Jacob and Esau. 

Genesis 25:19-34

Bible Stories

Genesis 25:19 Likewise, these are the generations of Isaac, the son of Abraham. Abraham conceived Isaac,

Genesis 25:20 who, when he was forty years old, took Rebekah, the sister of Laban, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian from Mesopotamia, as a wife.

Genesis 25:21 And Isaac beseeched the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And he heard him, and he gave conception to Rebekah.

Genesis 25:22 But the little ones struggled in her womb. So she said, “If it was to be so with me, what need was there to conceive?” And she went to consult the Lord.

Genesis 25:23 And responding, he said, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will be divided out of your womb, and one people will overcome the other people, and the elder will serve the younger.”

Genesis 25:24 Now the time had arrived to give birth, and behold, twins were discovered in her womb.

Genesis 25:25 He who departed first was red, and entirely hairy like a pelt; and his name was called Esau. At once the other departed and he held his brother’s foot in his hand; and because of this he was called Jacob.

Genesis 25:26 Isaac was sixty years old when the little ones were born to him.

Genesis 25:27 And as adults, Esau became a knowledgeable hunter and a man of agriculture, but Jacob, a simple man, dwelt in tents.

Genesis 25:28 Isaac was fond of Esau, because he was fed from his hunting; and Rebekah loved Jacob.

Genesis 25:29 Then Jacob boiled a small meal. Esau, when he had arrived weary from the field,

Genesis 25:30 said to him, “Give me this red stew, for I am very tired.” For this reason, his name was called Edom.

Genesis 25:31 Jacob said to him, “Sell me your right of the firstborn.”

Genesis 25:32 He answered, “Lo, I am dying, what will the right of the firstborn provide for me?”

Genesis 25:33 Jacob said, “So then, swear to me.” Esau swore to him, and he sold his right of the firstborn.

Genesis 25:34 And so, taking bread and the food of lentils, he ate, and he drank, and he went away, giving little weight to having sold the right of the firstborn.