Esau

the twin who hunted

Who was Esau?

Son of Isaac and Rebekah, twin of Jacob. He was born first, reddish and hairy. Genesis 25:24-25
He was a hunter. One day he came back hungry and sold Jacob his rights as firstborn for a lentil stew. Genesis 25:27, 29-34
Years later, when Jacob returned to Canaan, Esau ran to meet him and embraced him. Genesis 33:4

The name: Genesis links it to how he looked at birth: reddish and hairy. He was also called Edom, which in Hebrew sounds like “red”, because of the red stew. Genesis 25:25, 30; NAB note on Gn 25, 25 and 25, 30
Also called: Edom Genesis 25:30; Genesis 36:1
From: From Canaan, from the family of Isaac Genesis 25:11, 25-26
Occupation: A hunter, a man of the open country Genesis 25:27

What the Bible says

Genesis 25:24-25

²⁴And when her time was come to be delivered, behold twins were found in her womb. ²⁵He that came forth first was red, and hairy like a skin: and his name was called Esau. Immediately the other coming forth, held his brother’s foot in his hand, and therefore he was called Jacob.

Genesis 25:27, 29-34

²⁷And when they were grown up, Esau became a skillful hunter, and a husbandman, but Jacob a plain man dwelt in tents. ²⁹And Jacob boiled pottage: to whom Esau, coming faint out of the field, ³⁰Said: Give me of this red pottage, for I am exceeding faint. For which reason his name was called Edom. ³¹And Jacob said to him: Sell me thy first birthright. ³²He answered: Lo I die, what will the first birthright avail me? ³³Jacob said: Swear therefore to me. Esau swore to him, and sold his first birthright. ³⁴And so taking bread and the pottage of lentils, he ate, and drank, and went his way; making little account of having sold his first birthright.

Genesis 33:4

Then Esau ran to meet his brother, and embraced him: and clasping him fast about the neck, and kissing him, wept.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Esau

Before Jesus. Rebekah had twins. Esau was born first, reddish and hairy; Jacob came out holding on to his heel. Genesis 25:24-26
Before Jesus. Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country. Isaac preferred him, because he liked to eat the game he brought. Genesis 25:27-28
Before Jesus. One day he came back from the field exhausted. He sold Jacob his rights as the firstborn son for bread and a lentil stew. Genesis 25:29-34
With Jesus. At 40 he married two women from Canaan, and that brought bitterness to Isaac and Rebekah. Genesis 26:34-35; Genesis 28:8
With Jesus. Isaac, now old, asked him for game so he could bless him. While Esau was hunting, Jacob pretended to be him and received the blessing. Genesis 27:1-4, 18-29
With Jesus. When he came back, Esau wept and begged his father to bless him too. From then on he held a grudge against Jacob. Genesis 27:34, 38, 41
Afterward. Twenty years later, Jacob came back. Esau came out to meet him with 400 men, ran to him and embraced him, weeping. Genesis 31:41; Genesis 33:1, 4
Afterward. With Jacob, he buried their father Isaac. Then he went away to the hill country of Seir, because the land could not support them both. Genesis 35:29; Genesis 36:6-8

Words of Esau

“Give me of this red pottage, for I am exceeding faint.” Genesis 25:30

When he came back from the field and found Jacob cooking.

“Lo I die, what will the first birthright avail me?” Genesis 25:32

When Jacob asked for his rights as the firstborn in exchange.

“Bless me also, my father.” Genesis 27:34

When he found out that Isaac had already blessed Jacob.

“Hast thou only one blessing, father? I beseech thee bless me also.” Genesis 27:38

To his father, when Isaac told him there was nothing more he could do for him.

“I have plenty, my brother, keep what is thine for thyself.” Genesis 33:9

To Jacob, when they met again and Jacob offered him flocks as a gift.

What they were like

A man of the open country, a skillful hunter. Genesis 25:27
He cared little for his rights as the firstborn: he traded them for a plate of lentils. Genesis 25:34
He wanted his father’s blessing: he asked for it in tears. Genesis 27:34, 38
Generous in the end: he told Jacob that he had plenty and that he should keep what was his. Genesis 33:9

The greatest thing they did

He ran to embrace Jacob, the brother who had taken his blessing. Genesis 33:4
With Jacob, he buried their father Isaac. Genesis 35:29
Isaac told him that one day he would break free of his brother’s yoke. Genesis 27:40

In the Church today

In art, recognized by: With a bow, as a hunter, or with the bowl of lentils From Gn 25, 27-34; Genesis 27:3; this is how Christian art often shows him

What people ask

Were Esau and Jacob twins?

Yes. Esau came out first, and Jacob came out holding on to his heel. Genesis 25:24-26

What was the birthright that Esau sold?

It was the rights of the firstborn son. A NAB note explains that it gave him honor in the family and a double share of the inheritance. Genesis 25:31-34; NAB note on Gn 25, 31

Why does the Bible say that God “hated” Esau?

The prophet Malachi says it, and Saint Paul quotes him. A NAB note explains that, in the Semitic way of speaking, “to hate” means “to love less”. Malachi 1:2-3; Romans 9:13; NAB note on Rom 9, 13

Did Esau make peace with Jacob?

The Bible does not use that word. It tells that Esau ran to meet him, embraced him and kissed him, weeping. At first, he did not want to accept his gifts. Genesis 33:4, 9-11

Who descends from Esau?

The Edomites, who lived in the hill country of Seir. Genesis says: Esau is Edom. Genesis 36:8-9

Daily life He went out to the field to hunt, and with his game he made a stew for his father. Genesis 27:3-4, 31 Their failings He sold his rights…

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Who Esau is connected to

Ishmael · father-in-law and son-in-law
Isaac · father and son
Rebekah · mother and son
Jacob · twin brothers

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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