Jacob
son of Isaac
Younger twin of Esau who obtained his brother's blessing, worked for Laban in Padanaram, fathered twelve sons, and died in Egypt.
Also called Israel.
34 passages · part 5 of 5
Election of Jacob Before the Twins Were Born
10There is more to say. Rebecca was going to have twin boys. Their father was Isaac, one of our family fathers.
And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
Rebecca was Isaac's wife. Twins means two babies born at the same time. These twins were named Jacob and Esau.
11The twins were not born yet. They had done nothing good and nothing bad. God chose anyway. His plan stands because he calls people, not because of anything they have done.
(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
12God said to Rebecca, "The older boy will serve the younger boy."
It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Back then the older son usually got the biggest share. He also became the leader of the family. So this was a surprise.
13The Bible says it this way: "I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau."
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
In the old way of speaking, "loved" and "hated" could mean chose and did not choose. Here it is about which son's family God picked.
Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph
20Isaac trusted God. He blessed Jacob and Esau about things that were still to come.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Jacob and Esau were Isaac's twin sons. A blessing was special words a father said about his children's future. People believed those words really mattered.
21Jacob trusted God. When he was dying, he blessed both of Joseph's sons. He leaned on the top of his walking stick and worshiped God.
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
Joseph was one of Jacob's sons. So Joseph's boys were Jacob's grandsons. Jacob was very old and could not stand without his stick.
22Joseph trusted God. When he was near death, he spoke about Israel leaving Egypt one day. He gave orders about what to do with his bones.
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Joseph's family had moved to Egypt long before. Joseph knew God would bring them out again one day. He asked them to carry his bones with them when they went.
Every passage here is the King James text. Nothing on this page retells the story; it only puts the pieces in order.