Traces
Esau and Jacob
How Esau and Jacob are linked in Scripture, with every passage where their stories cross.
How they are linked
Esau and Jacob were rivals.
Jacob bought Esau's birthright for a meal of pottage and later took his blessing. Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing and said in his heart that he would slay him.
he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing
Genesis 27:36, King James Version
And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing
Genesis 27:41, King James Version
Where they cross: Genesis 25:29-34
Esau and Jacob were siblings.
Esau and Jacob were twins, and Jacob was born holding Esau's heel. After Jacob's twenty years with Laban, Esau ran to meet his brother and embraced him, and they wept.
behold, there were twins in her womb
Genesis 25:24, King James Version
his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob
Genesis 25:26, King James Version
Thus have I been twenty years in thy house
Genesis 31:41, King James Version
Where they cross: Genesis 33:1-4
Notes are commentary, checked against the cited verses in a separate review. Quoted words are Scripture.
Every passage, in order
Genesis 25:24
24And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
Genesis 25:26
26And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
Genesis 25:29-34
29And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
30And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
31And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
33And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
Genesis 27:36
36And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
Genesis 27:41
41And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
Genesis 31:41
41Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
Genesis 33:1-4
1And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
2And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
3And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
King James Version