Two Treatises of Government · Character

Jacob

The younger twin who bought a birthright and stole a blessing—Locke catches Filmer misreading the timing of both to prop up inheritance theory.

supporting

Also known as Esau, Jacob Esau

First appearance: vi of adam s title to sovereignty by fatherhood

As a supporting figure in Two Treatises of Government, Jacob is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Jacob is cited in discussions of inheritance and the transfer of authority from Adam.

In the storyBook I: Of GovernmentOpen this moment free

Jacob's story of purchasing Esau's birthright and receiving Isaac's blessing becomes a trap for careless argument: Filmer reports it as if the blessing followed immediately on the purchase, but Scripture places a distance between them. The tension is between compact and paternal grant—if a birthright can be sold, it is not the sacred, inalienable inheritance Filmer needs it to be. Locke's close reading of Jacob matters because it shows how loosely Filmer handles the very scriptural evidence on which his whole edifice rests.

See Jacob in Book I: Of Government Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Character Web

16 connections

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

Relationship types

Family
Other

Character groups

Patriarchal lineage and inheritance
Protagonist
Diverse biblical and legal authorities

+11 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

The emotional and psychological peak occurs as the endnotes abruptly shift from Locke’s own argument to a dens…

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Relationships

Isaac
family · positive
Isaac is the father of Jacob, and their relationship involves the transfer of patriarchal… How this plays out →
Adam
family · positive
Judah
family · positive
Abraham
family · positive
Eve
family · positive
Judah
family · positive
Abraham
family · positive
Adam
family · positive

Isaac
Isaac is the father of Jacob, and their relationship involves the transfer of patriarchal blessing and lineage.
Adam
Adam is the distant ancestor of Jacob, with Jacob being a key patriarch in the line of descent from Adam.
Judah
Jacob is the father of Judah, and Judah becomes the leading tribe and ancestor of the Davidic line.
Abraham
Abraham is the grandfather of Jacob, and Jacob inherits the covenant promises made to Abraham.
Eve
Eve is the matriarch and distant ancestor of Jacob, linking the first woman to the patriarchal lineage.
Judah
Jacob is the father of Judah, and Judah becomes the leading tribe and ancestor of the Davidic line.
Abraham
Abraham is the grandfather of Jacob, and Jacob inherits the covenant promises made to Abraham.
Adam
Adam is the distant ancestor of Jacob, with Jacob being a key patriarch in the line of descent from Adam.

Relationship notes

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

See Jacob in vi of adam s title to sovereignty by fatherhood

In the story

Jacob appears across 4 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Book I: Of Government
Jacob is cited in discussions of inheritance and the transfer of authority from Adam.
Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty, by the Subjection of Eve
Jacob is referenced in the context of God's prophecy that 'the elder shall serve the younger,' which Locke uses as an analogy to show that such statements are predictions, not grants of political power.
Of Adam’s Title to Sovereignty, by the Subjection of Eve
Esau is mentioned alongside Jacob to illustrate that prophetic statements about service do not confer political sovereignty.
Of Monarchy, by Inheritance from Adam
Referenced as part of the biblical lineage; Locke's argument that all children share equally in the right to subsistence challenges Filmer's inheritance model.

Chapter companion notes

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

See Jacob in vi of adam s title to sovereignty by fatherhood

See Jacob in Book I: Of Government