Illustration created for this project.
Esau
Elder twin of Jacob, who sold his birthright for a meal; ancestor of the Edomites.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 2
Archaeology — physical evidence · 1
Family & lineage
ArchaeologyGenesis makes Esau — also called Edom — the father of the Edomites. Their kingdom, south-east of the Dead Sea, is attested directly in Assyrian royal records and by archaeology at sites such as Busayra from about the 8th century BC, though no text names Esau himself.
Busayra, excavated by Crystal-M. Bennett 1971–74 (publ. P. Bienkowski, 'Busayra: Excavations by Crystal-M. Bennett 1971–1980', British Academy/OUP, 2002) and Tawilan (Bennett; ed. Bienkowski, British Academy, 1995); Edomite kings named in Assyrian royal inscriptions — Qaushmalaka (Tiglath-pileser III), Ayarammu (Sennacherib), Qaushgabri (Esarhaddon & Ashurbanipal); no text names Esau.
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Edom
Where in scripture
GenesisDeuteronomyJoshua1 ChroniclesJeremiahObadiahMalachiRomansHebrews
Genesis 25:25Genesis 25:33Genesis 26:34Genesis 28:5Genesis 33:1Genesis 35:1Genesis 35:29Genesis 36:21Genesis 36:40Genesis 36:43Deuteronomy 2:4Joshua 24:41 Chronicles 1:341 Chronicles 1:351 Chronicles 1:511 Chronicles 1:54Jeremiah 49:8Jeremiah 49:10Obadiah 1:6Obadiah 1:18Malachi 1:2Malachi 1:3Romans 9:13Hebrews 11:20
…and 1 more mentions
Family
In their own words — 15 recorded sayings
“And Esau said to Jacob, Give me a full meal of that red soup, for I am overcome with need for food: for this reason he was named Edom.” — Genesis 25:30
“And Esau said, Truly, I am at the point of death: what profit is the birthright to me?” — Genesis 25:32
“Now when Isaac was old and his eyes had become clouded so that he was not able to see, he sent for Esau, his first son, and said to him, My son: and he said, Here am I.” — Genesis 27:1
“And he made ready a meal, good to the taste, and took it to his father, and said to him, Let my father get up and take of his son's meat, so that you may give me a blessing. And Isaac his father said to him, Who are you? And he said, I am your oldest son, Esau.” — Genesis 27:31-32
“And hearing the words of his father, Esau gave a great and bitter cry, and said to his father, Give a blessing to me, even to me, O my father!” — Genesis 27:34
“And he said, Is it because he is named Jacob that he has twice taken my place? for he took away my birthright, and now he has taken away my blessing. And he said, Have you not kept a blessing for me?” — Genesis 27:36
“And Esau said to his father, Is that the only blessing you have, my father? give a blessing to me, even me! And Esau was overcome with weeping.” — Genesis 27:38
“So Esau was full of hate for Jacob because of his father's blessing; and he said in his heart, The days of weeping for my father are near; then I will put my brother Jacob to death.” — Genesis 27:41
…and 7 more recorded sayings.
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
In art
