Encyclopedia entry
Esau
Hairy, Rebekah’s first-born twin son (Gen. 25:25). The name of Edom, “red”, was also given to him from his conduct in connection with the red lentil “pottage” for which he sold his birthright (30, 31). The circumstances connected with his birth foreshadowed the enmity which afterwards subsisted between the twin brothers and the nations they founded (25:22, 23, 26). In process of time Jacob, following his natural bent, became a shepherd; while Esau, a “son of the desert,” devoted himself to the perilous and toilsome life of a huntsman. On a certain occasion, on returning from the chase, urged by the cravings of hunger, Esau sold his birthright to his brother, Jacob, who thereby obtained the covenant blessing (Gen. 27:28, 29, 36; Heb. 12:16, 17). He afterwards tried to regain what he had so recklessly parted with, but was defeated in his attempts through the stealth of his brother (Gen. 27:4, 34, 38).
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At the age of forty years, to the great grief of his parents, he married (Gen. 26:34, 35) two Canaanitish maidens, Judith, the daughter of Beeri, and Bashemath, the daughter of Elon. When Jacob was sent away to Padan-aram, Esau tried to conciliate his parents (Gen. 28:8, 9) by marrying his cousin Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael. This led him to cast in his lot with the Ishmaelite tribes; and driving the Horites out of Mount Seir, he settled in that region. After some thirty years’ sojourn in Padan-aram Jacob returned to Canaan, and was reconciled to Esau, who went forth to meet him (33:4). Twenty years after this, Isaac their father died, when the two brothers met, probably for the last time, beside his grave (35:29). Esau now permanently left Canaan, and established himself as a powerful and wealthy chief in the land of Edom (q.v.).
Long after this, when the descendants of Jacob came out of Egypt, the Edomites remembered the old quarrel between the brothers, and with fierce hatred they warred against Israel.
Also from Smith's (1884) +−
(hairy), the eldest son of Isaac, and twin-brother of Jacob. The singular appearance of the child at his birth originated the name. (Genesis 25:25) Esau’s robust frame and “rough” aspect were the types of a wild and daring nature. He was a thorough Bedouin, a “son of the desert.” He was much loved by his father, and was of course his heir, but was induced to sell his birthright to Jacob. Mention of his unhappy marriages may be found in (Genesis 26:34) The next episode in the life of Esau is the loss of his father’s covenant blessing, which Jacob secured through the craft of his mother, and the anger of Esau, who vows vengeance. (Genesis 27:1) ... Later he marries a daughter of Ishmael, (Genesis 28:8,9) and soon after establishes himself in Mount Seir, where he was living when Jacob returned from Padan-aram rich and powerful, and the two brothers were reconciled. (Genesis 33:4) Twenty years thereafter they united in burying Isaac’s body in the cave of Machpelah. Of Esau’s subsequent history nothing is known; for that of his descendants see Edom, Idumaea Or Idumea.
In the Bible
86
Verses where Esau is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Chronicles 1:34
Abraham was the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.
- 1 Chronicles 1:35
The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
- Deuteronomy 2:4
and command the people: ‘You will pass through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so you must be very careful.
- Deuteronomy 2:5
Do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even a footprint, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his possession.
- Deuteronomy 2:8
So we passed by our brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned away from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion-geber, and traveled along the road of the Wilderness of Moab.
- Deuteronomy 2:12
The Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out. They destroyed the Horites from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did in the land that the LORD gave them as their possession.)
+80 more verses naming Esau.
Scripture on Esau
17
Entries that reference Esau
54
See all 54 +−
- JudithRebekahAdahAholibamahAholibamah Or AbolibamahAiahAmalekAnahArabiaBashemathBeeriBirthrightBowingCamelDispersionEdomEdom, Idumaea Or IdumeaElbethelEliphazElonFieldGatamHittitesHoritesHuntingJaalamJabbokJethethJeushKenazKorahLentilsMagdielMahalathMibzarMizzahNahathNebaiothOmarReuelSeirShammahSuccothTemanTimna, Or TimnahWineZephoZerahZibeon
Esau references
22
More illustrations of Esau
3
3 402 Recommandations d'Isaac à Esaü (Genesis 27 21) • invenit James Tissot • pinxit James Tissot • excudit Maurice de Brunoff apud Philip de Vere • praesentat Phillip Medhurst
James Tissot
3 403 Jacob prend la place de Esaü (Genesis 27 21) • invenit James Tissot • pinxit James Tissot • excudit Maurice de Brunoff apud Philip de Vere • praesentat Phillip Medhurst
James Tissot
3 402 Jacob voit venir à lui Esaü (Genesis 33 1) • invenit James Tissot • pinxit James Tissot • excudit Maurice de Brunoff apud Philip de Vere • praesentat Phillip Medhurst
James Tissot
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Voices on Esau
17
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
Sources · Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869) · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.