Esau Sells His Birthright

27 When the boys grew up, Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman,[a] but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.[b] 28 Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.(A)

29 Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field exhausted. 30 He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I’m exhausted.” That is why he was also named Edom.[c]

31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

32 “Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”

33 Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him. 34 Then Jacob gave bread and lentil stew to Esau; he ate, drank, got up, and went away. So Esau despised his birthright.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 25:27 Lit a man of the field
  2. Genesis 25:27 Lit man living in tents
  3. Genesis 25:30 = Red

27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter,(A) a man of the open country,(B) while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. 28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game,(C) loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.(D)

29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew,(E) Esau came in from the open country,(F) famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew!(G) I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.[a])(H)

31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.(I)

32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

33 But Jacob said, “Swear(J) to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright(K) to Jacob.

34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew.(L) He ate and drank, and then got up and left.

So Esau despised his birthright.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 25:30 Edom means red.