The man Israel was initially named Jacob. He was a twin, one of two sons of Isaac and Rebecca, and a grandson of Abraham. When he was born second, he was clutching the heel of his older brother, Esau. He was named Jacob because Jacob sounds similar to aqeb, the Hebrew word for “heel.” The root of the word is also the same root as the word for “follow,” which makes sense as Jacob followed Esau in birth. The root is also the same root for “to supplant” and carries the idea of deceiving or usurping.