New English Translation
Genesis 25:32
32“Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die! What use is the birthright to me?”
Genesis 25:32 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
- New International Version (NIV)“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Esau said, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”
Context of Genesis 25:32
30So Esau said to Jacob, “Feed me some of the red stuff – yes, this red stuff – because I’m starving!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) 31But Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die! What use is the birthright to me?” 33But Jacob said, “Swear an oath to me now.” So Esau swore an oath to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew; Esau ate and drank, then got up and went out. So Esau despised his birthright.
Read all of Genesis 25Genesis 25:32 word by word
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר עֵשָׂ֔ו הִנֵּ֛ה אָנֹכִ֥י הוֹלֵ֖ךְ לָמ֑וּת וְלָמָּה־זֶּ֥ה לִ֖י בְּכֹרָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Genesis 25:32
- Job 21:15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?’
- Job 22:17They were saying to God, ‘Turn away from us,’ and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’
- Job 34:9For he says, ‘It does not profit a man when he makes his delight with God.’
- Malachi 3:14You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord who rules over all?
- Exodus 22:9In all cases of illegal possessions, whether for an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any kind of lost item, about which someone says ‘This belongs to me,’ the matter of the two of them will come before the judges, and the one whom the judges declare guilty must repay double to his neighbor.
Commentaries on Genesis 25:32
- 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. 31-33On this occasion, Jacob proved to be the better hunter. However, strong ambition like this can be dangerous. God’s people should desire what God desires, but they must not try to gain these things by human effort (see Zechariah 4:6; Galatians 5:16–17; Ephesians 6:10–12). The Lord dealt strictly with Jacob to remove his sinful methods. Later, he received the promise not as Jacob the deceiver, but as Israel (which means “God fights”). God fought on his…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3232. Esau said ... I am at the point to die--that is, I am running daily risk of my life; and of what use will the birthright be to me: so he despised or cared little about it, in comparison with gratifying his appetite--he threw away his religious privileges for a trifle; and thence he is styled "a profane person" (He 12:16; also Job 31:7, 16; 6:13; Php 3:19). "There was never any meat, except the forbidden fruit, so dear bought, as this broth of Jacob"…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 25:32
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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