27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a [a]civilized man, (A)living in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau because [b]he had (B)a taste for game; (C)but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 When Jacob had cooked a (D)stew one day, Esau came in from the field and he was exhausted; 30 and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a mouthful of [c]that red stuff there, for I am exhausted.” Therefore he was called [d]Edom by name. 31 But Jacob said, “[e]First sell me your (E)birthright.” 32 Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” 33 And Jacob said, “[f]First swear to me”; so he swore an oath to him, and (F)sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and got up and went on his way. So Esau despised his birthright.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 25:27 Lit complete
  2. Genesis 25:28 Lit game was in his mouth
  3. Genesis 25:30 Lit the red, this red
  4. Genesis 25:30 I.e., red
  5. Genesis 25:31 Lit Today
  6. Genesis 25:33 Lit Today

Jacob acquires the oldest son’s rights

27 When the young men grew up, Esau became an outdoorsman who knew how to hunt, and Jacob became a quiet man who stayed at home. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 Once when Jacob was boiling stew, Esau came in from the field hungry 30 and said to Jacob, “I’m starving! Let me devour some of this red stuff.” That’s why his name is Edom.[a]

31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright[b] today.”

32 Esau said, “Since I’m going to die anyway, what good is my birthright to me?”

33 Jacob said, “Give me your word today.” And he did. He sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 So Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. He ate, drank, got up, and left, showing just how little he thought of his birthright.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 25:30 Or red
  2. Genesis 25:31 Or oldest son’s rights