Esau

Portrait of Esau

Esau was the firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah and the twin brother of Jacob. In a moment of hunger after returning from the field, he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew, thereby relinquishing the leadership role and covenant blessings tied to the family inheritance. This decision gained lasting importance when Jacob later received Isaacโ€™s blessing through an act of deception, prompting Esauโ€™s bitter reaction and the division of their family lines. In Scripture, Esauโ€™s account illustrates the consequences of despising spiritual priorities and serves as the origin of the Edomite people, whose ongoing conflicts with Israel highlight themes of divine sovereignty and election.

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Biography

Born
c. 2006 BC
Occupation
Hunter
Father
Isaac
Mother
Rebekah
Spouse
Judith, Basemath, Mahalath
Children
Eliphaz, Reuel, and others
Era
Patriarchs
Nationality
Hebrew/Edomite
Also Known As
Edom

Family

Parents
Isaac Rebekah
โ†“
Esau โšญ Judith, Basemath, Mahalath
โ†“
Children
Eliphaz, Reuel, and others
Old Testament Patriarchs Other Genesis

Did You Know?

1

Esau was born red and fully hairy, a detail that directly inspired both his name (meaning "hairy") and his nickname Edom (meaning "red"), while his brother Jacob emerged grasping his heel.

2

After marrying two Hittite women who displeased his parents, Esau deliberately added Mahalath, daughter of Ishmael, to his household in an apparent effort to reconnect with the family's non-Canaanite lineage.

3

The Edomites, Esau's descendants, controlled key trade routes through Mount Seir and denied Moses' request for safe passage, forcing Israel to take a longer route around their territory.

4

Though he wept bitterly and vowed to kill Jacob after losing the blessing, Esau later approached his brother with 400 men only to embrace, kiss, and reconcile with him decades later.

5

Hebrews 12 cites Esau as a cautionary example of one who "found no place of repentance" after despising his birthright, highlighting the irreversible nature of the patriarchal transfer in ancient Near Eastern culture.

Key Passages

Esau Sells His Birthright

Genesis 25:29-34

This story warns us that fleeting desires can make us forfeit lasting spiritual blessings, urging us to value God's promises above momentary comfort.

A29nd Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

30 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. 31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? 33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Read full chapter: Genesis 25 โ†’

Esau Loses the Blessing

Genesis 27:30-41

This passage reveals how deception fractures families, reminding us to choose integrity and seek healing in our closest bonds.

A30nd it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

31 And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his sonโ€™s venison, that thy soul may bless me. 32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. 33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. 34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. 35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. 36 And he 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. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? 37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? 38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. 39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; 40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck. 41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

Read full chapter: Genesis 27 โ†’

Esau Reconciles with Jacob

Genesis 33:1-11

This passage shows how God's grace can heal deep family wounds through unexpected forgiveness and embrace.

A1nd Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.

2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. 3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. 5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. 6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. 7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. 8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. 9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. 10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. 11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.

Read full chapter: Genesis 33 โ†’

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