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Esau
He traded his birthright for a bowl of stew, and later ran to hug the brother who cheated him.
Old and New Testament · Patriarchal era · Genesis, Malachi, Hebrews · Also known as Edom, Son of Isaac
About Esau
Esau was Isaac and Rebekah’s firstborn twin, red and hairy, "a cunning hunter, a man of the field," and his father’s favourite. Coming in famished one day, he sold his birthright to Jacob for bread and lentil stew. Later Jacob, disguised as him, took their father’s blessing, and Esau cried out, "Bless me, even me also, O my father," and wept. He vowed to kill Jacob, who fled. Twenty years later, when Jacob returned in fear, Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, and they wept together. Esau became the father of the Edomites.
Esau’s descendants, the Edomites, lived south-east of the Dead Sea, and the relationship between Edom and Israel is a thread through the Old Testament. Hebrews uses Esau as a warning against trading something holy for a moment’s appetite.
The story
A man of the field
The first twin "came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau." "Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison."
Genesis 25:24-28
Sold for a bowl of stew
Esau came in from the field, faint with hunger, and asked for some of Jacob’s red stew. "Sell me this day thy birthright," said Jacob. "Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?" Esau swore, ate and drank, "and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright."
Genesis 25:29-34
Bless me, even me also
When Esau came back with venison and found Jacob had taken the blessing, "he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father." "Hast thou but one blessing, my father?… And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept." He vowed to kill Jacob after Isaac’s death.
Genesis 27:30-41
Esau ran to meet him
Twenty years later, Jacob heard that Esau was coming with four hundred men, and was terrified. "And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept." When Jacob pressed gifts on him, Esau said, "I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself."
Genesis 33:1-11
Key moments
- Born first: Red and hairy. (Genesis 25:25)
- Sells his birthright: For bread and lentil stew. (Genesis 25:34)
- Loses the blessing: "Bless me, even me also." (Genesis 27:34)
- Embraces Jacob: "And they wept." (Genesis 33:4)
- Buries Isaac with Jacob: The brothers together. (Genesis 35:29)
Questions about Esau
In meetBible these answers are given in Esau’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Why did you sell your birthright?
I came in from the field faint with hunger, and said, "Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?" I swore it away for bread and lentil stew. Genesis gives its own verdict: "thus Esau despised his birthright." Hebrews later warns against being like me, "who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright."
Did you forgive Jacob?
Genesis doesn’t use the word, but it shows it. Jacob came bowing, afraid of my four hundred men. "And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept." When he insisted on giving me gifts, I said, "I have enough, my brother." Twenty years had passed; what changed my heart isn’t recorded.
Why are you also called Edom?
When I begged for the stew I said, "Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage… therefore was his name called Edom," which sounds like the Hebrew for "red." I was also red at birth. My descendants, the Edomites, lived in the hill country of Seir: "Esau is Edom."
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with Genesis 25; 27; 33.