Esau — Bible place

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).

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.

Recorded scripture occurrences (3)

References recorded in the source data; this is not an exhaustive list of mentions.

Show passage in OET: GEN 36:40

OET-RV GEN 36:40

40 And these are the names of the chiefs of Esav (Esau), according to their clans, according to their places, by their names: Chief Timna, Chief Alvan, Chief Yetet,

OET-LV GEN 36:40

40 And_these were_the _names _of the _chiefs _of ˊĒsāv to_their_clans to_places _of_their by_names _of_their chief Timnāˊ chief ˊAlvāh chief Yətēt/(Jetheth).

Show passage in OET: JER 49:10

OET-RV JER 49:10

10 However, I’ll strip Esav (i.e., Edom) bare.
⇔ I’ve uncovered his secret places so he can’t hide himself.
⇔ His descendants and other relatives and neighbours will be devastated and destroyed.

OET-LV JER 49:10

10 If/because I I _will _strip _bare DOM ˊĒsāv I _will _uncover DOM places _of_its _secret and_it _will _hide _itself not it _will _be _able his/its_seed and_relatives _of_its and_neighbours _of_its it _will _be _devastated and_it_will_not_be.

Show passage in OET: OBA 1:18

OET-RV OBA 1:18

18 Yisrael’s people will be a fire,
⇔ ≈ and Yosef’s (Joseph’s) descendants will be a flame.
⇔ None of Esav’s (Esau’s) descendants will survive,
⇔ because Yahweh has spoken.

OET-LV OBA 1:18

18 And_it _was the _house _of Yaˊₐqoⱱ a _fire and_the _house _of Yōşēf/(Joseph) will _be_a _flame and_the _house _of Esau will_become_(into)_stubble and_they _will _burn in/among_them and_they_will _consume _them and_not he _will _belong a _survivor to_the _house _of Esau if/because YHWH he _has _spoken.

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