The name Jacob means “holder of the heel” (Campbell). This is appropriate as Jacob was holding Esau’s heel when they came out of the womb, and later on in life, he trips up Esau more by taking his birthright and blessing. After angering Esau, Jacob makes the choice to make amends with his brother showing how he has grown. Jacob’s wrestling encounter results in the new name of Israel implying that the name was divinely bestowed (Horsley 7). Israel means “the one who strives with God” (Genesis 32:28). This is quite fitting as Jacob had to fully exert himself when wrestling with the man who ended up being God.
After receiving the blessing in Genesis 32, Jacob continues on and meets Esau once again, and there are no hard feelings between the two of them. God then instructs Jacob to return to Bethel and build an altar. Jacob then tells those around him to “put away the foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your clothes” (Genesis 35:2). This has come to be Jacob’s greatest contribution to monotheism. Jacob recognized that God was with him wherever he went and that there were no other gods like God. He really is the one who strives with