Esau

Esau, also called Edom, was Isaac's firstborn son who sold his birthright to his twin brother Jacob and became the father of the Edomites.

The name Esau means “he that acts or finishes”

MaleEdomiteEdomPatriarchs eraOld & New Testaments9 books112 verses

Summary

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Genesis 25:25; referred to as Esau (עֵשָׂו), Esau (Ἠσαῦ), or Edom (אֱדוֹם); son of Isaac and Rebekah; a brother of Israel; husband of Oholibamah, Judith, Adah and Mahalath; father of Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Korah; founded nation of Edom.

Profile

Esau was the son of Isaac and Rebekah and Jacob's older twin brother (Genesis 25:24–26). He was named Esau because he was hairy at birth. His descendants became known as Edomites. "Edom" means "red," referring to:

Esau's reddish color at birth (Genesis 25:25)
The red lentil stew he got from Jacob (Genesis 25:30)
The reddish color of the land where he settled (see study note on Genesis 25:25)

Esau was a skilled hunter who brought flavorful wild meat to his father. Isaac preferred its strong taste over the mild meat Jacob provided from the family flocks. One day, Esau came home very hungry after an unsuccessful hunt. Jacob convinced Esau to give up his rights and privileges of being firstborn in exchange for food (Genesis 25:29–34). Esau did not value his birthright and was driven by his physical desires (see Hebrews 12:16).

He also married two local women who were not descendants of Abraham (Genesis 26:34–35). This may have influenced Rebekah's favoritism toward Jacob and her plan to take Isaac's blessing meant for Esau (Genesis 27:1–40). Esau's anger upon discovering his brother's deception caused Jacob to flee to Haran. The brothers reunited twenty years later when Esau showed gracious forgiveness (Genesis 33:1–16).

Esau was born with Jacob holding his heel. People saw this as a sign that Esau's descendants would serve Jacob's descendants. The Edomites began serving the Israelites during David's time (2 Samuel 8:11–15; 1 Chronicles 18:11–13) and continued until Jehoram's reign (2 Kings 8:20–22; 2 Chronicles 21:8–10). After a rebellion in 845 BC, the Edomites briefly gained independence but were conquered again by Amaziah, who ruled from 796 to 767 BC. They regained their freedom in 735 BC and stayed independent from Judah.

In the New Testament, Esau symbolizes Abraham's descendants who did not have faith and were rejected by God for his promised blessings (see Romans 9:6–24). Herod the Great was an Edomite.

Passages for Further Study

Genesis 25:21–34; 26:34–35; 27:1–42; 28:6–9; 32:3–20; 33:1–16; 35:28–29; 36:1–43; Deuteronomy 2:1–8, 12, 22, 29; Joshua 24:4; Malachi 1:2–5; Romans 9:6–13; Hebrews 11:20; 12:16–17

Events

Dates are approximate

Birth of Jacob and Esauc. 1836 BC

Glossary entries

Edom, Edomites Esau

Family members

Father: Isaac
Mother: Rebekah
Spouse: Adah Judith Mahalath Oholibamah
Siblings: Israel
Children: Eliphaz Jalam Jeush Korah Reuel

Alternative names

ἨσαῦEsau
אֱדוֹםEdommeans “red, earthy; of blood”
עֵשָׂוEsau

Mentions

Includes 28 verses that refer to Esau without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.

Genesis 25:25עֵשָׂו · Esau
The first one came out red, covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him Esau.
Genesis 25:26עֵשָׂו · Esau
After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.
Genesis 25:27עֵשָׂו · Esau
When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.
Genesis 25:28עֵשָׂו · Esau
Because Isaac had a taste for wild game, he loved Esau; but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Genesis 25:29עֵשָׂו · Esau
One day, while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the field and was famished.
Genesis 25:30אֱדוֹם · Edom; עֵשָׂו · Esau
He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am famished.” (That is why he was also called Edom.)
Genesis 25:31Referred to, not named
“First sell me your birthright,” Jacob replied.
Genesis 25:32עֵשָׂו · Esau
“Look,” said Esau, “I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”
Genesis 25:33Referred to, not named
“Swear to me first,” Jacob said. So Esau swore to Jacob and sold him the birthright.
Genesis 25:34עֵשָׂו · Esau
Then Jacob gave some bread and lentil stew to Esau, who ate and drank and then got up and went away. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Genesis 26:34עֵשָׂו · Esau
When Esau was forty years old, he took as his wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite.
Genesis 27:1עֵשָׂו · Esau
When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” Esau replied.
Genesis 27:3Referred to, not named
Take your weapons—your quiver and bow—and go out into the field to hunt some game for me.
Genesis 27:4Referred to, not named
Then prepare a tasty dish that I love and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.”
Genesis 27:5עֵשָׂו · Esau
Now Rebekah was listening to what Isaac told his son Esau. So when Esau went into the field to hunt game and bring it back,
Genesis 27:6עֵשָׂו · Esau
Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Behold, I overheard your father saying to your brother Esau,
Genesis 27:7Referred to, not named
‘Bring me some game and prepare me a tasty dish to eat, so that I may bless you in the presence of the LORD before I die.’
Genesis 27:11עֵשָׂו · Esau
Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, “Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am smooth-skinned.
Genesis 27:15עֵשָׂו · Esau
And Rebekah took the finest clothes in the house that belonged to her older son Esau, and she put them on her younger son Jacob.
Genesis 27:19עֵשָׂו · Esau
Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may bless me.”
Genesis 27:21עֵשָׂו · Esau
Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau, or not?”
Genesis 27:22עֵשָׂו · Esau
So Jacob came close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”
Genesis 27:23עֵשָׂו · Esau
Isaac did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him.
Genesis 27:24עֵשָׂו · Esau
Again he asked, “Are you really my son Esau?” And he replied, “I am.”
Genesis 27:30עֵשָׂו · Esau
As soon as Isaac had finished blessing him and Jacob had left his father’s presence, his brother Esau returned from the hunt.
Genesis 27:31Referred to, not named
He too made some tasty food, brought it to his father, and said to him, “My father, sit up and eat of your son’s game, so that you may bless me.”
Genesis 27:32עֵשָׂו · Esau
But his father Isaac replied, “Who are you?” “I am Esau, your firstborn son,” he answered.
Genesis 27:33Referred to, not named
Isaac began to tremble violently and said, “Who was it, then, who hunted the game and brought it to me? Before you came in, I ate it all and blessed him—and indeed, he will be blessed!”
Genesis 27:34עֵשָׂו · Esau
When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me too, O my father!”
Genesis 27:35Referred to, not named
But Isaac replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”
Genesis 27:36Referred to, not named
So Esau declared, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice. He took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”
Genesis 27:37עֵשָׂו · Esau
But Isaac answered Esau: “Look, I have made him your master and given him all his relatives as servants; I have sustained him with grain and new wine. What is left that I can do for you, my son?”
Genesis 27:38עֵשָׂו · Esau
Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, O my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.
Genesis 27:39Referred to, not named
His father Isaac answered him: “Behold, your dwelling place shall be away from the richness of the land, away from the dew of heaven above.
Genesis 27:40Referred to, not named
You shall live by the sword and serve your brother. But when you rebel, you will tear his yoke from your neck.”
Genesis 27:41עֵשָׂו · Esau
Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
Genesis 27:42עֵשָׂו · Esau
When the words of her older son Esau were relayed to Rebekah, she sent for her younger son Jacob and told him, “Look, your brother Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you.
Genesis 28:5עֵשָׂו · Esau
So Isaac sent Jacob to Paddan-aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau.
Genesis 28:6עֵשָׂו · Esau
Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to take a wife there, commanding him, “Do not marry a Canaanite woman,”
Genesis 28:8עֵשָׂו · Esau
And seeing that his father Isaac disapproved of the Canaanite women,
Genesis 28:9עֵשָׂו · Esau
Esau went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Abraham’s son Ishmael, in addition to the wives he already had.
Genesis 32:3עֵשָׂו · Esau
Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
Genesis 32:4עֵשָׂו · Esau
He instructed them, “You are to say to my master Esau, ‘Your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban and have remained there until now.
Genesis 32:6עֵשָׂו · Esau
When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you—he and four hundred men with him.”
Genesis 32:8עֵשָׂו · Esau
He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one camp, then the other camp can escape.”
Genesis 32:11עֵשָׂו · Esau
Please deliver me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid that he may come and attack me and the mothers and children with me.
Genesis 32:13עֵשָׂו · Esau
Jacob spent the night there, and from what he had brought with him, he selected a gift for his brother Esau:
Genesis 32:17עֵשָׂו · Esau
He instructed the one in the lead, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘To whom do you belong, where are you going, and whose animals are these before you?’
Genesis 32:18עֵשָׂו · Esau
…then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift, sent to my lord Esau. And behold, Jacob is behind us.’”
Genesis 32:19עֵשָׂו · Esau
He also instructed the second, the third, and all those following behind the herds: “When you meet Esau, you are to say the same thing to him.
Genesis 32:20Referred to, not named
You are also to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’” For he thought, “I will appease Esau with the gift that is going before me. After that I can face him, and perhaps he will accept me.”
Genesis 33:1עֵשָׂו · Esau
Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.
Genesis 33:4עֵשָׂו · Esau
Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
Genesis 33:5Referred to, not named
When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered, “These are the children God has graciously given your servant.”
Genesis 33:8Referred to, not named
“What do you mean by sending this whole company to meet me?” asked Esau. “To find favor in your sight, my lord,” Jacob answered.
Genesis 33:9עֵשָׂו · Esau
“I already have plenty, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what belongs to you.”
Genesis 33:10Referred to, not named
But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably.
Genesis 33:11Referred to, not named
Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.
Genesis 33:12Referred to, not named
Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way, and I will go ahead of you.”
Genesis 33:13Referred to, not named
But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die.
Genesis 33:15עֵשָׂו · Esau
“Let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said. But Jacob replied, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”
Genesis 33:16עֵשָׂו · Esau
So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir,
Genesis 35:1עֵשָׂו · Esau
Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”
Genesis 35:29עֵשָׂו · Esau
Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Genesis 36:1אֱדוֹם · Edom; עֵשָׂו · Esau
This is the account of Esau (that is, Edom).
Genesis 36:2עֵשָׂו · Esau
Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite,
Genesis 36:4עֵשָׂו · Esau
And Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath gave birth to Reuel,
Genesis 36:5עֵשָׂו · Esau
…and Oholibamah gave birth to Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 36:6עֵשָׂו · Esau
Later, Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the people of his household, along with his livestock, all his other animals, and all the property he had acquired in Canaan, and he moved to a land far away from his brother Jacob.
Genesis 36:7Referred to, not named
For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together; the land where they stayed could not support them because of their livestock.
Genesis 36:8אֱדוֹם · Edom; עֵשָׂו · Esau
So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the area of Mount Seir.
Genesis 36:9עֵשָׂו · Esau
This is the account of Esau, the father of the Edomites, in the area of Mount Seir.
Genesis 36:10עֵשָׂו · Esau
These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel son of Esau’s wife Basemath.
Genesis 36:12עֵשָׂו · Esau
Additionally, Timna, a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz, gave birth to Amalek. These are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Adah.
Genesis 36:13עֵשָׂו · Esau
These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. They are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.
Genesis 36:14עֵשָׂו · Esau
These are the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah (daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon) whom she bore to Esau: Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
Genesis 36:15עֵשָׂו · Esau
These are the chiefs among the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,
Genesis 36:17עֵשָׂו · Esau
These are the sons of Esau’s son Reuel: Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. They are the chiefs descended from Reuel in the land of Edom, and they are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.
Genesis 36:18עֵשָׂו · Esau
These are the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah: Chiefs Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. They are the chiefs descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.
Genesis 36:19אֱדוֹם · Edom; עֵשָׂו · Esau
All these are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and they were their chiefs.
Genesis 36:21אֱדוֹם · Edom
Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. They are the chiefs of the Horites, the descendants of Seir in the land of Edom.
Genesis 36:40עֵשָׂו · Esau
These are the names of Esau’s chiefs, according to their families and regions, by their names: Chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,
Genesis 36:43עֵשָׂו · Esau
Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they possessed. Esau was the father of the Edomites.
Deuteronomy 2:4עֵשָׂו · Esau
…and command the people: ‘You will pass through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so you must be very careful.
Deuteronomy 2:5עֵשָׂו · Esau
Do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even a footprint, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his possession.
Deuteronomy 2:6Referred to, not named
You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.’”
Deuteronomy 2:8עֵשָׂו · Esau
So we passed by our brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned away from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion-geber, and traveled along the road of the Wilderness of Moab.
Deuteronomy 2:12עֵשָׂו · Esau
The Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out. They destroyed the Horites from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did in the land that the LORD gave them as their possession.)
Deuteronomy 2:22עֵשָׂו · Esau
…just as He had done for the descendants of Esau who lived in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them. They drove them out and have lived in their place to this day.
Deuteronomy 2:29עֵשָׂו · Esau
…just as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for us, until we cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD our God is giving us.”
Joshua 24:4עֵשָׂו · Esau
…and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau Mount Seir to possess, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.
1 Chronicles 1:34עֵשָׂו · Esau
Abraham was the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.
1 Chronicles 1:35עֵשָׂו · Esau
The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
1 Chronicles 1:51אֱדוֹם · Edom
Then Hadad died. Now the chiefs of Edom were Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,
1 Chronicles 1:54אֱדוֹם · Edom
Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.
Jeremiah 49:8עֵשָׂו · Esau
Turn and run! Lie low, O dwellers of Dedan, for I will bring disaster on Esau at the time I punish him.
Jeremiah 49:9Referred to, not named
If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings? Were thieves to come in the night, would they not steal only what they wanted?
Jeremiah 49:10עֵשָׂו · Esau
But I will strip Esau bare; I will uncover his hiding places, and he will be unable to conceal himself. His descendants will be destroyed along with his relatives and neighbors, and he will be no more.
Jeremiah 49:11Referred to, not named
Abandon your orphans; I will preserve their lives. Let your widows trust in Me.”
Jeremiah 49:12Referred to, not named
For this is what the LORD says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, can you possibly remain unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for you must drink it too.
Jeremiah 49:14Referred to, not named
I have heard a message from the LORD; an envoy has been sent to the nations: “Assemble yourselves to march against her! Rise up for battle!”
Jeremiah 49:15Referred to, not named
“For behold, I will make you small among nations, despised among men.
Jeremiah 49:16Referred to, not named
The terror you cause and the pride of your heart have deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks, O occupiers of the mountain summit. Though you elevate your nest like the eagle, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.
Obadiah 1:6עֵשָׂו · Esau
But how Esau will be pillaged, his hidden treasures sought out!
Obadiah 1:7Referred to, not named
All the men allied with you will drive you to the border; the men at peace with you will deceive and overpower you. Those who eat your bread will set a trap for you without your awareness of it.
Obadiah 1:18עֵשָׂו · Esau
Then the house of Jacob will be a blazing fire, and the house of Joseph a burning flame; but the house of Esau will be stubble—Jacob will set it ablaze and consume it. Therefore no survivor will remain from the house of Esau.” For the LORD has spoken.
Malachi 1:2עֵשָׂו · Esau
“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved,
Malachi 1:3עֵשָׂו · Esau
…but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”
Romans 9:13Ἠσαῦ · Esau
So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
Hebrews 11:20Ἠσαῦ · Esau
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.
Hebrews 12:16Ἠσαῦ · Esau
See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.
Hebrews 12:17Referred to, not named
For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.