Abarim Publications'
Biblical Name Vault





Hub
Name Vault
On Names in the Bible
Methods and Sources
Bible Commentary
The Hebrew Alphabet


Mardie MacDonald Fund



Cross On Me - a Novel
"Dazzling! Breathtaking!"
Hub Contact Book Reviews Copyright Author

Meaning, origin and etymology of the name Jacob


A
B
C
D
E
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
Y
Z
 Jabal
Jabin
Jachin
Jacob
Jael
Jahweh
Japheth
Jared
Javan
Jebus/Jebusite
Jedidiah
Jehovah
Jerah
Jeremiah
Jericho
Jerusalem
Jeshua
Jeshurun
Jesse
Jesus
Jether
Jethro
Jidlaph
Joab
Job
Jobab
Jochebed
Joel
Johanan/ John
Jokshan
Joktan
Jonah
Jonathan
Jordan
Joseph
Joshua
Jubal
Judah
Judith

Jacob Jacob, Jacobos (=James) James


The English name James is a transliteration of the Greek name Jacobos, which in turn in a transliteration of the Hebrew name Jacob.

Jacob is a son of Isaac and Rebekah, and twin brother of Esau. After a battle with the Angel of the Lord he becomes arch-father Israel.
In the NT the name Jacobos belongs to two of the apostles (Mat 10:2-3) and one brother of Jesus, later known as James the Just.

The name Jacob comes from the verb aqab (aqab 1676) meaning take by the heel, supplant. Nouns related to this verb are most often spelled the same: aqab: heel, hoof, rear of a troop, footstep, deceitful.

The name Jacob may be simply fascimilative and inconsequential; he was named after how he was holding on to Esau's heal. But in Gen 25:23 we read that God foretold the twins' fate: the older shall serve the younger. Young Jacob certainly must have displayed more behaviors, but the holding on to Esau's heel must have reminded his parents of the prophesy, and named the boy accordingly.

BDB and NOBSE both read Supplanter.



• • •
home