Who was Esau in the Bible?
Hebrew name: עֵשָׂו (esau)
Name meaning: Unknown – likely a play on words. The name is similar to the Hebrew word for “hairy.”1
Son of Isaac, ancestral head of the nation of Edom (Genesis 25 ff.)
Esau was a man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned in Genesis 25:25. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, the brother of Israel (also known as Jacob), and he was married to Oholibamah, Judith, Adah, and Mahalath. Esau was the father of Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. Esau is also referred to as Edom in Genesis 25:30 and throughout the Bible.
Esau is known for his impulsive and worldly nature, as seen when he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:29-34). This act demonstrated his disregard for his spiritual heritage and led to the fulfillment of the prophecy that the older would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23).
Esau’s descendants, the Edomites, became a significant group in the region, often in conflict with the descendants of Jacob, the Israelites. The Bible traces the history of Esau’s lineage and their interactions with the people of Israel in various passages, shedding light on the consequences of Esau’s choices and the faithfulness of God’s promises to both Esau and Jacob.
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Edward J. Bridge, “Esau, Son of Isaac,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).