Journal of Interreligious Studies on the Quran and the Bible

Journal of Interreligious Studies on the Quran and the Bible

A Comparative Morphological Analysis of the Character of Prophet Jacob in the Holy Quran and the Old Testament, Focusing on the Concept of "Dominion"

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Faezeh Asadi 1
fatemeh kazemzadeh 2
1 PhD Student in Qur’an and Hadith Studies, South Tehran Center of Payame Noor University, Tehran, IRAN.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Arabic language and literature, Faculty of Quranic Studies of Tehran, University of Qur’anic Studies and Sciences. Tehran, IRAN.
10.22034/qb.2026.2080227.1064
Abstract
Despite sharing common narrative frameworks, Abrahamic sacred texts are often the stage for profound ideological and teleological divergences. Accordingly, the central problem of this research is to explain the metamorphosis and differences in the morphological representation of the character of Prophet Jacob between two key texts: "The Holy Quran and the Book of Genesis." Relying on a descriptive-analytical method and utilizing a comparative narratological approach, this paper attempts to demonstrate how the Holy Quran, by applying the principle of dominion, has reread and refined the preceding Torah narrative. The research findings indicate that the Old Testament, in its pursuit of identity formation for a specific people, depicts Jacob as a "Gray," fluctuating character embroiled in human failings. In contrast, the transcendental discourse of the Quran, by intentionally omitting dramatic and challenging elements, elevates the theological status of this character and introduces him as an impeccable, static, and completely pristine model. The final achievement of this textual comparison shows that the national, fallible hero of Jewish narratives has been transformed, in the explicit text of the Quran, into a universal and flawless exemplar.
Keywords
Prophet Jacob
Old Testament
Holy Quran
Narratology
Dominion
Characterization
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