The term "supplanted" is often associated with the biblical narrative of Jacob and Esau, where Jacob, the younger twin, supplants his elder brother Esau in receiving the blessing of their father, Isaac. The concept of supplanting involves taking the place of another, often through strategic or deceptive means, and is a recurring theme in the Scriptures.

Jacob and Esau

The most prominent example of supplanting in the Bible is found in the account of Jacob and Esau, the sons of Isaac and Rebekah. From birth, Jacob's life is marked by his desire to overtake his brother. Genesis 25:26 states, "Afterward his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob." The name "Jacob" itself is derived from the Hebrew word "Ya'akov," which can mean "he grasps the heel" or "he supplants."

The narrative continues in Genesis 25:29-34, where Jacob takes advantage of Esau's hunger to acquire his birthright. Esau, described as a man who despised his birthright, sells it to Jacob for a bowl of stew. This transaction, though seemingly trivial, sets the stage for the more significant act of supplanting that follows.

In Genesis 27, Jacob, with the help of his mother Rebekah, deceives his father Isaac into bestowing the blessing of the firstborn upon him instead of Esau. Isaac, whose eyesight had failed, is tricked by Jacob's disguise and the savory food prepared by Rebekah. Genesis 27:36 records Esau's lament: "Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice now: He took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing!"

Theological Implications

The account of Jacob and Esau raises questions about divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Despite Jacob's deceptive actions, God's sovereign plan unfolds as He had declared to Rebekah before the twins' birth: "The older will serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23). This narrative illustrates the mysterious interplay between God's providence and human agency.

Jacob's supplanting of Esau is later acknowledged in the prophetic literature. In Malachi 1:2-3, God declares, "I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated," emphasizing the divine election of Jacob and the rejection of Esau. The Apostle Paul references this in Romans 9:10-13 to illustrate God's sovereign choice in salvation history.

Other Biblical Examples

While Jacob and Esau's account is the most direct example, the theme of supplanting appears elsewhere in Scripture. For instance, David supplants Saul as king of Israel, not through deceit, but through God's anointing and Saul's disobedience (1 Samuel 16:1-13). Similarly, the kingdom of Israel is supplanted by the kingdom of Judah, as the Davidic line is preserved according to God's covenant promises.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The act of supplanting, particularly through deceit, is generally viewed negatively in Scripture. The Bible consistently upholds truthfulness and integrity as virtues. Proverbs 12:22 states, "Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight." Jacob's life, marked by deception, eventually leads to personal struggles and familial discord, serving as a cautionary tale about the consequences of deceit.

In summary, the concept of being "supplanted" in the Bible is intricately linked to themes of divine election, human agency, and moral integrity. The narrative of Jacob and Esau serves as a profound example of how God's purposes are fulfilled, often in unexpected ways, through the complexities of human actions.(imp. & p. p.) of Supplant.6117. aqab -- to follow at the heel, assail insidiously ...
... Definition to follow at the heel, assail insidiously, circumvent, overreach NASB
Word Usage deals craftily (1), heel (1), restrain (1), supplanted (1), took (1 ...
/hebrew/6117.htm - 6k

Mark.
... Mallet). [942] The surname supplanted the Hebrew name in his later life,
as Peter supplanted Simon, and Paul supplanted Saul. The ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 81 mark.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, John i. 48,"When Thou Wast under the ...
... What! have we supplanted the Jews? No, but we are said to be their
supplanters, for that for our sakes they were supplanted. If ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxxii on the words.htm

Whether Baptism was Instituted after Christ's Passion?
... But before Christ's Passion men were not bound to be baptized: for Circumcision
was still in force, which was supplanted by Baptism. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether baptism was instituted after.htm

An Exhortation to the People Respecting Fortitude and Patience...
... The winds blew,"the bitter words of his wife:""Curse God," she said, "and die."
[1195] Yet the house fell not: the soul was not supplanted: the just man ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily iv an exhortation to.htm

Preface.
... also been brought to our knowledge, which was made in the same century, and which,
in a considerable district of Eastern Christendom, supplanted these gospels ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the gospel of peter/preface.htm

The Hebrew Prophecies.
... dim among the people. The Levitical ritual, now so elaborate and cumbersome,
had supplanted the prophetic oracle. The ritualist is ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter v the hebrew prophecies.htm

Appendix i. In the Gallican Liturgy.
... became the Liturgy of France, and continued in use there till Pepin first introduced
the Roman chant and psalmody, and Charlemagne completely supplanted it by ...
/.../luckock/studies in the book of common prayer/appendix i in the gallican.htm

The Value of this Doctrine
... The substitution of so-called "practical" preaching for the doctrinal exposition
which it has supplanted is the root cause of many of the evil maladies which ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter twelve the value of.htm

Concerning the Sacrament of Baptism
... as if it could have hardly preserved its efficacy and its glory, in the presence
of that tyranny of avarice and superstition which has supplanted all divine ...
/.../first principles of the reformation/concerning the sacrament of baptism.htm

The Patriarchs.
... His revengeful anger when he found how he had been supplanted, made Jacob flee to
his mother's family in Mesopotamia, and there dwell for many years, ere ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson ii the patriarchs.htm

Supplanted (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Supplanted (1 Occurrence). Genesis 27:36 He said,
"Isn't he rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. ...
/s/supplanted.htm - 7k

Nabathaeans
... A Semitic (Arabian rather than Syrian) tribe whose home in early Hellenistic times
was Southeast of Palestine, where they had either supplanted or mingled with ...
/n/nabathaeans.htm - 11k

Nabataeans
... A Semitic (Arabian rather than Syrian) tribe whose home in early Hellenistic times
was Southeast of Palestine, where they had either supplanted or mingled with ...
/n/nabataeans.htm - 11k

Onias
... the brother of Onias, having offered the new king larger revenue, secured the
priesthood, which he held until he himself was similarly supplanted by Menelaus ...
/o/onias.htm - 10k

Jason (5 Occurrences)
... Hercules; but what he sent for sacrifices, the deputies expended on the "equipment
of galleys." After 3 years of this Hellenizing work he was supplanted in 172 ...
/j/jason.htm - 12k

Weights (14 Occurrences)
... the Egyptian kings and their vassals in these lands was carried on in the language
of Babylonia long after its political influence had been supplanted by that ...
/w/weights.htm - 21k

Reserved (28 Occurrences)
... NIV). Genesis 27:36 He said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? For he has
supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright. ...
/r/reserved.htm - 15k

Rightly (45 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Genesis 27:36 He said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? For he has
supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright. ...
/r/rightly.htm - 19k

Diana (5 Occurrences)
... Later when Ephesus fell into the possession of the Greeks, Greek civilization partly
supplanted the Asiatic, and in that city the two civilizations were ...
/d/diana.htm - 15k

Deceived (55 Occurrences)
... NIV). Genesis 27:36 He said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? For he has
supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright. ...
/d/deceived.htm - 23k

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