Esau

Esau is a figure in the Hebrew Bible, known as the firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah and the twin brother of Jacob. His name, often translated as “hairy” or “reddish,” is associated with his appearance at birth. Esau is regarded as the patriarch of the Edomites, a people who lived in the region called Edom, southeast of the ancient Israelites.

In Genesis, Esau is described as a skilled hunter and outdoorsman, while Jacob is portrayed as more domestic. Isaac’s preference for Esau and Rebekah’s preference for Jacob shape the family dynamics. Esau’s most famous actions include selling his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil stew, thereby forfeiting the privileges of the firstborn (Genesis 25:29–34). Later, Jacob, with Rebekah’s help, deceives Isaac to obtain the blessing intended for Esau; when Esau learns of it, he laments and vows to kill Jacob, prompting Jacob to flee. The brothers eventually reconcile years later, as described in Genesis 33.

Esau’s marriages are noted as taking wives from neighboring peoples, often described as Hittites, and his descendants are listed as the Edomites, whose genealogies appear in Genesis 36. The Edomites form a distinct nation south of the Israelites and appear in various biblical narratives as neighbors and sometimes opponents.

In the New Testament, Esau is cited as an example of someone who forfeited his birthright, and his story is used in discussions of divine choice and inheritance (for example, the contrast between Jacob and Esau is referenced in discussions of election and blessing).