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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.
In the storyConcerning the twins Esau and Jacob, who were very unlike each other both in their character and actionsOpen this moment free

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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 i

Character Web

58 connections

A slice of how Jacob sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

AEAeneasHAHamPEPeterENEnochKTKing TarquinJAJacob

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

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This chapter is the dramatic climax because it marks the irreversible psychological and spiritual turning poin…

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Relationships

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Jacob in part i book i

In the story

Jacob appears across 25 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Jacob unlock in the free preview.

See Jacob in part i book i