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Esau

malePatriarchal

Meaning: “Hairy

The elder twin of Jacob, a skilful hunter who despised his birthright and sold it for a meal, becoming the father of the Edomites.

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Biography

Esau, the elder twin of Jacob and firstborn of Isaac and Rebekah, was "a cunning hunter, a man of the field" (Genesis 25:27). His name became attached to the nation of Edom, Israel's frequent rival, and his life stands in Scripture as a warning against valuing the immediate over the eternal.

Despising the birthright

Coming in famished from the field, Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a meal of bread and lentil stew — "thus Esau despised his birthright" (Genesis 25:34). Hebrews calls him a "profane person… who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright" (Hebrews 12:16).

The lost blessing

When Jacob, helped by Rebekah, stole the patriarchal blessing, Esau "cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry" and vowed to kill his brother, forcing Jacob to flee (Genesis 27:34–41).

Reconciliation

Years later, when Jacob returned in fear, Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, and wept — a moving and unexpected reconciliation (Genesis 33:4). The brothers parted in peace, and together buried their father Isaac (Genesis 35:29).

Father of Edom

Esau settled in the hill country of Seir and became the father of the Edomites (Genesis 36). His descendants and the long enmity between Edom and Israel echo through the prophets (Obadiah; Malachi 1:2–3).

Life Timeline

2006 BC

Born first, the elder twin of Jacob

Genesis 25:25
1944 BC

Sells his birthright to Jacob for a meal

Genesis 25:33
1929 BC

Loses the patriarchal blessing and vows revenge

Genesis 27:41
1906 BC

Reconciles with Jacob on his return

Genesis 33:4

On the Bible timeline

Esau belongs to the The Patriarchs era (c. 2100 – 1800 BC).

  1. c. 2091 BCThe Call of Abraham
  2. c. 1898 BCJoseph Sold into Egypt

Family Tree

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Themes & lessons from Esau

Biblical themes that run through the passages where Esau appears.

Edomites25×Jacob21×Rebekah15×Esau14×Prudence9×Edomites, the8×Duke6×Birthright5×Eliphaz5×Reuel5×Gluttony3×Predestination3×Adah2×Mountains2×Nahath2×Presents2×Twins2×Zibeon2×

People they appear with

Jacob25×
Isaac16×
Rebekah7×
Aholibamah4×
Eliphaz4×
Laban2×
Abraham2×
Bethuel1×
Ishmael1×
Leah1×
Rachel1×

Places in their story

Mount Seir11×
Padan-aram2×
Teman2×
Bethel1×
Ezion-geber1×
Samaria1×
Gilead1×

Scripture Appearances

85 verses in 9 books
Genesis63 verses

Genesis 25:25

And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

Genesis 25:26

And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

Genesis 25:27

And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

Genesis 25:28

And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. he: Heb. venison was in his mouth

Genesis 25:29

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

Genesis 25:30

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. with: Heb. with that red, with that red pottage Edom: that is Red

Genesis 25:32

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? at: Heb. going to die

Genesis 25:34

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.

Genesis 26:34

And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

Genesis 27:1

And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.

Genesis 27:5

And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

Genesis 27:6

And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,

Genesis 27:11

And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:

Genesis 27:15

And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: goodly: Heb. desirable

Genesis 27:19

And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

Genesis 27:21

And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.

Genesis 27:22

And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.

Genesis 27:23

And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.

Genesis 27:24

And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.

Genesis 27:30

And 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.

Genesis 27:32

And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.

Genesis 27:34

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.

Genesis 27:37

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? sustained: or, supported

Genesis 27:38

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.

Genesis 27:41

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.

Genesis 27:42

And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.

Genesis 28:5

And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.

Genesis 28:6

When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;

Genesis 28:8

And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; pleased: Heb. were evil in the eyes, etc

Genesis 28:9

Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife. Mahalath: or, Bashemath

Genesis 32:3

And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. country: Heb. field

Genesis 32:4

And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:

Genesis 32:6

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.

Genesis 32:8

And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.

Genesis 32:11

Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. with: Heb. upon

Genesis 32:13

And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;

Genesis 32:17

And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?

Genesis 32:18

Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.

Genesis 32:19

And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.

Genesis 33:1

And 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.

Genesis 33:4

And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

Genesis 33:9

And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. keep: Heb. be that to thee that is thine

Genesis 33:15

And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. leave: Heb. set, or, place What: Heb. Wherefore is this?

Genesis 33:16

So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

Genesis 35:1

And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

Genesis 35:29

And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Genesis 36:1

Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.

Genesis 36:2

Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;

Genesis 36:4

And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;

Genesis 36:5

And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 36:6

And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. persons: Heb. souls

Genesis 36:8

Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.

Genesis 36:9

And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir: the Edomites: Heb. Edom

Genesis 36:10

These are the names of Esau's sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau.

Genesis 36:12

And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife.

Genesis 36:13

And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife.

Genesis 36:14

And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.

Genesis 36:15

These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,

Genesis 36:17

And these are the sons of Reuel Esau's son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife.

Genesis 36:18

And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau's wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife.

Genesis 36:19

These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.

Genesis 36:40

And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth, Alvah: or, Aliah

Genesis 36:43

Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites. the Edomites: Heb. Edom

Deuteronomy6 verses

Deuteronomy 2:4

And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore:

Deuteronomy 2:5

Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession. no: Heb. even to the treading of the sole of the foot

Deuteronomy 2:8

And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Eziongaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.

Deuteronomy 2:12

The Horims also dwelt in Seir beforetime; but the children of Esau succeeded them, when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the LORD gave unto them. succeeded: Heb. inherited stead: or, room

Deuteronomy 2:22

As he did to the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, when he destroyed the Horims from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day:

Deuteronomy 2:29

(As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me;) until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the LORD our God giveth us.

Joshua1 verse

Joshua 24:4

And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

1 Chronicles2 verses

1 Chronicles 1:34

And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel.

1 Chronicles 1:35

The sons of Esau; Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.

Jeremiah2 verses

Jeremiah 49:8

Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him. turn: or, they are turned back

Jeremiah 49:10

But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not.

Obadiah6 verses

Obadiah 1:6

How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!

Obadiah 1:8

Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?

Obadiah 1:9

And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter.

Obadiah 1:18

And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.

Obadiah 1:19

And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.

Obadiah 1:21

And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.

Malachi2 verses

Malachi 1:2

I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,

Malachi 1:3

And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

Romans1 verse

Romans 9:13

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

Hebrews2 verses

Hebrews 11:20

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

Hebrews 12:16

Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Frequently asked about Esau

Who was Esau in the Bible?

The elder twin of Jacob, a skilful hunter who despised his birthright and sold it for a meal, becoming the father of the Edomites.

What does the name Esau mean?

The name Esau means “Hairy”.

What did Esau do in the Bible?

Esau served as hunter.

Who were Esau's parents?

Esau was the child of Isaac, Rebekah.

Where does Esau appear in the Bible?

Esau is mentioned 85 times across 9 books: Genesis, Deuteronomy, Joshua, 1 Chronicles, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Malachi, Romans, Hebrews.

What can we learn from Esau?

The story of Esau touches on themes of edomites, jacob, rebekah, esau — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Esau's life.

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