Genesis 25

Isaac’s Family

19This is the account of Isaac's family. Isaac was Abraham's son; Abraham became the father of Isaac.

20Isaac was forty when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.

21Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife because she could not bear children. The LORD answered his plea, and his wife Rebekah conceived.

22The children struggled against each other inside her. “If it is like this, why am I here?” she said. So she went to inquire of the LORD.

23The LORD said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb;
two peoples will separate from within you.
One people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger.”

24When her time to give birth arrived, there were twins in her womb.

25The first came out red, covered all over like a hairy cloak. They named him Esau.

26Then his brother came out, his hand gripping Esau's heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty when they were born.

Esau and Jacob

27The boys grew up. Esau became a skilled hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man who lived in tents.

28Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed the game Esau brought, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

The Birthright

29Jacob was cooking a stew when Esau came in from the open country, exhausted.

30Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me gulp down some of that red stuff—that red stuff! I am exhausted.” That is why he was called Edom.

31Jacob answered, “First sell me your birthright.”

32“I am about to die,” Esau said. “What use is a birthright to me?”

33“Swear to me first,” Jacob said. Esau swore and sold his birthright to Jacob.

34Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. Esau ate and drank, got up, and went away. So Esau treated his birthright with contempt.