Genesis 25:33
New International Version
But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

New Living Translation
But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.

English Standard Version
Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.

Berean Standard Bible
“Swear to me first,” Jacob said. So Esau swore to Jacob and sold him the birthright.

King James Bible
And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

New King James Version
Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.

New American Standard Bible
And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore an oath to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.

NASB 1995
And Jacob said, “First swear to me"; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.

NASB 1977
And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.

Amplified Bible
Jacob said, “Swear [an oath] to me today [that you are selling it to me for this food]”; so he swore [an oath] to him, and sold him his birthright.

Christian Standard Bible
Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him.

American Standard Version
And Jacob said, Swear to me first; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

Contemporary English Version
But Jacob said, "Promise me your birthrights, here and now!" And that's what Esau did.

English Revised Version
And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"First, swear an oath," Jacob said. So Esau swore an oath to him and sold him his rights as firstborn.

Good News Translation
Jacob answered, "First make a vow that you will give me your rights." Esau made the vow and gave his rights to Jacob.

International Standard Version
But Jacob insisted, "Swear it by an oath right now." So he swore an oath to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.

Majority Standard Bible
“Swear to me first,” Jacob said. So Esau swore to Jacob and sold him the birthright.

NET Bible
But Jacob said, "Swear an oath to me now." So Esau swore an oath to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.

New Heart English Bible
Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore to him, and he sold his birthright to Jacob.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he swore to him: and he sold his birth-right to Jacob.

World English Bible
Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jacob says, “Swear to me today”: and he swears to him, and sells his birthright to Jacob;

Young's Literal Translation
and Jacob saith, 'Swear to me to-day:' and he sweareth to him, and selleth his birthright to Jacob;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jacob will say, Swear to me this day: and he will swear to him: and he will sell his birth-right to Jacob.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Jacob said: Swear therefore to me. Esau swore to him, and sold his first birthright.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Jacob said, “So then, swear to me.” Esau swore to him, and he sold his right of the firstborn.

New American Bible
But Jacob said, “Swear to me first!” So he sold Jacob his right as firstborn under oath.

New Revised Standard Version
Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Jacob said to him, Swear to me this day; and he swore to him; and he sold his birthright to Jacob.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Yaquuv said to him, “Swear to me today”, and he swore to him, and he sold his firstborn birthright to Yaquuv.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Jacob said: 'Swear to me first'; and he swore unto him; and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Jacob said to him, Swear to me this day; and he swore to him; and Esau sold his birthright to Jacob.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Esau Sells His Birthright
32“Look,” said Esau, “I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?” 33“Swear to me first,” Jacob said. So Esau swore to Jacob and sold him the birthright. 34Then Jacob gave some bread and lentil stew to Esau, who ate and drank and then got up and went away. Thus Esau despised his birthright.…

Cross References
Hebrews 12:16
See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.

Romans 9:13
So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

Genesis 27:36
So Esau declared, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice. He took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

Genesis 27:33-34
Isaac began to tremble violently and said, “Who was it, then, who hunted the game and brought it to me? Before you came in, I ate it all and blessed him—and indeed, he will be blessed!” / When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me too, O my father!”

Genesis 27:41
Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

Malachi 1:2-3
“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved, / but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”

Genesis 26:34-35
When Esau was forty years old, he took as his wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. / And they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

Genesis 28:8-9
And seeing that his father Isaac disapproved of the Canaanite women, / Esau went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Abraham’s son Ishmael, in addition to the wives he already had.

Genesis 32:28
Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”

Genesis 33:4
Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.

Genesis 36:1
This is the account of Esau (that is, Edom).

Genesis 36:8
So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the area of Mount Seir.

Genesis 36:43
Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they possessed. Esau was the father of the Edomites.

Deuteronomy 21:15-17
If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, / when that man assigns his inheritance to his sons he must not appoint the son of the beloved wife as the firstborn over the son of the unloved wife. / Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.

1 Chronicles 5:1-2
These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright. / And though Judah prevailed over his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright belonged to Joseph.


Treasury of Scripture

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he swore to him: and he sold his birthright to Jacob.

Swear.

Genesis 14:22
And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

Genesis 24:3
And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Mark 6:23
And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

and he sold.

Genesis 27:36
And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?

Genesis 36:6,7
And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob…

Hebrews 12:16
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Jump to Previous
Birthright Birth-Right First Handing Jacob Oath Selleth Selling Sold Sware Swear Sweareth Swore To-Day
Jump to Next
Birthright Birth-Right First Handing Jacob Oath Selleth Selling Sold Sware Swear Sweareth Swore To-Day
Genesis 25
1. The sons of Abraham by Keturah.
5. The division of his goods.
7. His age, death, and burial.
11. God blesses Isaac.
12. The generations of Ishmael.
17. His age and death.
19. Isaac prays for Rebekah, being barren.
22. The children strive in her womb.
24. The birth of Esau and Jacob.
27. Their different characters and pursuits.
29. Esau sells his birthright.














But Jacob said
The name "Jacob" in Hebrew is "Ya'akov," which means "heel holder" or "supplanter." This name is prophetic of Jacob's actions throughout his life, as he often finds himself in situations where he supplants or overtakes others, beginning with his brother Esau. This phrase introduces Jacob's strategic and opportunistic nature, which is a recurring theme in his life. It reflects the human tendency to seek advantage, yet it also sets the stage for God's sovereign plan to unfold through Jacob, despite his flawed character.

Swear to me first
The act of swearing an oath in ancient times was a serious and binding commitment. In Hebrew culture, an oath was not taken lightly, as it invoked the name of God as a witness to the promise. Jacob's insistence on Esau swearing to him highlights the gravity of the transaction and Jacob's determination to secure the birthright. This reflects the biblical principle that words and promises hold significant weight and should be honored with integrity.

So he swore to Jacob
Esau's compliance in swearing the oath indicates his impulsive nature and lack of appreciation for the spiritual and familial significance of the birthright. In the Hebrew context, the birthright was not merely a material inheritance but also a spiritual blessing and responsibility. Esau's willingness to swear away his birthright for immediate gratification is a cautionary tale about the dangers of prioritizing temporal desires over eternal values.

and sold his birthright to him
The birthright, or "bekorah" in Hebrew, was a position of honor and authority within the family, entitling the firstborn to a double portion of the inheritance and leadership of the family. By selling his birthright, Esau demonstrates a disregard for the covenantal promises given to Abraham and Isaac, which were to be passed down through the family line. This transaction is pivotal in the biblical narrative, as it shifts the trajectory of God's covenantal promises from Esau to Jacob, illustrating God's sovereignty in choosing whom He will bless and use for His purposes.

Verse 33. - And Jacob said, Swear to me this day. On the expression "this day" vide supra, ver. 31. The conduct of Jacob in this transaction is difficult to defend Though aware of the heavenly oracle that assigned to him the precedence in his father s house, he was far from being justified in endeavoring, by "cautious, prudent, and conciliatory proposals" (Murphy), but rather by unbelieving impatience, despicable meanness, and miserable craft, to anticipate Divine providence, which in due time without his assistance would have implemented its own designs. And he sware unto him. If Jacob's demand of an oath evinced ungenerous suspicion, Esau's giving of an oath showed a low sense of honor (Lange). And he sold his birthright unto Jacob - thus meriting the appellation of βέβηλος (Hebrews 12:16).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Swear to me first,”
הִשָּׁ֤בְעָה (hiš·šā·ḇə·‘āh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear

Jacob
יַעֲקֹ֗ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

said.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

So [Esau] swore
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֖ע (way·yiš·šā·ḇa‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear

to Jacob and sold
וַיִּמְכֹּ֥ר (way·yim·kōr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4376: To sell

him
לְיַעֲקֹֽב׃ (lə·ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

the birthright.
בְּכֹרָת֖וֹ (bə·ḵō·rā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1062: The firstling of man, beast, primogeniture


Links
Genesis 25:33 NIV
Genesis 25:33 NLT
Genesis 25:33 ESV
Genesis 25:33 NASB
Genesis 25:33 KJV

Genesis 25:33 BibleApps.com
Genesis 25:33 Biblia Paralela
Genesis 25:33 Chinese Bible
Genesis 25:33 French Bible
Genesis 25:33 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Genesis 25:33 Jacob said Swear to me first (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 25:32
Top of Page
Top of Page