Genesis 25:21-34

New American Standard Bible 1995

²¹ Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and ^(A)the Lord ^[a]answered him and Rebekah his wife ^(B)conceived. ²² But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why then am I this way?” So she went to ^(C)inquire of the Lord. ²³ The Lord said to her,

²⁴ When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. ²⁵ Now the first came forth red, ^(G)all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. ²⁶ Afterward his brother came forth with ^(H)his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, so ^(I)his name was called ^[b]Jacob; and Isaac was ^(J)sixty years old when she gave birth to them.

²⁷ When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a ^[c]peaceful man, ^[d](K)living in tents. ²⁸ Now Isaac loved Esau, because ^[e]he had ^(L)a taste for game, ^(M)but Rebekah loved Jacob. ²⁹ When Jacob had cooked ^(N)stew, Esau came in from the field and he was ^[f]famished; ³⁰ and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow of ^[g]that red stuff there, for I am ^[h]famished.” Therefore his name was called ^[i]Edom. ³¹ But Jacob said, “^[j]First sell me your ^(O)birthright.” ³² Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” ³³ And Jacob said, “^[k]First swear to me”; so he swore to him, and ^(P)sold his birthright to Jacob. ³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.