Who was Israel?
Father of the nation
Israel, also known as Jacob, was a biblical figure who was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the grandson of Abraham. He was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, and is best known for his wrestling match with an angel.
Talk with Israel in the appThe story of Israel
Israel was born in the land of Canaan, and was the second son of Isaac and Rebekah. His older brother was Esau, and his twin brother was Jacob. When Isaac was old and near death, he blessed Israel, giving him the blessing of the firstborn.
This angered Esau, and he plotted to kill Israel. Rebekah then sent Israel away to her brother Laban's house. While in Laban's house, Israel worked for seven years in order to marry Rachel, Laban's daughter.
However, Laban tricked him and gave him Leah instead. Israel then worked for another seven years in order to marry Rachel. He then left Laban's house with his wives and children.
On his way back home, Israel had a wrestling match with an angel. The angel blessed him and changed his name to Israel, which means "he who struggles with God". Israel is best known for his wrestling match with the angel, and for being the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.
He is also remembered for his cunning and resourcefulness, as he was able to outwit Laban and gain his daughters as wives.
- Name meaning
- He who struggles with God
- Name origin
- Hebrew
- Role
- King
- First mention
- Genesis 32:28
- Appearances in the Bible
- 2300 mentions
Family of Israel
View the Bible family treeIsrael in the Bible
Chapters that mention Israel
Coloring pages with Israel
Questions about Israel
Who was Israel in the Bible?
Israel, also known as Jacob, was a biblical figure who was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the grandson of Abraham. He was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, and is best known for his wrestling match with an angel. Israel was born in the land of Canaan, and was the second son of Isaac and Rebekah. His older brother was Esau, and his twin brother was Jacob. When Isaac was old and near death, he blessed Israel, giving him the blessing of the firstborn. This angered Esau, and he plotted to kill Israel. Rebekah then sent Israel away to her brother Laban's house. While in Laban's house, Israel worked for seven years in order to marry Rachel, Laban's daughter. However, Laban tricked him and gave him Leah instead. Israel then worked for another seven years in order to marry Rachel. He then left Laban's house with his wives and children. On his way back home, Israel had a wrestling match with an angel. The angel blessed him and changed his name to Israel, which means "he who struggles with God". Israel is best known for his wrestling match with the angel, and for being the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. He is also remembered for his cunning and resourcefulness, as he was able to outwit Laban and gain his daughters as wives.
What does the name Israel mean?
The name Israel means “He who struggles with God”. Origin: Hebrew.
Where is Israel first mentioned in the Bible?
Israel is first mentioned in Genesis 32:28.
How many times is Israel mentioned in the Bible?
Number of mentions in the Bible: 2300.
Have a conversation with Israel
Ask Israel questions, seek wisdom, and explore their story through an AI-powered conversation. Download the BiblePics app to start chatting.
- Ask Israel your own questions
- Biblical Wordle and Bible trivia
- A reading streak, trophies and daily reminders
Scan with your phone camera to get the app
Free on iPhone and Android