Esau
Ancestor of Edom
Also known as: Edom
Esau was Isaac's firstborn son and Jacob's twin brother. He was a skilled hunter and his father's favorite. He sold his birthright to Jacob for a meal of lentil stew, and lost his father's blessing. He became the ancestor of the Edomites and later reconciled with Jacob.
Family
Key events
The Birth
Esau was born first of the twins, red and hairy. Jacob held onto his heel as he came out.
24When the time came for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb.
וַיִּמְלְא֥וּ יָמֶ֖יהָ לָלֶ֑דֶת וְהִנֵּ֥ה תוֹמִ֖ם בְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃
25The first came out red, his whole body like a hairy cloak; so they named him Esau.
וַיֵּצֵ֤א הָרִאשׁוֹן֙ אַדְמוֹנִ֔י כֻּלּ֖וֹ כְּאַדֶּ֣רֶת שֵׂעָ֑ר וַיִּקְרְא֥וּ שְׁמ֖וֹ עֵשָֽׂו׃
26Then his brother came out, his hand gripping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.
וְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֞ן יָצָ֣א אָחִ֗יו וְיָד֤וֹ אֹחֶ֙זֶת֙ בַּעֲקֵ֣ב עֵשָׂ֔ו וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְיִצְחָ֛ק בֶּן־שִׁשִּׁ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בְּלֶ֥דֶת אֹתָֽם׃
Birthright Sold
Esau returned hungry from the field and sold his birthright to Jacob for a meal of lentil stew.
29One day, while Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the open country, exhausted.
וַיָּ֥זֶד יַעֲקֹ֖ב נָזִ֑יד וַיָּבֹ֥א עֵשָׂ֛ו מִן־הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה וְה֥וּא עָיֵֽף׃
30Esau said to Jacob, "Quick, let me gulp down some of that red stuff, that red stuff there—I'm exhausted!" That is why he was called Edom.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר עֵשָׂ֜ו אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֗ב הַלְעִיטֵ֤נִי נָא֙ מִן־הָאָדֹ֤ם הָאָדֹם֙ הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֥י עָיֵ֖ף אָנֹ֑כִי עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָרָֽא־שְׁמ֖וֹ אֱדֽוֹם׃
31Jacob said, "First sell me your birthright."
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֑ב מִכְרָ֥ה כַיּ֛וֹם אֶת־בְּכֹֽרָתְךָ֖ לִֽי׃
32"Look," said Esau, "I'm about to die. What good is a birthright to me?"
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר עֵשָׂ֔ו הִנֵּ֛ה אָנֹכִ֥י הוֹלֵ֖ךְ לָמ֑וּת וְלָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה לִ֖י בְּכֹרָֽה׃
33Jacob said, "Swear it to me here and now." So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֗ב הִשָּׁ֤בְעָה לִּי֙ כַּיּ֔וֹם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֖ע ל֑וֹ וַיִּמְכֹּ֥ר אֶת־בְּכֹרָת֖וֹ לְיַעֲקֹֽב׃
34Then Jacob gave him bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, got up, and went on his way. So Esau despised his birthright.
וְיַעֲקֹ֞ב נָתַ֣ן לְעֵשָׂ֗ו לֶ֚חֶם וּנְזִ֣יד עֲדָשִׁ֔ים וַיֹּ֣אכַל וַיֵּ֔שְׁתְּ וַיָּ֖קָם וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ וַיִּ֥בֶז עֵשָׂ֖ו אֶת־הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃ ס
Blessing Lost
Jacob tricked his father into giving him the blessing by dressing in Esau's clothes. When Esau arrived, it was too late.
30Isaac had just finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had barely left his father's presence, when his brother Esau came in from his hunt.
וַיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר כִּלָּ֣ה יִצְחָק֮ לְבָרֵ֣ךְ אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹב֒ וַיְהִ֗י אַ֣ךְ יָצֹ֤א יָצָא֙ יַעֲקֹ֔ב מֵאֵ֥ת פְּנֵ֖י יִצְחָ֣ק אָבִ֑יו וְעֵשָׂ֣ו אָחִ֔יו בָּ֖א מִצֵּידֽוֹ׃
34When Esau heard his father's words, he let out a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me too, my father!"
כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ עֵשָׂו֙ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י אָבִ֔יו וַיִּצְעַ֣ק צְעָקָ֔ה גְּדֹלָ֥ה וּמָרָ֖ה עַד־מְאֹ֑ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאָבִ֔יו בָּרֲכֵ֥נִי גַם־אָ֖נִי אָבִֽי׃
36Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? He has cheated me twice now. He took my birthright, and look, now he has taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you saved a blessing for me?"
וַיֹּ֡אמֶר הֲכִי֩ קָרָ֨א שְׁמ֜וֹ יַעֲקֹ֗ב וֽ͏ַיַּעְקְבֵ֙נִי֙ זֶ֣ה פַעֲמַ֔יִם אֶת־בְּכֹרָתִ֣י לָקָ֔ח וְהִנֵּ֥ה עַתָּ֖ה לָקַ֣ח בִּרְכָתִ֑י וַיֹּאמַ֕ר הֲלֹא־אָצַ֥לְתָּ לִּ֖י בְּרָכָֽה׃
38Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!" And Esau wept aloud.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר עֵשָׂ֜ו אֶל־אָבִ֗יו הַֽבְרָכָ֨ה אַחַ֤ת הִֽוא־לְךָ֙ אָבִ֔י בָּרֲכֵ֥נִי גַם־אָ֖נִי אָבִ֑י וַיִּשָּׂ֥א עֵשָׂ֛ו קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃
41Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him, and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob."
וַיִּשְׂטֹ֤ם עֵשָׂו֙ אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹ֔ב עַל־הַ֨בְּרָכָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֵּרֲכ֖וֹ אָבִ֑יו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר עֵשָׂ֜ו בְּלִבּ֗וֹ יִקְרְבוּ֙ יְמֵי֙ אֵ֣בֶל אָבִ֔י וְאַֽהַרְגָ֖ה אֶת־יַעֲקֹ֥ב אָחִֽי׃
Plan for Revenge
Esau planned to kill Jacob after his father's death, which led to Jacob fleeing to Laban.
41Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him, and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob."
וַיִּשְׂטֹ֤ם עֵשָׂו֙ אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹ֔ב עַל־הַ֨בְּרָכָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֵּרֲכ֖וֹ אָבִ֑יו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר עֵשָׂ֜ו בְּלִבּ֗וֹ יִקְרְבוּ֙ יְמֵי֙ אֵ֣בֶל אָבִ֔י וְאַֽהַרְגָ֖ה אֶת־יַעֲקֹ֥ב אָחִֽי׃
42When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, "Look, your brother Esau is comforting himself with the thought of killing you.
וַיֻּגַּ֣ד לְרִבְקָ֔ה אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י עֵשָׂ֖ו בְּנָ֣הּ הַגָּדֹ֑ל וַתִּשְׁלַ֞ח וַתִּקְרָ֤א לְיַעֲקֹב֙ בְּנָ֣הּ הַקָּטָ֔ן וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו הִנֵּה֙ עֵשָׂ֣ו אָחִ֔יךָ מִתְנַחֵ֥ם לְךָ֖ לְהָרְגֶֽךָ׃
43Now then, my son, listen to me: get up and flee to my brother Laban in Haran.
וְעַתָּ֥ה בְנִ֖י שְׁמַ֣ע בְּקֹלִ֑י וְק֧וּם בְּרַח־לְךָ֛ אֶל־לָבָ֥ן אָחִ֖י חָרָֽנָה׃
Reconciliation
After many years, Esau met Jacob again. Instead of seeking revenge, he ran to meet him and embraced him.
1Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, and with him four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two servant women.
וַיִּשָּׂ֨א יַעֲקֹ֜ב עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ וְהִנֵּ֣ה עֵשָׂ֣ו בָּ֔א וְעִמּ֕וֹ אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת אִ֑ישׁ וַיַּ֣חַץ אֶת־הַיְלָדִ֗ים עַל־לֵאָה֙ וְעַל־רָחֵ֔ל וְעַ֖ל שְׁתֵּ֥י הַשְּׁפָחֽוֹת׃
3He himself went on ahead of them, bowing to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
וְה֖וּא עָבַ֣ר לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּשְׁתַּ֤חוּ אַ֙רְצָה֙ שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֔ים עַד־גִּשְׁתּ֖וֹ עַד־אָחִֽיו׃
4But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
וַיָּ֨רָץ עֵשָׂ֤ו לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ וֽ͏ַיְחַבְּקֵ֔הוּ וַיִּפֹּ֥ל עַל־צַוָּארָ֖ו וַׄיִּׄשָּׁׄקֵ֑ׄהׄוּׄ[4] וַיִּבְכּֽוּ׃
9But Esau said, "I have plenty, my brother. Keep what is yours."
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר עֵשָׂ֖ו יֶשׁ־לִ֣י רָ֑ב אָחִ֕י יְהִ֥י לְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁר־לָֽךְ׃
10Jacob replied, "No, please—if I have found favor in your eyes, then accept this gift from my hand. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me so kindly.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֗ב אַל־נָא֙ אִם־נָ֨א מָצָ֤אתִי חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ מִנְחָתִ֖י מִיָּדִ֑י כִּ֣י עַל־כֵּ֞ן רָאִ֣יתִי פָנֶ֗יךָ כִּרְאֹ֛ת פְּנֵ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים וַתִּרְצֵֽנִי׃
11"Please take the blessing I have brought you, for God has been gracious to me, and I have all I need." So Jacob urged him, and he accepted it.
קַח־נָ֤א אֶת־בִּרְכָתִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֻבָ֣את לָ֔ךְ כִּֽי־חַנַּ֥נִי אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְכִ֣י יֶשׁ־לִי־כֹ֑ל וַיִּפְצַר־בּ֖וֹ וַיִּקָּֽח׃
Mentioned in the Bible (93)
Genesis 25:25Genesis 25:26Genesis 25:27Genesis 25:28Genesis 25:29Genesis 25:30Genesis 25:32Genesis 25:34Genesis 26:34Genesis 27:1Genesis 27:5Genesis 27:6Genesis 27:11Genesis 27:15Genesis 27:19Genesis 27:21Genesis 27:22Genesis 27:23Genesis 27:24Genesis 27:30Genesis 27:32Genesis 27:34Genesis 27:36Genesis 27:37Genesis 27:38Genesis 27:41Genesis 27:42Genesis 28:5Genesis 28:6Genesis 28:8Genesis 28:9Genesis 32:4Genesis 32:5Genesis 32:7Genesis 32:9Genesis 32:12Genesis 32:14Genesis 32:18Genesis 32:19Genesis 32:20Genesis 33:1Genesis 33:4Genesis 33:5Genesis 33:9Genesis 33:11Genesis 33:12Genesis 33:16Genesis 35:1Genesis 35:29Genesis 36:1Genesis 36:2Genesis 36:4Genesis 36:5Genesis 36:6Genesis 36:8Genesis 36:9Genesis 36:10Genesis 36:12Genesis 36:13Genesis 36:14Genesis 36:15Genesis 36:17Genesis 36:18Genesis 36:19Genesis 36:40Genesis 36:43Numbers 20:18Numbers 20:21Numbers 24:18Deuteronomy 2:5Deuteronomy 2:12Deuteronomy 2:22Joshua 24:41 Kings 11:162 Kings 14:101 Chronicles 1:341 Chronicles 1:351 Chronicles 1:54Psalms 83:7Jeremiah 25:21Jeremiah 49:8Jeremiah 49:10Daniel 11:41Obadiah 1:1Obadiah 1:6Obadiah 1:8Obadiah 1:18Obadiah 1:19Malachi 1:2Malachi 1:3Romans 9:13Hebrews 11:20Hebrews 12:16