Genesis 25:25 kjv

And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

Genesis 25:25 nkjv

And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau.

Genesis 25:25 niv

The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.

Genesis 25:25 esv

The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau.

Genesis 25:25 nlt

The first one was very red at birth and covered with thick hair like a fur coat. So they named him Esau.

Genesis 25 verses

Genesis 25 25 Meaning

Genesis 25:25 describes the birth of Isaac's first son, characterizing him immediately by his striking physical appearance. He emerged "red," signaling a connection to the earth and foreshadowing his future identity and that of his descendants, the Edomites (meaning "red"). His body was covered "all over like a hairy garment," emphasizing his dense hairiness. This distinctive feature became the basis for his given name, Esau, a play on words related to his hairy condition. The verse thus introduces a pivotal figure, establishing his identity and traits from birth, which would dramatically contrast with his younger twin brother, Jacob, and contribute to their complex sibling rivalry and the destiny of their respective nations.

Genesis 25 25 Context

Genesis 25 marks a pivotal transition in the patriarchal narrative, shifting focus from Abraham to his son Isaac and his family. The chapter opens with Abraham's death, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's promises through Isaac, specifically concerning lineage. Following Isaac's marriage to Rebekah and their barrenness, God answers Isaac's prayer for children. The birth of the twins, Esau and Jacob, in verse 25 and 26, is therefore an answered prayer and a momentous event. This specific verse introduces the firstborn twin, detailing his initial appearance, which immediately sets the stage for the dramatic and often contentious relationship between the two brothers, foreshadowing the divergent paths and destinies of the nations (Edom and Israel) that would descend from them. The description of Esau’s physical characteristics from birth immediately prefigures his character and lifestyle later in life as a hunter and a "man of the field" (Gen 25:27).

Genesis 25 25 Word analysis

• וַיֵּצֵא (vayyēṣē') - "And he came out / And the first one came out." The waw consecutive ("and") and the imperfect verb form indicate a sequential action, emphasizing the immediate emergence. This is the direct act of birth, an event central to biblical narratives about significant individuals.
• הָרִאשׁוֹן (hārī'šōn) - "the first." The definite article ("the") with "first" highlights his position of primogeniture, which held immense cultural and legal significance in ancient Israelite society regarding inheritance and blessing. His status as the firstborn immediately creates a sense of expectation, which the subsequent narrative will challenge.
• אַדְמוֹנִי (ʾaḏmō·nī) - "red / reddish." Derived from ʾādōm (red), a color often associated with blood, earth (ʾădāmāh), or ruddy complexion. In this context, it literally describes Esau's skin color at birth. Critically, it directly prefigures his later name and identity as "Edom," the nation whose name means "red" and whose territory was known for its red sandstone. This color can symbolize his connection to the earthly, the physical, and later, the rugged, "red" landscape of Seir.
• כֻּלּוֹ (kullō) - "all of him / all over him." This emphatic term ("all" + suffix for "him") signifies that the subsequent description applies to his entire body, leaving no part uncovered by hair. It paints a vivid picture of extreme hairiness.
• כְּאַדֶּרֶת (kəʾadderet) - "like a hairy garment / like a cloak of hair."
  • כְּ (kə) - "like," "as." A comparative particle, likening his hair to a specific covering.
  • אַדֶּרֶת (ʾadderet) - "mantle," "cloak," "robe," often a garment of significance, status, or distinctiveness (e.g., Elijah's mantle, Zech 13:4, Jonas' royal garment in Nineveh). The use of 'adderet here suggests his hairiness was not just fuzz but substantial, almost forming a natural coat or outer layer. It presents a powerful image of his inherent, almost animalistic, robustness from birth. Some interpret this as hinting at his nature as a "man of the field" or hunter, who would don such a garment (likely of animal skin) as part of his trade.
• שֵׂעָר (śē·ʿār) - "hair." The literal term for hair. This concrete detail confirms the preceding metaphor and is directly linked to the naming of Esau.
• וַיִּקְרְאוּ (vayyiqrəʾū) - "And they called / And they summoned." This plural verb suggests the collective action of his parents (Isaac and Rebekah) and potentially other witnesses present at the birth. Naming was a communal act and held deep significance in conveying identity or destiny.
• שְׁמוֹ (šəmō) - "his name." Standard term for designation.
• עֵשָׂו (ʿĒśāw) - "Esau." The given name. This name is a deliberate wordplay (paronomasia) on the preceding description, śēʿār (hair), directly tying his identity to his physical appearance. Some scholars also link the name to the Hebrew verb ʿāśāh (to make, do, complete), suggesting he was "fully formed" or "made," hinting at his ready-for-the-world nature contrasted with Jacob, who had to "grasp" (his heel, for Jacob).

Genesis 25 25 Bonus section

The Hebrew word ʾadderet used in Genesis 25:25, while describing Esau’s dense hairy covering, also appears in other significant biblical contexts. For example, it refers to a king's robe (Jonah 3:6), a prophet's mantle (2 Kings 1:8, 2:8, 2:13), and a luxurious cloak (Joshua 7:21, the "goodly Babylonish garment" coveted by Achan). This suggests that Esau’s birth-state might metaphorically (or visually) possess a natural covering akin to a mantle of authority or distinction. However, in Esau’s context, it describes an innate, perhaps even animalistic, quality that differentiates him starkly. While a prophet like Elijah wears an ʾadderet (often seen as a symbol of divine anointing), Esau is born covered in an ʾadderet of hair, highlighting a natural, earthy potency rather than a spiritual one. This distinction subtly foreshadows the contrasting paths chosen by Jacob (the spiritual heir) and Esau (the physical, worldly one).

Genesis 25 25 Commentary

Genesis 25:25 serves as the critical initial description of Esau, setting the trajectory for his character, life, and the destiny of his descendants. From the moment of birth, Esau is distinctively marked by a ruddy complexion and exceptional hairiness, details that are neither coincidental nor mere physical descriptions. The "red" color (ʾaḏmō·nī) intrinsically links him to ʾEdōm (Edom), the nation that will spring from him, embodying their geographical features (red sandstone hills) and possibly their passionate, earth-bound nature. The comprehensive "hairy garment" (kəʾadderet śēʿār) immediately establishes his primal, rugged, and potentially untamed disposition, contrasting sharply with his younger brother Jacob. The term ʾadderet for a "mantle" is intriguing; rather than simple hair, it implies a thick, cloak-like covering, foreshadowing his life as a man of the wild and a hunter. This immediate, strong physical characterization and the naming based on it ('Esau' reflecting 'hair') lay the foundational biblical framework for understanding the profound contrast and eventual conflict between these two brothers and the nations they would father. This divine predestination in appearance and nature, coupled with his later disregard for his birthright, underscores God's sovereign choice as illuminated in Romans 9, showing that lineage alone does not guarantee covenant blessings, but divine purpose.