Then 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. Then Jacob gave some bread and lentil stew to EsauThis phrase highlights the transaction between Jacob and Esau, where Jacob provides a simple meal in exchange for Esau's birthright. The bread and lentil stew symbolize the immediate, tangible satisfaction that Esau chooses over his long-term inheritance. In the cultural context of the time, a birthright was a significant privilege, granting the firstborn son a double portion of the inheritance and leadership of the family. This act foreshadows the later tension between Jacob and Esau, as well as the broader theme of God's sovereignty in choosing Jacob over Esau, as seen in Romans 9:13. who ate and drank and then got up and went away
Esau's actions here are quick and dismissive, indicating his lack of appreciation for the birthright. The verbs "ate," "drank," "got up," and "went away" suggest a transactional and indifferent attitude. This reflects a broader biblical theme of valuing spiritual blessings over immediate physical needs, as seen in Matthew 6:33, where Jesus teaches to seek first the kingdom of God. Thus Esau despised his birthright
The word "despised" indicates a deep disregard and contempt for something valuable. In Hebrews 12:16, Esau is described as "godless" for trading his birthright for a single meal, serving as a warning against prioritizing temporary desires over eternal blessings. This moment is pivotal in the narrative of Genesis, as it sets the stage for the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham through Jacob, rather than Esau. The birthright, in a typological sense, can be seen as a precursor to the inheritance believers receive through Christ, emphasizing the importance of valuing spiritual heritage. Persons / Places / Events 1. JacobThe younger son of Isaac and Rebekah, known for his cunning and desire for the birthright and blessing. 2. EsauThe elder son of Isaac and Rebekah, a skilled hunter, who impulsively traded his birthright for a meal. 3. BirthrightA significant inheritance right in ancient Hebrew culture, typically given to the firstborn son, including leadership of the family and a double portion of the inheritance. 4. Lentil StewThe meal Jacob prepared, which Esau accepted in exchange for his birthright, symbolizing Esau's shortsightedness. 5. DespisedThe Hebrew word used here is (bazah), meaning to hold in contempt or to regard as worthless, indicating Esau's disregard for his birthright. Teaching Points Value of Spiritual InheritanceJust as Esau undervalued his birthright, we must be careful not to undervalue our spiritual inheritance in Christ. Our eternal inheritance should be prioritized over temporary, worldly desires. Consequences of ImpulsivenessEsau's decision was made in a moment of physical hunger, teaching us the importance of self-control and foresight in our decisions, especially those affecting our spiritual lives. God's Sovereignty and Human ResponsibilityWhile God’s sovereign plan unfolds, human choices have real consequences. Esau's choice to despise his birthright had lasting implications, reminding us to make choices aligned with God's will. The Danger of Despising God's GiftsEsau's contempt for his birthright serves as a warning against taking God's blessings for granted. We should cherish and steward the gifts and responsibilities God entrusts to us. Bible Study Questions 1. What does Esau's decision to sell his birthright reveal about his character and priorities, and how can we apply this lesson to our own lives? 2. How does the concept of the birthright in Genesis 25:34 relate to our spiritual inheritance as believers in Christ? 3. In what ways can we guard against making impulsive decisions that might compromise our spiritual values or commitments? 4. How does the account of Esau and Jacob illustrate the balance between God's sovereignty and human responsibility? 5. Reflect on a time when you may have undervalued a blessing or responsibility from God. What steps can you take to better appreciate and steward what God has given you? Connections to Other Scriptures Hebrews 12:16-17This passage warns against being godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights, emphasizing the spiritual implications of Esau's actions. Genesis 27The continuation of the account where Jacob deceives Isaac to receive the blessing meant for Esau, further illustrating the consequences of Esau's earlier decision. Deuteronomy 21:17This law about the rights of the firstborn highlights the importance of the birthright that Esau despised. Romans 9:13Paul references God's sovereign choice, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated," which can be connected to the spiritual significance of valuing God's promises. | Neglect of Heavenly Things | J.F. Montgomery | Genesis 25:34 | | Pottage Versus Birthright | Alexander Maclaren | Genesis 25:34 | | Divine Purposes Unfolded | R.A. Redford | Genesis 25:19-34 | | Appetite Gratified and Appetite Held in Check | M. Dods, D. D. | Genesis 25:29-34 | | Brutishness of Worldlings | Spurgeon, Charles Haddon | Genesis 25:29-34 | | Contempt of Spiritual Privileges | J. B. C. Murphy, B. A. | Genesis 25:29-34 | | Despising Spiritual Gifts | M. Dods, D. D | Genesis 25:29-34 | | Esau and Jacob | J. C. Gray. | Genesis 25:29-34 | | Esau: a True Idea of Life and Prosperity | Homilist | Genesis 25:29-34 | | Esau's Contempt of His Birthright | J. Benson, D. D. | Genesis 25:29-34 | | Fondness for Pottage | Roberts. | Genesis 25:29-34 | | How Esau Lost His Birthright | W. S. Smith, B. D. | Genesis 25:29-34 | | Lentils | M. M. Kalisch, Ph. D. | Genesis 25:29-34 | | Lessons | G. Hughes, B. D. | Genesis 25:29-34 | | Lessons | G. Hughes, B. D. | Genesis 25:29-34 | | On Despising One's Birthright | J. B. Brown, B. A. | Genesis 25:29-34 | | The Birthright | A. Fuller. | Genesis 25:29-34 | | The Birthright Sold | Homilist | Genesis 25:29-34 | | The Despised Birthright | Archbishop Benson. | Genesis 25:29-34 | | The Sale of the Birthright | T. H. Leale. | Genesis 25:29-34 | | The Story of the Birthright | C. Kingsley, M. A. | Genesis 25:29-34 | | The Two Brothers | F. B. Meyer, B. A. | Genesis 25:29-34 | | Three Bad Bargains | Old Testament Anecdotes | Genesis 25:29-34 |
People Abraham, Abida, Abidah, Adbeel, Aram, Asshurim, Asshurites, Bethuel, Dedan, Dumah, Eldaah, Enoch, Ephah, Epher, Ephron, Esau, Hadad, Hadar, Hagar, Hanoch, Havilah, Heth, Hittites, Isaac, Ishbak, Ishmael, Jacob, Jetur, Jokshan, Kedar, Kedemah, Keturah, Laban, Letushim, Letushites, Leummim, Leummites, Mamre, Massa, Medan, Mibsam, Mishma, Naphish, Nebaioth, Nebajoth, Rebekah, Sarah, Shuah, Tema, Zimran, Zoar, ZoharPlaces Assyria, Beer-lahai-roi, Egypt, Machpelah, Mamre, Paddan-aram, Shur DesertTopics Ate, Birthright, Birth-right, Bread, Caring, Despised, Despiseth, Dish, Drank, Drink, Drinketh, Eat, Eateth, Esau, Got, Jacob, Lentil, Lentiles, Lentils, Pottage, Riseth, Rose, Soup, Stew, ThusDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 25:34 4418 bread Genesis 25:21-34 7530 foreigners Genesis 25:29-34 4404 food
5095 Jacob, life
5341 hunger Genesis 25:31-34 5688 firstborn Library Pottage Versus Birthright
Esau despised his birthright'--GENESIS xxv. 34. Broad lessons unmistakable, but points strange and difficult to throw oneself back to so different a set of ideas. So I. Deal with the narrative. Not to tell it over again, but bring out the following points:-- (a) Birthright.--What? None of them any notion of sacred, spiritual aspect of it. To all, merely material advantages: headship of the clan. All the loftier aspects gone from Isaac, who thought he could give it for venison, from Esau, and from …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Death of Abraham
'Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.'--GENESIS xxv. 8. 'Full of years' does not seem to me to be a mere synonym for longevity. That would be an intolerable tautology, for we should then have the same thing said three times over--'an old man,' 'in a good old age,' 'full of years.' There must be some other idea than that in the words. If you notice that the expression is by no means a usual one, that it is only …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Jacob and Esau
(Second Sunday in Lent.) GENESIS xxv. 29-34. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then …
Charles Kingsley—The Gospel of the Pentateuch Jesus Heals Multitudes Beside the Sea of Galilee.
^A Matt. XII. 15-21; ^B Mark III. 7-12. ^a 15 And Jesus perceiving it withdrew ^b with his disciples ^a from thence: ^b to the sea [This was the first withdrawal of Jesus for the avowed purpose of self-preservation. After this we find Jesus constantly retiring to avoid the plots of his enemies. The Sea of Galilee, with its boats and its shores touching different jurisdictions, formed a convenient and fairly safe retreat]: ^a and many followed him; ^b and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Every Believer's Birthright.
On every hand a lack of something is being felt and expressed by God's people. Their Christian experience is not what they expected it would be. Instead of expected victory, it is oft-recurring, dreaded defeat; instead of soul satisfaction, it is soul hunger; instead of deep, abiding heart rest, it is disquiet and discontent; instead of advancing, it is losing ground. Is this all Christ meant when He said, "Come unto Me"? Is this life of constant disappointment the normal life of the Bible Christian? …
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life Second Great Group of Parables.
(Probably in Peræa.) Subdivision D. Parable of the Lost Son. ^C Luke XV. 11-32. ^c 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons [These two sons represent the professedly religious (the elder) and the openly irreligious (the younger). They have special reference to the two parties found in the first two verses of this chapter --the Pharisees, the publicans and sinners]: 12 and the younger of them [the more childish and easily deceived] said to his father, Father, give me the portion of thy substance …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Conflict.
"Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against themselves, that ye …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews John the Baptist's Person and Preaching.
(in the Wilderness of Judæa, and on the Banks of the Jordan, Occupying Several Months, Probably a.d. 25 or 26.) ^A Matt. III. 1-12; ^B Mark I. 1-8; ^C Luke III. 1-18. ^b 1 The beginning of the gospel [John begins his Gospel from eternity, where the Word is found coexistent with God. Matthew begins with Jesus, the humanly generated son of Abraham and David, born in the days of Herod the king. Luke begins with the birth of John the Baptist, the Messiah's herald; and Mark begins with the ministry …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel But if Moreover any not Having Charity, which Pertaineth to the Unity of Spirit...
23. But if moreover any not having charity, which pertaineth to the unity of spirit and the bond of peace whereby the Catholic Church is gathered and knit together, being involved in any schism, doth, that he may not deny Christ, suffer tribulations, straits, hunger, nakedness, persecution, perils, prisons, bonds, torments, swords, or flames, or wild beasts, or the very cross, through fear of hell and everlasting fire; in nowise is all this to be blamed, nay rather this also is a patience meet to …
St. Augustine—On Patience Of the Effects of those Prerogatives.
From these prerogatives there will arise to the elect in heaven, five notable effects:-- 1. They shall know God with a perfect knowledge (1 Cor. i. 10), so far as creatures can possibly comprehend the Creator. For there we shall see the Word, the Creator; and in the Word, all creatures that by the Word were created; so that we shall not need to learn (of the things which were made) the knowledge of him by whom all things were made. The most excellent creatures in this life, are but as a dark veil …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Travelling in Palestine --Roads, Inns, Hospitality, Custom-House Officers, Taxation, Publicans
It was the very busiest road in Palestine, on which the publican Levi Matthew sat at the receipt of "custom," when our Lord called him to the fellowship of the Gospel, and he then made that great feast to which he invited his fellow-publicans, that they also might see and hear Him in Whom he had found life and peace (Luke 5:29). For, it was the only truly international road of all those which passed through Palestine; indeed, it formed one of the great highways of the world's commerce. At the time …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 25:34 NIVGenesis 25:34 NLTGenesis 25:34 ESVGenesis 25:34 NASBGenesis 25:34 KJV
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