Why “Firstborn?” A son can truly be called a "son" by his father because the son bears his father’s name. Jacob is now called by God His firstborn, Israel, because he is the first to bear the Name of God which is ISRAEL. Did Moses know that the Name of God is Israel?
At sinabi sa kaniya ng Dios, Ang pangalan mo'y Jacob; ang pangalan mo'y hindi na tatawagin pang Jacob kundi Israel ang itatawag sa iyo: at tinawag ang kaniyang pangalan na Israel.