fbpx

KidsKonnect

Jacob Facts & Worksheets

Jacob is a significant figure in the Bible and plays a central role in the book of Genesis. He is the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the grandson of Abraham and Sarah.

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /Social Studies /Jacob Facts & Worksheets

Premium
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

Jacob is a significant figure in the Bible and plays a central role in the book of Genesis. He is the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the grandson of Abraham and Sarah.

See the fact file below for more information on Jacob, or you can download our 24-page Jacob worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE OF JACOB

  • Even before Jacob and Esau were born, Rebekah was informed by God that she was carrying twins and that the younger would be stronger than the older. 
  • Esau emerged first, but Jacob followed, holding onto Esau’s heel. This led to Jacob being named “Jacob,” which means “supplanter” or “heel grabber.”
  • As the twins grew, their distinct personalities became evident. Esau was a skilled hunter and a favorite of their father, Isaac, while Jacob was more inclined towards domestic life and was favored by their mother, Rebekah.
  • Isaac, who was growing old and blind, intended to bless Esau, his firstborn, with the birthright and inheritance.
  • Knowing this, Rebekah helped Jacob in a plan to deceive Isaac and secure the blessing for him instead. Rebekah dressed Jacob in Esau’s clothing and covered his hands and neck with goat skins to mimic Esau’s hairy appearance. 
  • Jacob presented himself to his father, who was unable to see clearly, and received the blessing of the firstborn, including the inheritance of the family birthright.
  • When Esau discovered what had happened, he was filled with anger and planned to kill Jacob. To protect Jacob, Rebekah advised him to flee to her brother Laban’s house in Haran. Isaac agreed, and Jacob set off on a journey to his mother’s homeland.

JACOB AT BETHEL

  • During his journey, Jacob had a dream at a place called Bethel. In this dream he saw a ladder reaching to heaven, and angels ascending and descending on it. 
  • God spoke to Jacob in the dream, reaffirming the covenant He had made with Abraham and Isaac and promising to be with Jacob and bless him. This encounter led Jacob to establish a covenant with God, where he vowed to serve Him faithfully.
  • Inspired by this divine encounter, Jacob made a vow to God, promising to serve Him faithfully and make Him his God if He would protect him, provide for him, and bring him back safely to his homeland. 
  • Jacob also declared that the stone he had used as a pillow would be set up as a pillar to mark the place of the encounter, and he renamed the place, Bethel, meaning “house of God.”

JACOB’S FAMILY

  • After leaving Bethel, Jacob settled in the land of his uncle, Laban. He fell in love with Laban’s daughter, Rachel, and worked for Laban for seven years in order to marry her. 
  • However, Laban deceived Jacob and gave him Rachel’s older sister, Leah, as his wife. Jacob then worked an additional seven years to marry Rachel, whom he loved.
  • Jacob’s time with Laban was filled with deception and rivalry.
  • Despite this, Jacob prospered and acquired substantial wealth in the form of flocks and herds. Eventually, he decided to leave Laban’s household and return to his own land. 
  • As Jacob journeyed back to Canaan, he had a remarkable encounter with a divine being. Jacob wrestled with an angel throughout the night until daybreak. 
  • In the struggle, the angel touched the socket of Jacob’s hip, resulting in a lifelong limp. Jacob insisted on receiving a blessing from the angel, who renamed him Israel, signifying that he had struggled with God and men and had prevailed.
  • Jacob’s return to Canaan brought him face-to-face with his estranged brother, Esau. Worried about Esau’s reaction, Jacob sent gifts ahead of him to appease his brother. To Jacob’s surprise, Esau greeted him with warmth and forgiveness. They embraced and reconciled, ending their long-standing feud.

JACOB’S LATER LIFE

  • Jacob’s beloved son Joseph, whom he favored, was sold into slavery by his other sons out of jealousy. Jacob believed Joseph was dead, which caused him immense grief. 
  • However, years later, Jacob discovered that Joseph was alive and had become a powerful ruler in Egypt. Jacob and his entire family relocated to Egypt during a severe famine, where they were reunited with Joseph.
  • In his later years, Jacob blessed each of his sons individually and prophetically spoke about their future. These blessings contained insights into the destinies and characteristics of the twelve tribes of Israel.
  • Before his death, Jacob gathered his sons and pronounced blessings upon them. He also requested to be buried in the burial place of his ancestors in the land of Canaan. 
  • Jacob passed away at the age of 147, and his body was embalmed and brought back to Canaan, where he was buried in the cave of Machpelah alongside his forefathers Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and his wife Leah.
  • His later life reflects a journey of growth, challenges, blessings, reconciliation, and the fulfillment of divine promises. His experiences played a significant role in shaping the history of the Israelite people.

JACOB’S RELEVANCE IN CHRISTIANITY

  • Jacob is revered as one of the patriarchs of the Israelite people. In Christianity, the Israelites hold great historical and spiritual significance as the chosen people of God. 
  • Jacob’s twelve sons became the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel, which form a foundational part of Israelite and Jewish history.
  • Jacob’s encounter with God at Bethel, where he had the dream of a ladder reaching heaven, marked a pivotal moment in his life.
  • God reaffirmed the covenant He made with Jacob’s forefathers, Abraham and Isaac, promising to be with Jacob, bless him, and give his descendants the land of Canaan. This covenant illustrates God’s faithfulness to His chosen people and sets the stage for the fulfillment of His promises.
  • The wrestling match between Jacob and the divine being is a powerful symbol of perseverance, struggle, and spiritual transformation. Jacob’s determination to receive a blessing from God even amidst physical struggle signifies the tenacity of faith. 
  • Christians often find inspiration in this story as a reminder to persist in seeking God and His blessings, even in challenging circumstances.
  • Jacob’s blessings to his sons before his death hold prophetic significance. Christians interpret these blessings as containing insights into the future and the spiritual destinies of the tribes of Israel. Additionally, Jacob’s blessing of Judah, proclaiming that the scepter would not depart from his descendants until the coming of the Messiah, is seen as foreshadowing Jesus Christ, who would be born from the tribe of Judah.

Jacob Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Jacob across 24 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Jacob. Jacob is a significant figure in the Bible and plays a central role in the book of Genesis. He is the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the grandson of Abraham and Sarah.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Jacob Facts
  2. The Twins
  3. Siblings’ Journey
  4. Jacob’s Family
  5. Jacob’s Love
  6. Practicing Faith
  7. Jacob’s Humanity
  8. Mapping Jacob’s Life
  9. My family Dynamics
  10. Learning Values
  11. The Patriarchs

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Jacob?

Jacob, also known as Israel, was one of the patriarchs in the Old Testament of the Bible. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the grandson of Abraham. Jacob is known for his eventful life, including his rivalry with his twin brother Esau, his marriages to Leah and Rachel, and his twelve sons who became the heads of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

What is the significance of Jacob’s ladder?

Jacob’s ladder is a well-known biblical story found in Genesis 28:10-22. Jacob, while fleeing from his brother Esau, had a dream in which he saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. This vision was a significant encounter with God, symbolizing a connection between heaven and earth and God’s promise to bless and protect Jacob.

How did Jacob deceive his father Isaac?

Jacob famously deceived his father Isaac in order to obtain the blessing intended for his brother Esau. Isaac, who was old and nearly blind, planned to bless Esau before his death. However, with the help of his mother Rebekah, Jacob disguised himself as Esau and received the blessing instead. This act caused tension and further strained the relationship between Jacob and Esau.

What was the significance of Jacob’s wrestling with God?

In Genesis 32:22-32, Jacob wrestled with a mysterious man throughout the night. Some interpretations suggest that this man was an angel or a manifestation of God. Jacob wrestled with him and refused to let go until he received a blessing. Through this struggle, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, meaning “one who struggles with God.” This event represents Jacob’s spiritual transformation and his perseverance in seeking God’s blessing.

How did Jacob reconcile with his brother Esau?

After many years of separation, Jacob sought to reconcile with his brother Esau. Before their meeting, Jacob sent gifts to Esau as a gesture of goodwill. When they finally met, Esau showed forgiveness and embraced Jacob, signaling their reconciliation. This encounter marked a significant turning point in their relationship and demonstrated the power of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Jacob Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 9, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources