Genesis 25:30 kjv

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.

Genesis 25:30 nkjv

And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary." Therefore his name was called Edom.

Genesis 25:30 niv

He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom.)

Genesis 25:30 esv

And Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!" (Therefore his name was called Edom. )

Genesis 25:30 nlt

Esau said to Jacob, "I'm starved! Give me some of that red stew!" (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means "red.")

Genesis 25 verses

Genesis 25 30 Meaning

Genesis 25:30 records Esau's desperate plea to Jacob to consume a simple meal, specifying its color and stating his extreme exhaustion. This exchange culminates in a pivotal act where Esau, driven by immediate physical hunger, dismisses the immense value of his birthright for a bowl of "red stuff." The verse then highlights the lasting consequence of this choice by stating that Esau's nickname, "Edom" (meaning "red"), was directly linked to this event, forever marking his identity through his profound disregard for his spiritual inheritance.

Genesis 25 30 Context

Genesis 25 marks a crucial turning point in the Abrahamic narrative, shifting focus from Abraham's life and death to the generational unfolding of his covenant promises through his son Isaac and his twin sons, Jacob and Esau. The preceding verses introduce Rebekah's difficult pregnancy and God's prophecy that "two nations are in your womb," and "the older shall serve the younger" (Gen 25:23), setting the stage for the dramatic inversion of traditional birth order. Esau is described as a skillful hunter, a man of the field, symbolizing his immediate gratification and earthly pursuits. Jacob, conversely, is described as a "quiet man, dwelling in tents," implying a more reflective, perhaps strategic, and domestic nature. This verse directly follows these descriptions, immediately illustrating the contrasting characters of the brothers and the significance of the firstborn birthright, which granted double inheritance, headship of the family, and primary status within the covenantal promises passed down from Abraham and Isaac. The event is deeply etched into the future identity of Esau's descendants, the Edomites.

Genesis 25 30 Word analysis

• And Esau said: Introduces the immediate and impatient voice of Esau, signaling his demand.
• to Jacob, 'Please let me gulp down...': (Hebrew: הַלְעִיטֵנִי, hal‘îṭênî). Derived from the root לָעַט (la‘aṭ), meaning "to feed ravenously, to swallow quickly, to devour." This is not a polite request for food, but an urgent, almost animalistic demand to satisfy an overwhelming immediate need. It highlights Esau's impulsiveness and lack of self-control, suggesting a rapid, greedy ingestion, contrasting with thoughtful consumption.
• 'some of that red stuff, for I am famished.': (Hebrew: מִן הָאָדֹם הָאָדֹם הַזֶּה, min hā’ādōm hā’ādōm hazzēh). The repetition of ’ādōm ("red") emphasizes the striking color of the stew (likely lentils, mentioned in Gen 25:34) and foreshadows the new name ’Edom. The repetition indicates not just redness but perhaps an intense, overwhelming red, signifying its compelling appeal to Esau.
• 'for I am famished': (Hebrew: כִּי עָיֵף אָנֹכִי, kî ‘āyêf ’ānōḵî). The word ‘āyêf means "weary, faint, exhausted," going beyond mere hunger. It depicts a state of utter physical depletion, providing Esau's justification (or rationalization) for his rash decision. His physical exhaustion dictates his immediate priorities, overriding any consideration for future blessing or status.
• Therefore his name was called Edom.: (Hebrew: עַל כֵּן קָרָא שְׁמוֹ אֱדוֹם, ‘al kēn qārā’ šəmô ’ĕḏôm). This serves as an etiological statement, providing the origin of Esau's alternate name and the name of his descendants' nation, Edom. The name ’Edom means "red," a permanent label rooted in his despising his birthright for a temporary, physical indulgence. It marks a foundational identity for Esau and the nation that would later stand in opposition to Israel.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "Please let me gulp down some of that red stuff": This phrase encapsulates Esau's core character flaws: impulsiveness, lack of foresight, and valuing immediate physical gratification over significant long-term spiritual blessings. The urgency and animalistic craving (gulp down) are starkly evident.
  • "for I am famished. Therefore his name was called Edom": This highlights the immediate consequence and permanent historical marker of Esau's profound short-sightedness. His exhaustion becomes the pretext for a choice that permanently defines him and his lineage by a common, easily-obtainable meal, rather than his birthright privilege.

Genesis 25 30 Bonus section

• The naming of Edom (red) from the "red stuff" serves as a narrative etiology not only for Esau's nickname but also for the subsequent nation of Edom. This etymological pun ties the entire national character and destiny of the Edomites to this single act of their progenitor's profound shortsightedness and disdain for spiritual things.
• The event signifies a narrative justification for why the Abrahamic blessing, particularly the lineage through whom the Messiah would come, passed to Jacob rather than Esau, the natural firstborn. It illustrates divine election operating through human choices and consequences.
• Esau's state of being 'ayeph (famished/weary) implies a lack of rational thought, but his subsequent action is presented not as a moment of weakness to be pitied, but as a defining act of his true character, as confirmed by later biblical writers (Heb 12:16).
• The story suggests that decisions made under extreme pressure or bodily urgency can still have lasting spiritual and covenantal implications. It underlines the principle that self-control and discernment are vital in valuing and preserving spiritual blessings.

Genesis 25 30 Commentary

Genesis 25:30 stands as a foundational narrative illuminating the profound consequences of valuing immediate carnal satisfaction over eternal spiritual blessing. Esau, weary and hungry from hunting, gives in to a desperate, unthinking craving for a mere bowl of lentil stew. His use of "gulp down" (la‘aṭ) indicates an uncontrolled, almost savage appetite, underscoring his profane disposition. The repetitive "red stuff" highlights the very mundane, physical object for which he forfeited a priceless heritage, and explicitly connects to his new, permanent identifier, "Edom." This verse encapsulates the profound difference between the brothers' character: Jacob, though cunning, valued the spiritual inheritance, while Esau dismissed it as worthless when compared to his temporary physical comfort. This act demonstrates that spiritual assets, when scorned, can be irreversibly lost, setting a critical precedent for understanding God's sovereign choices in redemption history. This incident serves as a stark warning to all who might trade their divine calling or heavenly inheritance for fleeting earthly desires or physical gratifications, establishing a paradigm of despising the sacred.