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What the Bible Says About Esau

Overview

The Bible addresses esau across 47 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 1 Chronicles, Genesis and Obadiah. Closely related themes include Edomites, Shem, Rebekah and Jacob. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Esau, Jacob, Isaac and Rebekah.

Key Bible verses about esau

Old Testament

Genesis

Genesis 25:19

And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:

Genesis 25:20

And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

Genesis 25:21

And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Genesis 25:22

And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.

Genesis 25:23

And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

Genesis 25:24

And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

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 25:31

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

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 25:33

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

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 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 36:3

And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth.

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 1:35

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

1 Chronicles 1:36

The sons of Eliphaz; Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek. Zephi: or, Zepho

1 Chronicles 1:37

The sons of Reuel; Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.

1 Chronicles 1:38

And the sons of Seir; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan.

1 Chronicles 1:39

And the sons of Lotan; Hori, and Homam: and Timna was Lotan's sister. Homam: or, Hemam

1 Chronicles 1:40

The sons of Shobal; Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon; Aiah, and Anah.

1 Chronicles 1:41

The sons of Anah; Dishon. And the sons of Dishon; Amram, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. Amram: or, Hemdan

1 Chronicles 1:42

The sons of Ezer; Bilhan, and Zavan, and Jakan. The sons of Dishan; Uz, and Aran. Jakan: or, Akan

1 Chronicles 1:43

Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel; Bela the son of Beor: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.

1 Chronicles 1:44

And when Bela was dead, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.

1 Chronicles 1:45

And when Jobab was dead, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead.

1 Chronicles 1:46

And when Husham was dead, Hadad the son of Bedad, which smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith.

1 Chronicles 1:47

And when Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.

1 Chronicles 1:48

And when Samlah was dead, Shaul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.

1 Chronicles 1:49

And when Shaul was dead, Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.

1 Chronicles 1:50

And when Baalhanan was dead, Hadad reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pai; and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. Hadad: or, Hadar Pai: or, Pau

1 Chronicles 1:51

Hadad died also. And the dukes of Edom were; duke Timnah, duke Aliah, duke Jetheth,

1 Chronicles 1:52

Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,

1 Chronicles 1:53

Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,

1 Chronicles 1:54

Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.

Obadiah

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 1:10

For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.

Obadiah 1:11

In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them. captive: or, his substance

Obadiah 1:12

But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress. spoken: Heb. magnified thy mouth

Obadiah 1:13

Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity; substance: or, forces

Obadiah 1:14

Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress. delivered up: or, shut up

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.

People in the Bible and esau

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying esau for yourself

  • Begin with Genesis 25:19, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how 1 Chronicles, Genesis and Obadiah each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Esau, Jacob and Isaac and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Edomites, Shem, Rebekah and Jacob.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about esau?

The Bible addresses esau across 47 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 1 Chronicles, Genesis and Obadiah. Closely related themes include Edomites, Shem, Rebekah and Jacob. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Esau, Jacob, Isaac and Rebekah.

How many Bible verses are about esau?

The Bible references esau in 47 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention esau?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 25:19: “And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:”

Which people in the Bible are associated with esau?

Esau, Jacob, Isaac, Rebekah and Aholibamah.

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