Questions tagged [jacob]

Questions about Jacob (later known also as Israel), son of Isaac & grandson of Abraham. Jacob was the brother of Esau and father of the 12 tribes.

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Judah's sons Er & Onan were killed by God for their sins, and yet, greater sins were maybe made by Judah's brothers Simeon & Levi, for NO punishment?

InGenesis 38:7-10 we are told of the deaths of Er and Onan but with little accounting. In Genesis Ch 34 however we have the whole accounting of Simeon and Levi's despicable actions, which were acted ...
Olde English's user avatar
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Why is Bilhah referred to as Jacob's wife in one passage and his concubine in another? can the hebrew be tranlsated it as woman and not wife

Why is Bilhah referred to as Jacob's wife in one passage and his concubine in another? can the hebrew be tranlsated as woman and not wife? Genesis 30:4 (NIV) So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a ...
funchurchnation's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
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Is there a difference here between Jacob and Israel?

Contained in Micah 3:8 seems to be a pretty good description of what a prophet does: But yet I am filled with the strength of the spirit of the Lord, with judgment, and power: to declare unto Jacob ...
DDS's user avatar
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When and for How Long was Israel Enslaved by the Egyptians?

This post is somewhat related to Do We Know with Reasonable Certainty Where Goshen was Located? According to (D-R) Exod. 12:40, And the abode of the children of Israel that they made in Egypt, was ...
DDS's user avatar
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On Why Joseph Specifically Chose Simeon to be the Hostage in Gen. 42?

As a follow-up to When Did Israel First Expect Deliverance from Egypt?, I would like to add: In Gen 42:25, we read (regarding Joseph)--- And taking Simeon, and binding him in their presence, he ...
DDS's user avatar
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Did Leah agree with Laban's plan to deceive Jacob in Genesis 29?

Genesis 29:21-25 NIV Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my [d]time is completed, that I may have relations with her.” 22 So Laban gathered all the people of the place and held a feast. ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
453 views

Why did Jacob bless Joseph and his sons more strongly than he blessed Judah (or did he)? Gen. 49

Reading Gen. 49, two passages stand out: Jacob's blessing/prophecy over Judah and his equally long blessing/prophecy over Joseph. It strikes me that the blessing over Joseph is the stronger of the two....
Dan Fefferman's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
473 views

Why does Jacob choose anointing as a method of consecrating the pillar at Bethel (Gen 28:18, Gen 31:12)?

The first mention of the concept of anointing is found in Genesis 31:13, refering back to the action Jacob took in 28:18: I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me... -...
Austin's user avatar
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How is it possible Jacob didn’t see Leah’s face or hear her voice?

How could Jacob not tell/ see the face of who he was sleeping with? That it was Leah and not Rachel. 22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast. 23 But in the evening ...
Nat's user avatar
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Was Jacob originally intended to marry only Rachel? (Gen. 28-29)

The Bible's seeming endorsement of polygamy in the OTA bothers many of us. I'd like to look into this issue in the lives of Esau and Jacob. By way of introduction, I note that Isaac married only ...
Dan Fefferman's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
117 views

How many stones was Jacob's pillow made of?

The KJV Version says in Genesis 28:11 "and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep." Jacob sleeps and and dreams. When he wakes ...
Davidye's user avatar
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Who is "your first father" in Isaiah 43:27?

Your first father sinned, And your mediators have transgressed against Me. Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; I will give Jacob to the curse, And Israel to reproaches. (Isaiah 43:...
Dan Fefferman's user avatar
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Do prophets sin? Genesis 27, Numbers 20, Jonah [closed]

Jacob Jacob is a prophet in both Christian and Jewish traditions. Among his prophetic activities were his dream of the ladder in Gen. 28:13 and the blessings he gave to his sons on his deathbed in Gen....
Dan Fefferman's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
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How and why does Jacob describe God as he does in Genesis 48:15-16?

In Genesis 48:15-16, when Jacob prepares to bless Joseph (by blessing Joseph's sons, even as his hands are on their heads), the dying patriarch begins by describing God in a fascinating and edifying ...
globewalldesk's user avatar
2 votes
5 answers
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How long did Jacob stay in Harran?

How long did Jacob stay in Harran? The answer seemed to be in Genesis 31:38-41 (NIV) 38 “I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams ...
Vincent Wong's user avatar
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Why did God tell Isaac not to go to Egypt in Genesis 26?

During a severe famine Isaac decides to migrate to Egypt God discourages him about that KJV Genesis 26 : 1 - 2 And there was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
129 views

Why didn't Dinah's name carry any attachment or prophetic meaning in Genesis 30:21?

When Leah gave birth to her sons all their names carried an attachment or prophetic meaning KJV Genesis 29 : 33 - 34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
371 views

Why did Jacob not immediately rebuke Reuben in Genesis 35:22?

KJV Genesis 35 : 22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: Having ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
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Who are the two families mentioned in Jeremiah 33:24?

Initial the text had spoken of the release from captivity of the two houses of Judah and Israel KJV Jeremiah 33 : 7 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
781 views

Why did Abraham insist that Isaac marry from his kinfolk in Genesis 24?

Genesis 24:37 NASB My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; 38 but you shall go to my father’s house and to ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
113 views

Did Laban change his mind about giving Rachel to Jacob before he had completed the seven years in Genesis 29:30?

Initial Laban's plan was that Jacob must first serve seven years before he received his wife Genesis 29:19 NASB Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
227 views

Why does the YLT not mention 'sister' in Leviticus 18:18?

And a woman unto another thou dost not take, to be an adversary, to uncover her nakedness beside her, in her life. [Leviticus 18:18 YLT] Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to ...
Nigel J's user avatar
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Are the shepherds being curt in Genesis 29?

Genesis 29:4-8 (NIV) 4 Jacob asked the shepherds, “My brothers, where are you from?” “We’re from Harran,” they replied. 5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?” “Yes, we know him,” ...
Kyle Johansen's user avatar
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720 views

Why did Jacob prefer Joseph and give him a "coat of many colors" (Genesis 37)?

As the KJV has it (though others dispute the translation particularly of כְּתֹ֥נֶת פַּסִּֽים, "coat of many colors"; see this question), Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, ...
globewalldesk's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
313 views

Why did Esau prosper before Israel (Genesis 36 and Deteronomy 2)?

Jacob was promised the land of Canaan for a possession; yet his brother Esau came into his own kingdom long before, according to Genesis 36 and Deuteronomy 2, despite the word given to Rebekah, "...
globewalldesk's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
427 views

Why did Esau move out of Canaan (Genesis 36:6-8)?

Esau had been murderously enraged at Jacob (Genesis 27:41-42) and, upon learning on his brother's return to Canaan, rushed to meet him with 400 men (32:6, 33:1), a move that could have been aggressive ...
globewalldesk's user avatar
-2 votes
1 answer
72 views

How and why does the Lord appear again to Jacob in Beth-el (Gen 35:9-13)?

In what form does the Lord appear to Jacob at Beth-el (Gen 35:9-13)? Was it similar to the form in which he appeared in Gen 32 (assuming the wrestler was, indeed, God)? Regardless, why does he appear ...
globewalldesk's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
213 views

Why was “the terror of God...upon the cities that were round about” Jacob's traveling family (Genesis 35:5)?

In order to perform a sacrifice, the Jacob and clan had to depart Shechem and travel to Beth-el. We read: "And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them,...
globewalldesk's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
358 views

For what purpose did Jacob prepare his entire family to sacrifice at Beth-el, and in the way he did (Genesis 35:2-4)?

In Genesis 35:2-4, we read (KJV): Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us ...
globewalldesk's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
420 views

Why did the Lord command Jacob to go to Bethel (Genesis 35:1), and why to "dwell" there?

What exactly is going on in this verse in which God commands Jacob as follows (Genesis 35:1)? Why is God making this command: why Beth-el, and why just at that moment in the story? Arise, go up to ...
globewalldesk's user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
2k views

Is it fair to say that deceit is a trait of Abraham's family? Did the Lord ever approve of their lying? [closed]

Abram deceived Pharaoh and Abimelech about Sarai’s identity (claiming she was his sister: Gen 12 and 20). Isaac deceived the second Abimelech about Rebekah’s identity (Gen 26). Rebekah and Jacob ...
globewalldesk's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
152 views

Why do the sons of Jacob "deceitfully" agree to intermarry with the Hivites after circumcision (Genesis 34:13-17)?

The Israelites could have simply refused the Hivites' suggestion that the tribes be combined, demanded Dinah back, and made other plans to exact justice from the Hivite prince, Shechem. Why did they ...
globewalldesk's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
69 views

Why does Jacob defer to his sons in the incidents at Shechem (Genesis 34:5, etc.)?

When one thinks of the idea of a "patriarch," one thinks of a sort of family absolute monarch, whose wives and children all obey. Jacob does not act that way in the interaction with the ...
globewalldesk's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
605 views

How did Jacob rename Luz to Bethel, when it is "bethel" in Genesis 12?

Been reading through Genesis, and I am assuming it is something simple that I'm missing... Genesis 28:19 says, "He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at first.&...
Kahlan's user avatar
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1 answer
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What is the biblical significance of the "red hair" / "Scarlet thread" and the first born brother/twin?

I've been reading the stories about the births of twins in Genesis. Firstly about Isaacs sons Jakob and Esau (Gen 25) and secondly about Judahs sons Perez and Zerah (Gen 38). The stories share many ...
Marshall's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
723 views

Why in the Genesis, it's strongly said that Jacob and Rachel were Cousins?

We read from the Torah, Bereishit 29:10: וַיְהִ֡י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֩ רָאָ֨ה יַֽעֲקֹ֜ב אֶת־רָחֵ֗ל בַּת־לָבָן֙ אֲחִ֣י אִמּ֔וֹ וְאֶת־צֹ֥אן לָבָ֖ן אֲחִ֣י אִמּ֑וֹ וַיִּגַּ֣שׁ יַֽעֲקֹ֗ב וַיָּ֤גֶל אֶת־הָאֶ֨בֶן֙ ...
João Víctor Melo's user avatar
2 votes
6 answers
6k views

What is the significance of the "garment of hair with a leather belt around his waist" worn by both Elijah and John the Baptist

It is accepted in the NT that the prophet Elijah and John the Baptist are prophetically connected. (Mark 9:11 Matt 17:10) I have noted that both are described as wearing the same very specific outfit. ...
Marshall's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
129 views

How does the prophet say they are daughters of one mother in Ezekiel 23:2?

Ezekiel 23:1-2 NASB The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 “Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother; It is clear in the above text that the prophet is referring to ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
185 views

Did Jacob continue wrestling all night to receive a blessing to save he and his family from Esau, or something else (Gen. 32:24-29)?

In the Book of Genesis (32:24ff), I get the impression that Jacob was at his wits end. He was alone in the wilderness, having sent all that he had in the world away from him. He felt his brother Esau ...
Xeno's user avatar
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2 votes
4 answers
523 views

Time span between Genesis 15:13 and Genesis 46:6

Is it possible, on the basis of the text, to establish the approximate time span between God's prophesy to Abraham about his descendants' being mistreated in Egypt: "And he said unto Abram, Know ...
brilliant's user avatar
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2 votes
5 answers
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How old was Jacob when he first saw Rachel?

Jacob is born in Genesis 25:26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. Isaac bids ...
user avatar
5 votes
5 answers
22k views

Was Benjamin born before or after Joseph was sold into slavery?

Genesis 35:16-18 NIV 16 Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. 17 And as she was having great difficulty ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Did Isaac die before Joseph was sold to the Midianites?

Genesis 35:27-29 NIV 27 Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. 28 Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. 29 Then he ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
92 views

Does this Hebrew verb in Genesis 28:22 indicate frequency?

The verb asar עָשַׂר(to take the tenth of, tithe, Strongs 6237) is used nine times in the OT, seven times in the Piel and two times in the Qal. My question is whether or not the use of this word in ...
Derek's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
317 views

Is there a correlation between Genesis 35:4 and Genesis 35:8? If so, what is the spiritual meaning behind it?

And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. (Genesis 35:4 KJV) But ...
Kyle georgias's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Why didn't Esau try to kill Jacob?

This is a question about the intention/actions of Esau in Genesis 33. We know Esau wanted to kill Jacob. See How did Rebekah know that Esau was planning to kill his brother in Genesis 27:42? Some ...
whiskey92's user avatar
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5 votes
4 answers
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Is Jacob demonstrating a lack of trust in God?

Genesis 32:9-21 Jacob prayed and asked God to remember His promise; but then Jacob sends gifts saying he would win Esau over with the gifts, as we can see in Genesis 32:20 (NLT) (...) Jacob thought, “...
Adrienne's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
79 views

What is a blessing?

In Genesis 47 (KJV) we read 7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And a while after 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before ...
Gonçalo Peres's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
492 views

Reason for using 66 and then 70

In Genesis 46:26 (NASB) All the people belonging to Jacob, who came to Egypt, his direct descendants, not including the wives of Jacob’s sons, were sixty-six persons in all, The next verse, Genesis ...
Tiago Martins Peres's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
194 views

Isaac blessing Jacob twice

In Genesis 27:23 (NASB) And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him. In Genesis 27:25 (NASB) So he said, “Bring it to me, and I will ...
Tiago Martins Peres's user avatar