The Herald’s FYI column on Jan. 12 stated that, “Jacob means ‘God protects’.” That may be what we would like to think it means but according to my 3,600-plus- year-old sources – the book of Genesis and a Hebrew dictionary – Jacob means “supplanter or one who deceives.”
Even Esau, Jacob’s brother, said of him, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has taken away my blessing!” (Gen. 27:36)
In a few years, when the playgrounds are full of calls of “Jacob,” they won’t be calling “God protects.” We can name an eagle “wolf,” but that doesn’t make it one. In current times, we use names that appeal to us. In ancient times, they used names that described the person or thing. Jacob is a great name and I have a grandson with that name. However, Jacob means what Jacob means.
Everett
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