Jacob

Jacob was the younger of Isaac and Rebekah’s twin sons. He was born with his hand grasping Esau’s heel and was named Jacob. As he grew older, his story became marked by rivalry, deception, struggle and God’s continuing grace.

Who Was Jacob?

Jacob was the younger of two twin sons born to Isaac and Rebekah. His brother Esau came first – a hunter, a man of the field, their father’s favourite. Jacob later traded him a bowl of stew for his birthright – the inheritance and honour that belonged to the firstborn. Esau agreed to the trade.

Jacob did not stop there. With his mother Rebekah guiding the plan, he dressed in his brother’s clothes, covered his arms in goatskin and entered the room of his elderly, nearly blind father. Jacob falsely claimed to be Esau so that he could receive the blessing intended for his brother. Isaac was suspicious. He asked twice. Jacob lied twice. Isaac blessed him, and when Esau arrived, the truth brought deep grief and anger into the family.

Jacob fled to the household of his uncle Laban. Along the way, exhausted and alone, he lay down in an open field and slept. He dreamed of a stairway stretching from the earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. God stood beside him and promised to be with him and bring him back to the land. Jacob had not earned that promise. He had just taken a blessing through deception, but God spoke mercy and purpose to him anyway.

At Laban’s household, Jacob met Rachel and loved her. He worked seven years to marry her, but Laban deceived him and gave him Leah first. Jacob then worked seven more years for Rachel. During those years, Jacob experienced conflict, labour, family pain and Laban’s unfair treatment, yet God remained with him.

The sharpest turn came at a river crossing called Jabbok. Jacob was returning home to face Esau after years of absence, terrified of what his brother might do. The night before the meeting, a man appeared and wrestled with Jacob until dawn. The man struck Jacob’s hip, and Jacob was limping as he left the encounter, carrying the physical effect of the injury into his meeting with Esau. Jacob also received a new name: Israel.

The encounter humbled Jacob and marked an important turning point as he prepared to face Esau. Jacob was deeply afraid, prayed for deliverance, sent gifts ahead and approached Esau bowing seven times. Esau ran to meet him, embraced him and received him peacefully.

What This Jacob Bible Story Teaches Kids

Before Jacob and Esau were born, God told Rebekah that the older son would serve the younger. Jacob did not need deception to make God’s purpose succeed, yet he repeatedly tried to secure position and blessing through manipulation.

His choices harmed his family and brought painful consequences. Even so, God met Jacob at Bethel, remained with him during his years with Laban and brought him safely home.

At Jabbok, Jacob experienced a mysterious night-long struggle, received the name Israel and left injured. His story shows that perseverance is not the same as manipulating an outcome. Faithful perseverance means continuing to turn towards God while acting truthfully, accepting correction and taking the next right step.

Jacob’s completed Hero Mission explores perseverance: holding on to what is good and taking one more faithful step when quitting feels easier. Start with Jacob’s Perseverance.

Put the story into action – explore Jacob’s Perseverance, a Bible hero mission for kids inspired by this story. To read the full passage, explore Genesis 25-33 on Bible Gateway.