Jacob’s (Patriarch; Genesis 25:19-34, 25 - 36) story is what I would classify as a ‘well’ of

unending interpretation from historical to modern perspective across religions, literature, visual

arts, music, and film. The diverse revelation of Jacob’s life and events that surrounds his life

shows how innovative anyone could be when reading his story. The entry on Jacob (Patriarch) in

EBR, I would like to focus the reception of Jacob from two interpretations: 1) Second Temple

and Hellenistic Judaism and 2) Christianity (Modern Europe and America).

Jacob is portrayed more positively in the Second Temple and Hellenistic Jewish

sources than in the Bible which they believe describes him as a supplanter and deceiver,

particularly in his early years (Gen 25:26; 27:36). Perhaps this is due to the embarrassment about

the unflattering descriptions of the people of Israel's eponymous ancestor. They believe that

Jacob was a noble scholar and one who practises wisdom in the story of him and his twin brother

Esau whereas Esau is believed to be a violent and vicious warrior; the father (ancestor) of the

Edomite and the Amalekite who persecute Israel. He killed Esau with the sword according to

Jubilee (37-38). In the time of the apocryphal and pseudepigraphal writings, Esau was also seen

to epitomize Rome, the oppressor of the Jewish people. It was believed in contrast to other early

Jewish writings that Josephus omits phrases that are deemed to be derogatory to Esau to avoid

provoking the Romans.

Despite the fact that Jacob’s clothing was misleading, they believe Jacob received Isaac

blessing because it was God’s will (Jub. 26:12-19). According to Jubilees, Laban obeyed a

divine command by delivering his oldest daughter Leah to Jacob, and Jacob, mistaking her for

Rachel, realised it after it was too late to object (Jub. 28:6, 3–4). Laban sought to marry off his

unsightly first daughter to Jacob, but he was duped by darkness and wine, according to Josephus.

They believed that Jacob wrestling with God was a wrestling with an Angel (Hos 12: 3–4

[MT 12: 4–5]), and he was dubbed Israel, which means "one who has struggled with or stood up

to an angel of God," according to Josephus. Jacob is shown in The Prayer of Joseph as the angel

Israel, who fought against a lower angel, Uriel, who was envious of him. Early Jewish writings
support Jacob's reaction to Dinah's rape and Simeon and Levi's subsequent slaughter of the

Shechemites, citing the prohibition against defiling an Israelite virgin and intermarriage between

the children of Israel and the Canaanites.

They believe that Jacob’s love for Joseph was justified due to Joseph’s wisdom, physical

looks, intelligent minds, and his resemblance to Jacob in all things. They also believe that Joseph

ability to overcome the sexual temptation of Potiphar’s wife was because he kept the face of his

father and he remembered Jacob’s command. Due to Joseph's goodness and Reuben's

wickedness with Bilhah, Jacob foretells the destiny of Israel in his testament to his sons and

transfers the double part ordinarily allotted to the firstborn Reuben to Joseph's sons.

They believe that the prayer of Jacob is plea for wisdom, a heart filled with good things

and immortality uttered in the name of Jacob.

Christianity (Modern Europe and America) believe that Jacob the patriarch only plays

a minor role in modern Christianity. The name Jacob/James is more commonly used to refers to

the two apostles of the same name or to Jesus' brother. James the patriarch, on the other hand, is

more intimately identified with Jewish tradition. In the following areas, there is evidence of a

Christian reception:

1. Christology: In Christian education, the Christological interpretation of Balaam's

oracle in Num 24:17 (“A star shall spring forth from Jacob”) has long been common

knowledge. This oracle has been used in Christian hymns since the Reformation and

has become a major feature of the Christmas worship service.

2. Patronage (Bethel): It is rare to find churches dedicated to the patriarch Jacob and

not the apostle-pilgrim. However, the name "Bethel" is widely adopted as a patron

name for Protestant congregations, churches, and diaconal institutions. The

institutions near Bielefeld in Westphalia (Germany), known as "Bethel" since 1871,

are the most well-known. The Baptist Bethel Seminary in Chicago was formed in

1914, and it was accredited in 2004 to become Bethel University. In a motivational

 sense, the titles of these organisations inspire the same closeness to God that the

patriarch experienced.

3. Liturgy: Jacob is celebrated in festival calendar in several Christian churches.

4. Male Name: The male names Jacob/James in Christian context are mostly associated

with the patriarch rather than the two apostles or Jesus’ brother. The popularity of

HB/OT names, notably in the United States, is shown in the popularity of the names

Jacob/James.

5. Transfers: Genesis 28 and the phrase "Jacob's ladder" were frequently used to

describe extraordinary or remarkable objects. The plant "Jacob's Ladder," for

example, is a member of the phlox family (Polemoniaceae), which includes between

twenty and thirty species. Jacob's ladder refers to a unique earthwire with oblong

electrodes that resemble the two rails of a ladder. In addition, “Jacob's ladder” refers

to wooden rope ladders used in seafaring. A folk toy made up of wooden blocks held

together by threads or ribbons is known as "Jacob's ladder." The patriarch's breeding

strategy (Gen 30:25–43) generated the moniker "Jacob's sheep," a popular sheep

breed in the United Kingdom.

6. Psychology: Jacob’s biography is read as a process of self-realization, detachment

and assertion embedded within complex relationships between parents and siblings.

Jacob's relationship with God, which is situated between promise, vision, and

hardship, can also be viewed through the lens of depth psychology.

The tie to the NT namesakes is the most visible link to the HB/OT patriarch's history. The

name Jacob denotes a broad biblical identity in which it's difficult to tell the difference

between Jewish origin and Christian adaptation.