23 And the Lord said to her:

(A)“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than (B)the other,
(C)And the older shall serve the younger.”

24 So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red. He was (D)like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name [a]Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out, and (E)his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so (F)his name was called [b]Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 So the boys grew. And Esau was (G)a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was (H)a [c]mild man, (I)dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau because he (J)ate of his game, (K)but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Esau Sells His Birthright(L)

29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called [d]Edom.

31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”

32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so (M)what is this birthright to me?”

33 Then Jacob said, [e]“Swear to me as of this day.”

So he swore to him, and (N)sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then (O)he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau (P)despised his birthright.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 25:25 Lit. Hairy
  2. Genesis 25:26 Supplanter or Deceitful, lit. One Who Takes the Heel
  3. Genesis 25:27 Lit. complete
  4. Genesis 25:30 Lit. Red
  5. Genesis 25:33 Take an oath

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