Esau (Genesis 25:23; Genesis 25:25–34; Genesis 26:34–35; Genesis 27:34–40; Genesis 27:41; Genesis 28:9; Genesis 33:4; Genesis 33:9; Genesis 35:29; Genesis 36:6–8; Genesis 36:43; Deuteronomy 2:4–5; Joshua 24:4; Malachi 1:2–4; Romans 9:10–13; Hebrews 11:20; Hebrews 12:16–17)

The first-born twin of Isaac and Rebekah, a skillful hunter and a man of the field, who sold his birthright to Jacob for pottage, cried out when the blessing was taken, purposed to slay his brother, ran to embrace him on his return, and dwelt in mount Seir.

Before the twins were born the LORD said to Rebekah, “Two nations are in thy womb … and the elder shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). “The first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they called his name Esau” (Genesis 25:25). “Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field” (Genesis 25:27) and “Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: and Rebekah loved Jacob” (Genesis 25:28). Coming in faint from the field, he asked for the red pottage, “therefore was his name called Edom” (Genesis 25:30), and the text says of the sale of his birthright, “so Esau despised his birthright” (Genesis 25:34).

At forty years old he took two Hittite wives, who were “a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah” (Genesis 26:35). When old Isaac sent him for venison that his soul might bless him, Rebekah and Jacob took the blessing by disguise; Esau “cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry” (Genesis 27:34), received from his father a word of the sword and of serving his brother, and “hated Jacob because of the blessing” (Genesis 27:41). Jacob went to Paddan-aram, and Esau took Mahalath, Ishmael's daughter, besides the wives he had (Genesis 28:9).

When Jacob returned, he sent word to “my lord Esau” (Genesis 32:4) and heard that Esau was coming with four hundred men (Genesis 32:6). “And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept” (Genesis 33:4). Esau and Jacob buried Isaac together (Genesis 35:29). Genesis 36 records that Esau went into a land away from his brother, and “Esau dwelt in mount Seir: Esau is Edom” (Genesis 36:8). Scripture does not record his death. Later books use the names Esau and Edom for his descendants: Israel was told to pass “the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir” (Deuteronomy 2:4), and Malachi 1:2-3 and Obadiah speak of Esau's mountains and house. In the New Testament, Romans 9:10-13 recalls the twins “being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad” (Romans 9:11), and quotes “The elder shall serve the younger” (Romans 9:12) and “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” (Romans 9:13). “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come” (Hebrews 11:20), and Hebrews warns against any “profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright” (Hebrews 12:16), adding that “when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected” (Hebrews 12:17) though “he sought it diligently with tears” (Hebrews 12:17).

Strengths

• Skilful hunter, a man of the field
• Ran to meet and embrace his brother
• Let Jacob keep what he had
• Buried his father with Jacob

Weaknesses

• Despised his birthright
• Hated Jacob and purposed to slay him
• A profane person

Themes

• Twins and the elder who serves
• Birthright and blessing
• Brothers estranged and reconciled
• Esau and Edom
• Seir

The twins are born (Genesis 25:19–28)

The LORD answers Rebekah's inquiry about the children struggling within her; Esau is born first, red and hairy, with Jacob's hand on his heel.

Sells his birthright (Genesis 25:29–34)

Faint from the field, Esau asks for the red pottage, swears to Jacob, sells his birthright, and the text says he despised it.

Sells his birthright

“And Jacob boiled pottage: and Esau came in from the field, and he was faint: and Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom” (Genesis 25:29-30).

“And Jacob said, Sell me first thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am about to die: and what profit shall the birthright do to me?” (Genesis 25:31-32).

“And Jacob said, Swear to me first; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: so Esau despised his birthright” (Genesis 25:33-34).

Marries two Hittite wives (Genesis 26:34–35)

At forty years old Esau takes Judith and Basemath, daughters of Hittites, and they are a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah.

Sent for venison; the blessing goes to Jacob (Genesis 27:1–29)

Isaac, old and dim of eyes, sends Esau to hunt so that his soul may bless him; Rebekah hears, and Jacob in Esau's garments and kid-skins receives the blessing.

The bitter cry and the second word (Genesis 27:30–40)

Esau comes in from hunting, finds the blessing given, cries out and weeps, and receives from Isaac a word of dwelling, the sword, and serving his brother until he breaks loose.

The bitter cry and the second word

Jacob had scarcely gone out when “Esau his brother came in from his hunting. And he also made savory food, and brought it unto his father” (Genesis 27:30-31). Isaac “trembled very exceedingly,” (Genesis 27:33) and asked who had taken venison to him and been blessed before Esau came; “yea, and he shall be blessed” (Genesis 27:33).

“When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father” (Genesis 27:34). Esau said, “Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing” (Genesis 27:36).

“Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept” (Genesis 27:38). Isaac answered, “Behold, of the fatness of the earth shall be thy dwelling, And of the dew of heaven from above. And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother; And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt break loose, That thou shalt shake his yoke from off thy neck” (Genesis 27:39-40).

Hates Jacob; takes Mahalath (Genesis 27:41–28:9)

Esau says in his heart that he will slay Jacob when the days of mourning for his father come; Jacob is sent to Paddan-aram, and Esau, seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac, goes to Ishmael and takes Mahalath besides his wives.

Meets Jacob again (Genesis 32:3–21; Genesis 33:1–17)

Jacob hears that Esau is coming with four hundred men and sends gifts ahead; Esau runs to meet him, embraces him, weeps, says he has enough, and returns to Seir.

Meets Jacob again

Jacob sent messengers “to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the field of Edom” (Genesis 32:3). They returned, “We came to thy brother Esau, and moreover he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed” (Genesis 32:6-7). He prayed, “Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him” (Genesis 32:11).

“And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men” (Genesis 33:1). Jacob bowed himself to the ground seven times. “And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept” (Genesis 33:4).

Of the company he had met, Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; let that which thou hast be thine” (Genesis 33:9). Jacob urged him, “and he took it” (Genesis 33:11). “So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth” (Genesis 33:16-17). Scripture does not say that the two met again at Seir.

Buries Isaac; dwells in mount Seir (Genesis 35:27–29; Genesis 36:1–8)

Esau and Jacob bury Isaac; Genesis 36 records that Esau took his household and possessions into a land away from Jacob, because their substance was too great, and dwelt in mount Seir.

Buries Isaac; dwells in mount Seir

“And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, old and full of days: and Esau and Jacob his sons buried him” (Genesis 35:29).

Genesis 36 begins, “Now these are the generations of Esau (the same is Edom)” (Genesis 36:1). It names his wives as Adah, Oholibamah and Basemath, Ishmael's daughter (Genesis 36:2-3), differently from Genesis 26:34 and 28:9. Esau “went into a land away from his brother Jacob. For their substance was too great for them to dwell together; and the land of their sojournings could not bear them because of their cattle. And Esau dwelt in mount Seir: Esau is Edom” (Genesis 36:6-8). The chapter closes its list of the chiefs of Edom, “This is Esau, the father of the Edomites” (Genesis 36:43).

Isaac (Genesis 25:28; Genesis 27:1–4; Genesis 35:29)

His father, who loved him for his venison, sent him for savory food that his soul might bless him, and was buried by Esau and Jacob.

Rebekah (Genesis 25:28; Genesis 26:35; Genesis 27:5–17)

His mother, who loved Jacob, heard Isaac speak to Esau and sent Jacob in his place; his Hittite wives were a grief of mind to her.

Jacob (Genesis 25:29–34; Genesis 27:41; Genesis 33:4)

His twin, who bought his birthright, took his blessing, fled his purpose to slay him, and was met by Esau with an embrace.

Ishmael (Genesis 28:9)

Esau went to Ishmael and took his daughter Mahalath, sister of Nebaioth, besides the wives he had.

His wives (Genesis 26:34; Genesis 28:9; Genesis 36:2–3)

Genesis 26:34 and 28:9 name Judith, Basemath and Mahalath; Genesis 36:2-3 names Adah, Oholibamah and Basemath, Ishmael's daughter.

His sons (Genesis 36:4–5; 1 Chronicles 1:35)

Adah bore Eliphaz, Basemath bore Reuel, and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam and Korah, in the land of Canaan.

Major sections

• Genesis 25:19–34
• Genesis 26:34–28:9
• Genesis 32–33
• Genesis 35:27–36:43
• Romans 9:10–13
• Hebrews 12:16–17

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