Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל
Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes
Biography
Israel, also known as Jacob, was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the grandson of Abraham. He was born after his twin brother Esau (Gen. 25:24-26).
Jacob bought Esau's birthright for a bowl of stew when Esau was famished (Gen. 25:29-34). He then deceived his father Isaac into giving him the firstborn blessing (Gen. 27). To escape Esau's anger, Jacob fled to his uncle Laban in Paddan-aram (Gen. 28:1-5).
On the way, Jacob had a dream of a stairway to heaven at Bethel, where God confirmed the covenant promises to him (Gen. 28:10-22). Jacob worked for Laban for 14 years, marrying his daughters Leah and Rachel (Gen. 29).
Wanting to return home, Jacob left Paddan-aram with his family and flocks. On the way, he wrestled with God at Peniel and was renamed Israel, meaning "he struggles with God" (Gen. 32:22-32). Israel (or 'Jacob') reconciled with Esau and settled in Canaan (Gen. 33).
Jacob had twelve sons who became the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher (Gen. 35:23-26).
Jacob showed favoritism to Joseph, provoking his brothers to sell Joseph into slavery in Egypt (Gen. 37). Later, during a famine, Jacob's sons went to Egypt for food and were reconciled with Joseph, who had risen to power there (Gen. 42-46).
Jacob moved his whole family to Egypt, where he lived for 17 years (Gen. 47:28). Before his death, Jacob blessed Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. 48) and gave prophetic blessings to his own twelve sons (Gen. 49). He died at age 147 and was buried in Canaan (Gen. 49:33; 50:1-14).
God often identified Himself as the "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" and reaffirmed His covenant promises to Jacob's descendants (e.g. Exo. 3:6,15). The nation of Israel took its name from Jacob and the Jewish people are his descendants. The name Jeshurun is used as a poetic name for Israel (Deut. 32:15; 33:5,26; Isa. 44:2).
Family
Parents
Partners
- Rachel Early PatriarchSister of LeahWife of Jacob; mother of Joseph and BenjaminView full profile →
- Leah Early PatriarchSister of RachelWife of Jacob; mother of six sons and DinahView full profile →
- Zilpah FemaleLeah's maidservant; mother of Gad and AsherView full profile →
- Bilhah FemaleRachel's maidservant and mother of Dan and NaphtaliView full profile →
Offspring
- Reuben Tribe of ReubenSon of IsraelFirstborn son of Jacob and LeahView full profile →
- Simeon Tribe of SimeonSon of IsraelSon of Jacob and Leah, one of the twelve tribes.View full profile →
- Levi Tribe of LeviSon of IsraelSon of Jacob; progenitor of the LevitesView full profile →
- Judah Tribe of JudahSon of IsraelIsraelite tribe, kingdom, and provinceView full profile →
- Dan Tribe of DanSon of IsraelFifth son of Jacob, founder of Israelite tribeView full profile →
- Naphtali Tribe of NaphtaliSon of IsraelSon of Jacob, founder of the tribe of Naphtali.View full profile →
- Gad Tribe of GadSon of IsraelIsraelite tribe; descended from Gad, son of Jacob.View full profile →
- Asher Tribe of AsherSon of IsraelSon of Jacob and Zilpah, founder of the tribe of AsherView full profile →
- Issachar Tribe of IssacharSon of IsraelSon of Jacob and Leah, forefather of tribeView full profile →
- Zebulun Tribe of ZebulunSon of IsraelIsraelite tribe, son of Jacob and LeahView full profile →
- Dinah Early PatriarchJacob's daughterDaughter of Jacob and LeahView full profile →
- Joseph Early PatriarchJacob's sonSon of Jacob, ruler in EgyptView full profile →
- Benjamin Tribe of BenjaminSon of IsraelYoungest son of Jacob and RachelView full profile →
In Scripture
38 biblical books ; 22 with study contentGenesis 5 verses
- Genesis 32:28
"He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.”"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 32:32
"Therefore the children of Israel don’t eat the sinew of the hip, which is on the hollow of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 34:7
"The sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it. The men were grieved, and they were very angry, because he had done folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter, a thing ought not to be done."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 35:10
"God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel.” He named him Israel."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 35:21
"Israel traveled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder."
Study Genesis →
Exodus 5 verses
- Exodus 1:1
"Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt (every man and his household came with Jacob):"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 1:7
"The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 1:9
"He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 1:12
"But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. They started to dread the children of Israel."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 1:13
"The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve,"
Study Exodus →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יִשְׂרָאֵל | H3478 |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | יִשְׂרָאֵל | H3478 |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | יִשְׂרָאֵל | H3478 |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | יִשְׂרָאֵל | H3478 |
| Aramaic | Hebrew | יִשְׂרָאֵל | H3479 |
| Named | Hebrew | יַעֲקֹב | H3290 |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | יַעֲקֹב | H3290 |
| Named | Hebrew | יְשֻׁרוּן | H3484 |
| Group | Hebrew | יִשְׂרְאֵלִי | H3481H |
| Group | Hebrew | יִשְׂרְאֵלִית | H3482 |
| Greek | Greek | Ἰσραήλ | G2474 |
| (same form as previous) | Greek | Ἰσραήλ | G2474 |
| Named | Greek | Ἰακώβ | G2384H |
| Group | Greek | Ἰσραηλίτης | G2475 |
| (same form as previous) | Greek | Ἰσραηλίτης | G2475 |