Genesis 25:34

Translations

Modern

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.

Traditional

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.

Literal

And Jacob gave to Esau bread and stew of lentils, and he ate and he drank, and he arose and went; and Esau despised the birthright.

Latin

Et sic, accepto pane et lentis edulio, comedit et bibit, et abiit, parvipendens quod primogenita vendidisset.

Original

Hebrew

English

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.

Notes

Genesis 25:33–34

Esau quickly accepted what Jacob offered and fell into his trap. He ate and left so quickly that he could not have been close to death (25:32). The final comment in the passage explains that Esau treated his birthright with contempt, as if it had no value (Hebrews 12:16). It is foolish to give up spiritual blessings just to satisfy physical desires (compare Genesis 3:6).

Genesis 25:27–34

Jacob and Esau developed according to their early traits (25:24–26).

Esau, the reddish, hairy man, cared about physical things rather than spiritual things (see Hebrews 12:16). His desires eventually overcame him and he sold his birthright.

Jacob, the heel grabber, knew the birthright’s value. He made a ruthless deal to win it from his brother.

Theme notes and profiles

Esau Jacob Symbolic Numbers

Related verses

Hebrews 12:16–17
See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.
Philippians 3:18–19
For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:32
If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for human motives, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
Matthew 26:15
…and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.
Isaiah 22:13
But look, there is joy and gladness, butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
Matthew 22:5
But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, another to his business.
Zechariah 11:13
And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—this magnificent price at which they valued me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
Luke 14:18–20
But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’
Psalm 106:24
They despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise.
Acts 13:41
‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”
Ecclesiastes 8:15
So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.

People

Esau: Isaac's firstborn son; sold birthright to Jacob; became Edom Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Archaeology and the Bible Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Birthright Ebla Tablets Esau Family Life and Relations Food and Food Preparation Genesis, Book of Lentil Mishma Nathanael Nuzi, Nuzi Tablets Patriarchs, Period of the Pottage Rebecca, Rebekah

Topics

Birthright: Sold by Esau Esau: Sells his Birthright for a Single Meal Firstborn: Birthright of The: Sold by Esau Gluttony: Esau Herbs: Lentiles Jacob: Obtains Esau's Birthright for Just One Bowl of Stew Lentiles: General Scriptures Concerning Responsibility: Attempts to Shift: Esau Worldliness: Esau Worldliness: Jacob

Genesis 25:34

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