Instead of fighting the old Play Store, consider using:

Since you can’t use the Play Store to install a new Play Store, you must sideload:

Cause: Modern apps require newer APIs than Android 4.1.2 can provide. Real Talk: This is not a Play Store error; it is a hardware limitation. You cannot install WhatsApp 2025 or the latest TikTok on Jelly Bean. You must use older versions of apps (e.g., WhatsApp 2.20.30 or YouTube 14.x).

Cause: You installed a version higher than 24.x. Fix: Uninstall the broken version and revert to the 23.6.18 APK mentioned above. Never let the Play Store auto-update (disable auto-update in settings immediately after launch).