Meaning & History
Iakob is the Georgian form of Jacob, as well as the transliteration used in the Greek Old Testament and New Testament for the patriarch Jacob and the apostles James.
Etymology
The name originates from the Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (Yaʿaqov), traditionally meaning "holder of the heel" or "supplanter" (see Genesis 25:26). In the Septuagint version, the name appears as Ἰακώβ (Iakob). The same Greek form was adopted into Georgian as Iakob and in some other languages.
Biblical and Religious Significance
Iakob appears in the Greek Old Testament referring to the patriarch Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebecca, later renamed Israel. In the New Testament, it also refers to two apostles: James the Greater and James the Less, both of whom bear this form in the original Greek.
Usage in Georgian Culture
In Georgia, Iakob is used for both the biblical figures (the patriarch and the apostles) and is a common given name. A notable bearer is Iakob Tsurtaveli, a 5th-century Georgian martyr, writer, and church figure. The name is also found in the Koba diminutive form.
Related Names
Iakob shares its root with many variants across languages, including Yacoub (Arabic), Hakob (Armenian), and the Biblical Greek Iakobos. Diminutives include the Georgian Koba.
- Meaning: "Holder of the heel" or "supplanter”
- Origin: Hebrew via Greek, adapted into Georgian
- Type: First name
- Usage regions: Georgia, Greek-speaking Christian communities