What can we learn from Esau?

Don’t sell what is precious for an immediate need: Esau “for one morsel of meat sold his birthright” (Heb 12:16; Gen 25:34). There comes a moment when tears no longer change anything: “he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears” (Heb 12:17; Gen 27:38). Hatred can melt in a single encounter: Esau runs to Jacob, embraces him, and they weep (Gen 27:41; 33:4). God chooses according to his purpose, not according to birth order: “The elder shall serve the younger” (Rom 9:11-12).

Patriarchs · around 2000–1850 BC

Esau in the Bible

The hunter who sold his birthright. Name meaning: He is born “red, all over like an hairy garment”; he is nicknamed Edom, “red” (Genesis 25:25, 30)

Isaac’s firstborn son and Jacob’s twin brother, Esau is a skilled hunter who sells his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew, then loses his father’s blessing to Jacob. After vowing to kill him, he welcomes Jacob with an embrace twenty years later. Having become Edom, he is the father of a people settled in Seir, whom the Bible cites as a warning (Heb 12:16).

Main books: Genesis

Key moments

He is born first, all red, before Jacob Genesis 25:25–26
He sells his birthright for lentil stew Genesis 25:33–34
He marries two Hittite women, a grief to his parents Genesis 26:34–35
He loses the blessing Isaac intended for the firstborn Genesis 27:34
He resolves to kill Jacob Genesis 27:41
He runs to embrace Jacob and weeps with him Genesis 33:4
He settles in Seir: Esau is Edom Genesis 36:8

Strengths

Impulsiveness
Hunting skill
Reconciliation

Weaknesses

Esau gives in to the moment: exhausted, he sells his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew, and Genesis notes that he “despised his birthright” (Gen 25:32-34). Hebrews calls him “profane” (Heb 12:16). He also lets hatred take hold of him and thinks of killing his brother (Gen 27:41), and his marriages to Hittite women grieve his parents (Gen 26:34-35).

Lessons for today

Don’t sell what is precious for an immediate need: Esau “for one morsel of meat sold his birthright” (Heb 12:16; Gen 25:34).
There comes a moment when tears no longer change anything: “he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears” (Heb 12:17; Gen 27:38).
Hatred can melt in a single encounter: Esau runs to Jacob, embraces him, and they weep (Gen 27:41; 33:4).
God chooses according to his purpose, not according to birth order: “The elder shall serve the younger” (Rom 9:11-12).

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.

Genesis 25:34

And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

Genesis 33:4

Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Hebrews 12:16

People around Esau

Isaac — Father, who loved him for his game
Rebekah — Mother, who preferred Jacob
Jacob — Twin brother, who took his birthright and blessing
Ishmael — Son of Abraham, father of his wife Mahalath
Eliphaz — Eldest son, father of Teman and Amalek, among others

Quiz: how well do you know Esau?

What did Esau become as he grew up?

What did Esau sell his birthright to Jacob for?

Where did Esau settle after leaving the land of Canaan?

There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start your free trial.