The City of God · Character
Jacob
The patriarch whose blessing of Joseph's sons with crossed hands foreshadows God's preference for the younger over the elder.
supporting
Also known as Joseph, the sons of Joseph, whom Jacob blessed, prophetically changing his hands
First appearance: part i book i
As a supporting figure in The City of God, Jacob is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
One of the twin brothers, beloved by his mother, who obtained honor and never served as a hired servant.
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Jacob belongs to Augustine's genealogy of the city of God, the line running from Abraham through David to Christ, where divine election repeatedly overturns natural birth order. His prophetic crossing of hands over…
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The fuller portrait of Jacob sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Jacob in part i book iCharacter Web
58 connectionsA slice of how Jacob sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Patriarchs and Pagan Figures
- Roman Founders and Tyrants
- Noah's Descendants
- Early Biblical Genealogy
+53 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This chapter is the dramatic climax because it marks the irreversible psychological and spiritual turning poin…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Jupiter
rivalry · negative
Jacob, a patriarch of Israel, is contrasted with Jupiter to highlight the superiority of… How this plays out →
- Jesus Christ
family · positive
- Jesus Christ
family · positive
- Jesus Christ
family · positive
- Jupiter
rivalry · negative
Jacob, a patriarch of Israel, is contrasted with Jupiter to highlight the superiority of… How this plays out →
- Jupiter
rivalry · negative
Jacob, a patriarch of Israel, is contrasted with Jupiter to highlight the superiority of… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Jacob in part i book iIn the story
Jacob appears across 25 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
- Concerning the twins Esau and Jacob, who were very unlike each other both in their character and actions
- That God alone is the Creator of every kind of creature, whatever its nature or form
- XIV
- The Significance of Enoch’s Translation
- XI
- Of the third promise of God, by which He assured the land of Canaan to Abraham and his seed in perpetuity
- Chapter XXXV
- Chapter XXXVII: Of the things mystically prefigured in Esau and Jacob
- +17 more
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Jacob unlock in the free preview.
See Jacob in part i book i