He was born around 1190 into a noble German family, the Counts of Eberstein, in the Castle of Borrentrick, in the diocese of Paderborn. He is venerated as the patron of Dominican vocations.

Jordan began his studies in his native land before being sent to the University of Paris to complete them. It was there that he encountered Dominic de Guzmán, the founder of the Order of Preachers, and was inspired by the preaching of Reginald of Orleans to join the Dominican Order in 1220. He was a Master of Arts and a grammarian, and he taught in the schools of Paris.

In 1221, Jordan was appointed Prior Provincial of Lombardy in Italy. After the death of St. Dominic in 1221, Jordan was elected as his successor as Master General of the Order of Preachers in 1222. Under his leadership, the Order experienced significant growth, expanding to over 300 priories. He was known for his eloquence in attracting new members, winning over more than 1,000 professors and students from European universities, including Albertus Magnus. He established the first general house of studies of the Order.

Jordan died in a shipwreck off the coast of Syria on February 13, 1237, while returning from a visit to the local monasteries of the Order in Palestine. He was buried in the Dominican Church of St. John in Akko, in present-day Israel. He was beatified by Pope Leo XII in 1825. He is also honored as the patron saint of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Santo Tomas, in Manila, which was founded by the Dominican Order.