) to a "prince who strives with God" (Israel), his journey highlights God's ability to refine, discipline, and ultimately redeem flawed individuals for His divine purposes. The wrestling at Peniel is the theological climax, symbolizing the struggle of faith and the divine encounter that leads to a new identity rooted in God.
* **Continuity of the Covenant:** Jacob serves as the pivotal human link in the transmission of the Abrahamic covenant. Through his experiences, particularly at Bethel and Peniel, God reiterates and confirms His promises of land, descendants, and blessing, ensuring the continuation of His redemptive plan.
* **The Nature of Israel:** The name Jacob, and its transformation to Israel, encapsulates the complex identity of God's chosen people. It reflects both their human failings and struggles (mirroring Jacob's early character) and their unique calling, relationship with God, and ultimate destiny (like Israel's transformed identity). The nation's history often parallels Jacob's personal journey of struggle, sin, divine discipline, and eventual restoration.
### Summary
The Hebrew name יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb), Strong's `{{H3290}}`, derived from `{{H6117}}` (ʻāqab), literally means "heel-catcher" and figuratively "supplanter" or "deceiver." This name aptly describes the patriarch's birth and early character, marked by his grasping Esau's heel ([[Genesis 25:26]]) and his cunning acquisition of the birthright and blessing ([[Genesis 27:36]]). Jacob's life, a central narrative in Genesis, is punctuated by significant divine encounters, notably at Bethel ([[Genesis 28:10-22]]) and the transformative wrestling match at Peniel, where his name is changed to Israel (`{{H3478}}`), signifying "he strives with God" ([[Genesis 32:22-32]]). Theologically, Jacob's story powerfully illustrates God's sovereign election of imperfect individuals, His profound transformative grace, and the unwavering continuity of the Abrahamic covenant through which the nation of Israel was established. His journey from a cunning "supplanter" to a "prince with God" epitomizes the redemptive arc central to biblical theology.
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