Jacob was born grasping his twin's heel, and his name — supplanter — fit a man who bargained for a birthright and schemed for a blessing. But God met him: at Bethel in a dream of a ladder to heaven, and at the Jabbok in a night of wrestling that left him limping and renamed. Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel.
From his twelve sons came the twelve tribes of Israel. His long, flawed, forgiven life is one of Scripture's most human — and God is unashamed to be called the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Jacob has ranked among the most popular boys' names for a generation — strong, classic, and warmly shortened to Jake.
Variants & nicknames
Jake, Jakob, James, Yaakov
Jacob in the Bible
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.