Genesis 25:32 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 25:32 kjv
And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
Genesis 25:32 nkjv
And Esau said, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?"
Genesis 25:32 niv
"Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?"
Genesis 25:32 esv
Esau said, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?"
Genesis 25:32 nlt
"Look, I'm dying of starvation!" said Esau. "What good is my birthright to me now?"
Genesis 25 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 25:23 | And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb... | God's sovereign choice for Jacob. |
| Gen 25:34 | Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat... Esau despised his birthright. | Direct statement of Esau's contempt. |
| Heb 12:16-17 | Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau... | Defines Esau as profane for selling birthright. |
| Gen 27:36 | ...Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me... | Esau's later regret, acknowledges Jacob's act. |
| Mal 1:2-3 | Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau... | God's sovereign distinction. |
| Rom 9:10-13 | ...as it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. | Theological explanation of God's choice. |
| Deut 21:17 | ...for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his. | Legal rights of the firstborn. |
| Mat 16:26 | For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? | Analogous valuation of earthly vs. eternal. |
| Lk 9:25 | For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? | Prioritizing physical over spiritual. |
| Mk 8:36 | For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? | Similar teaching on soul's value. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. | Paul's spiritual valuation of worldly things. |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom... | Foolishness despising what is truly valuable. |
| Prov 23:23 | Buy the truth, and sell it not... | Warning against selling valuable principles. |
| Lk 12:16-21 | The parable of the rich fool... | Emphasizes short-sighted focus on present life. |
| Ex 16:3 | And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt... | Israel's grumbling, preferring old slavery for food. |
| Num 11:4-6 | And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting... | Israelites valuing momentary pleasure over God's provision. |
| Gen 3:6 | ...when the woman saw that the tree was good for food... she took of the fruit... | Immediate desire leads to fall, loss of greater blessing. |
| Deut 8:3 | ...that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only... | Spiritual life sustained by God's word, not food alone. |
| Lk 4:3-4 | And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. ...Man shall not live by bread alone... | Jesus prioritizing spiritual over physical need. |
| 1 Pet 1:8-9 | Whom having not seen, ye love... Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. | Valuing unseen, future spiritual inheritance. |
| Ps 78:18 | And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. | Lust and desire overriding faith. |
| Ps 73:26 | My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart... | Trusting God in weakness, not immediate needs. |
Genesis 25 verses
Genesis 25 32 meaning
Esau's declaration, "Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?", encapsulates his shortsightedness and disdain for spiritual heritage. His claim of imminent death was hyperbole born of extreme hunger, signifying that he valued immediate physical gratification above a divinely appointed, future-oriented covenantal promise and a double portion of his father's inheritance, thus revealing his carnal and worldly disposition.
Genesis 25 32 Context
Genesis chapter 25 details the lineage of Abraham through Isaac, setting the stage for the division between his twin sons, Jacob and Esau. God had already declared to Rebekah, their mother, that "the elder shall serve the younger" (Gen 25:23), signaling a reversal of cultural norms regarding primogeniture. This verse, Gen 25:32, captures Esau's critical decision during a moment of extreme hunger. Upon returning from hunting, he finds Jacob preparing lentil stew. Esau, seemingly desperate, demands food from Jacob, leading to Jacob's demand for the birthright in exchange. Esau's reply here reveals his profound undervaluation of this sacred privilege. Culturally, the birthright afforded the firstborn a double portion of inheritance, spiritual and judicial headship of the family, and continuation of the covenantal blessings given to Abraham.
Genesis 25 32 Word analysis
- And Esau said: Marks a pivotal spoken declaration.
- Behold (הִנֵּה, hineh): An interjection signaling emphasis, urgency, or bringing something to attention. Here, it underscores Esau's dramatic presentation of his supposed predicament.
- I am at the point to die (הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי הוֹלֵךְ לָמוּת, hineh anochi holekh lamut): Literally, "Behold, I am going to die." This is a hyperbole. Esau's extreme hunger led him to declare an imminent death, indicating a complete preoccupation with his immediate physical discomfort over any future spiritual or material gain. It signifies his surrender to physical cravings rather than a truly fatal condition. This highlights his impulsiveness and lack of self-control.
- and what profit (וְלָמָּה־זֶּה, ve-lamah-zeh - literally "and for what is this?"): Shows a contemptuous dismissal of the inherent value or long-term benefits. Esau perceived no advantage in the birthright when confronted with an immediate, pressing need.
- shall this birthright do to me? (לִּי בְּכֹרָה, li bekorah): "Birthright" (בְּכֹרָה, bekorah) refers to the rights and privileges of the firstborn son. This included:
- A double portion of the inheritance (Deut 21:17).
- Priesthood or leadership within the family (Num 8:16-17).
- The spiritual blessing of Abraham, implying connection to the covenantal promises of God concerning land, seed, and blessing to all nations.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "I am at the point to die": This phrase dramatically sets up Esau's desperate, immediate physical need against the spiritual, future-oriented value of the birthright. It underlines a critical character flaw: his inability to endure present discomfort for future gain, prioritizing the body over the soul.
- "what profit shall this birthright do to me?": This question demonstrates Esau's failure to appreciate the spiritual depth and lasting significance of the birthright. He views it through a purely pragmatic, temporal, and self-serving lens, implying that something intangible, future-oriented, or not immediately consumable holds no "profit." This devaluation is not merely about exchanging one thing for another, but fundamentally misjudging the worth of a divine heritage.
Genesis 25 32 Bonus section
- Esau's decision was not made in ignorance. He knew what the birthright entailed. His choice was an act of contempt, displaying a deep spiritual poverty despite his privileged position.
- The narrative implicitly contrasts Esau's impulsiveness with Jacob's calculating foresight. While Jacob's method was flawed, his desire for the spiritual inheritance was evident.
- This event serves as a foundational example of humanity's tendency to devalue spiritual blessings when immediate, physical desires demand satisfaction, a recurring theme throughout biblical history.
- The consequences for Esau (losing the birthright and later the patriarchal blessing) extend to his descendants, the Edomites, who frequently stand in opposition to Israel, illustrating how individual spiritual choices can have corporate and lasting implications.
Genesis 25 32 Commentary
Genesis 25:32 captures Esau's short-sighted impulsiveness and spiritual indifference. His exaggerated claim of being "at the point to die" highlights his overwhelming focus on immediate physical satisfaction. This exchange signifies a spiritual battle within Esau; he could not see beyond his present hunger to appreciate the invaluable, future-reaching promise of the birthright. His question, "what profit shall this birthright do to me?", encapsulates his "profane" nature, as termed in Hebrews, signifying a soul devoid of reverence for God's blessings and an inability to perceive the spiritual dimensions of his inheritance. It reveals a worldly mindset that values temporary physical comfort above lasting spiritual wealth and covenantal promises. His contempt for the birthright led to a permanent loss of blessings, echoing the principle that prioritizing the fleeting over the eternal has severe consequences.