God’s Word Translation
Genesis 25:33
33“First, swear an oath,” Jacob said. So Esau swore an oath to him and sold him his rights as firstborn.
Genesis 25:33 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
- New International Version (NIV)But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Jacob said, "Swear to me now." So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
Context of Genesis 25:33
31Jacob responded, “First, sell me your rights as firstborn.” 32“I’m about to die.” Esau said. “What good is my inheritance to me?” “First, swear an oath,” Jacob said. So Esau swore an oath to him and sold him his rights as firstborn. 34Then Jacob gave Esau a meal of bread and lentils. He ate and drank, and then he got up and left. This is how Esau showed his contempt for his rights as firstborn.
Read all of Genesis 25Genesis 25:33 word by word
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֗ב הִשָּׁ֤בְעָה לִּי֙ כַּיּ֔וֹם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֖ע ל֑וֹ וַיִּמְכֹּ֥ר אֶת־בְּכֹרָת֖וֹ לְיַעֲקֹֽב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Genesis 25:33
- Genesis 14:22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I now raise my hand and solemnly swear to the Lord God Most High, maker of heaven and earth,
- Genesis 24:3I want you to swear by the Lord God of heaven and earth that you will not get my son a wife from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I’m living.
- Mark 6:23He swore an oath to her: “I’ll give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom.”
- Hebrews 6:16When people take oaths, they base their oaths on someone greater than themselves. Their oaths guarantee what they say and end all arguments.
- Genesis 27:36Esau said, “Isn’t that why he’s named Jacob? He’s cheated me twice already: He took my rights as firstborn, and now he’s taken my blessing.” So he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”
- Genesis 36:6Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, all the members of his household, his possessions, all his cattle, and everything he had accumulated in Canaan and went to another land away from his brother Jacob.
- Hebrews 12:16Make sure that no one commits sexual sin or is as concerned about earthly things as Esau was. He sold his rights as the firstborn son for a single meal.
Commentaries on Genesis 25:33
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19-34Verses 19-34 - LIII. Birth of Esau and Jacob 20. פדן padān Paddan, “plowed field;” related: “cut, plow.” 25. עשׂי ‛êśâv Esaw, “hairy, or made.” 26. יעקב ya‛ăqôb Ja‘aqob, “he shall take the heel.” 27. תם tām “perfect, peaceful, plain.” The epithet refers to disposition, and contrasts the comparatively civilized character of Jacob with the rude temper of Esau. 30. אדים 'ědôm Edom, “red.” The ninth document here begins with the usual phrase, and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 29-34Verses 29-34 We have here the bargain made between Jacob and Esau about the right, which was Esau's by birth, but Jacob's by promise. It was for a spiritual privilege; and we see Jacob's desire of the birth-right, but he sought to obtain it by crooked courses, not like his character as a plain man. He was right, that he coveted earnestly the best gifts; he was wrong, that he took advantage of his brother's need. The inheritance of their father's worldly…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 33-34Esau quickly accepted what Jacob offered and fell into his trap. He ate and left so quickly that he could not have been close to death (25:32). The final comment in the passage explains that Esau treated his birthright with contempt, as if it had no value (Hebrews 12:16). It is foolish to give up spiritual blessings just to satisfy physical desires (compare Genesis 3:6).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-3419. these are the generations--account of the leading events in his life.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 25:33
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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