Lesson 13 – Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25)


Lesson 13 – Jacob and Esau
Scripture Passage: Genesis 25:19-34
This post and others in the series are adapted from the content of the lesson syllabus authored by group moderator Rob Perry. Content is for study and research only, not for other distribution without written permission. Contact the webmaster, Mike Foxworth.
OPEN IT
1. When was the last time an impulsive decision got you into trouble?
EXPLORE IT
2. Why did Isaac pray? How did the Lord answer Isaac's prayer? (Gen.25:21)
3. What did Rebekah ask the Lord? Why? (Gen.25:22)
4. What did the Lord tell Rebekah? (Gen.25:23)
5. How did the author describe Esau? (Gen.25:25)
6. How did the author describe Jacob? (Gen.25:26)
7. How old was Isaac when Rebekah gave birth to Esau and Jacob? (Gen.25:26)
8. How did the author describe Esau and Jacob after they had grown up? (Gen.25:27)
9. Why did Isaac love Esau? Whom did Rebekah love? (Gen.25:28)
10. For what did Esau ask Jacob? Why? (Gen.25:29-30)
11. On what condition did Jacob agree to give Esau some stew? (Gen.25:31)
12. What was Esau's response to Jacob's condition? (Gen.25:32)
13. What did Jacob make Esau do? (Gen.25:33)
14. What was Esau's attitude? (Gen.25:34)
GET IT
15. When or under what circumstances do you tend to act on impulse?
16. How can we avoid making rash, impulsive decisions in life?
APPLY IT
17. What practical step can you take this week to slow down and avoid an impulsive decision?

Explore It Answers

This section is designed to prompt thoughts about how and why to derive each scripture-based answer, so the actual answer is based upon individual study and may not be fully disclosed here. Here, also, are parallel verses for the key scripture texts.
Biblical Answer 2
Why did Isaac pray? How did the Lord answer Isaac's prayer? (25:21)
Key Scripture: Genesis 25:21  |  Parallel Texts: Galatians 3:8; Acts 3:25; Genesis 18:18
Biblical Answer 3
What did Rebekah ask the Lord? Why? (25:22)
Key Scripture: Genesis 25:22  |  Parallel Texts: Genesis 17:5-8; Romans 4:11; Colossians 2:11-12
Biblical Answer 4
What did the Lord tell Rebekah? (25:23)
Key Scripture: Genesis 25:23  |  Parallel Texts: Genesis 1:27; Genesis 9:6; James 3:9
Biblical Answer 5
How did the author describe Esau? (25:25)
Key Scripture: Genesis 25:25  |  Parallel Texts: Jeremiah 32:17; Luke 1:37; Mark 10:27
Biblical Answer 6
How did the author describe Jacob? (25:26)
Key Scripture: Genesis 25:26  |  Parallel Texts: Genesis 21:1-2; Romans 9:9; Hebrews 11:11
Biblical Answer 7
How old was Isaac when Rebekah gave birth to Esau and Jacob? (25:26)
Key Scripture: Genesis 25:26  |  Parallel Texts: Genesis 22:14; Romans 8:32; Hebrews 11:17-19
Biblical Answer 8
How did the author describe Esau and Jacob after they had grown up? (25:27)
Key Scripture: Genesis 25:27  |  Parallel Texts: Hebrews 11:8-10; Acts 7:2-4; Isaiah 51:2
Biblical Answer 9
Why did Isaac love Esau? Whom did Rebekah love? (25:28)
Key Scripture: Genesis 25:28  |  Parallel Texts: Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6
Biblical Answer 10
For what did Esau ask Jacob? Why? (25:29-30)
Key Scripture: Genesis 25:29-30  |  Parallel Texts: Galatians 3:8; Acts 3:25; Genesis 18:18
Biblical Answer 11
On what condition did Jacob agree to give Esau some stew? (25:31)
Key Scripture: Genesis 25:31  |  Parallel Texts: Psalm 24:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 14:12
Biblical Answer 12
What was Esau's response to Jacob's condition? (25:32)
Key Scripture: Genesis 25:32  |  Parallel Texts: Romans 12:18; Proverbs 16:7; Matthew 5:9
Biblical Answer 13
What did Jacob make Esau do? (25:33)
Key Scripture: Genesis 25:33  |  Parallel Texts: James 1:19-20; Proverbs 15:1; Ephesians 4:31-32
Biblical Answer 14
What was Esau's attitude? (25:34)
Key Scripture: Genesis 25:34  |  Parallel Texts: Genesis 21:1-2; Romans 9:9; Hebrews 11:11
Commentary Summary
In Genesis 25:19-34, Jacob and Esau highlights doctrinal themes such as God’s character, human accountability, and the certainty of His redemptive purpose. This section begins with a short account of Isaac and Rebekah's struggle to have children and culminates in a double birth that reveals God's plan for the future of this family and the transmission of the messianic promise. The emphasis is theological, asking what the text teaches about creation, covenant, judgment, grace, salvation, and the trustworthiness of God. This summary is designed to identify the major truths being taught, not merely repeat the narrative details.
In Jacob and Esau, the flow of Genesis 25:19-34 emphasizes practical faith, obedience, and response to God. It then skips over the childhood of the twins to a time when they were adults. The focus here is pastoral and applicational, showing how the lesson challenges the reader to trust, repent, endure, worship, and walk in obedience. This summary is intentionally more devotional and exhortational so it does not simply duplicate the doctrinal wording used in the other commentary summaries.
Within the broader storyline of Genesis and the Bible as a whole, Genesis 25:19-34 helps move forward the pattern of promise, failure, mercy, and restoration that runs through Scripture. The incident involving Esau selling his birthright to Jacob demonstrates why God from the beginning was correct in choosing Jacob as the heir of the promise. This summary is shaped to sound more like a Bible Project overview by emphasizing literary flow, biblical themes, and how the lesson contributes to the unified story of Scripture. The goal is to locate the passage in the wider narrative rather than repeat the same doctrinal or devotional emphasis.
Last Week
Meaning Although Ishmael was not the son God had promised to Abraham, God nevertheless promised to bless him, make his descendants numerous, have twelve tribal leaders come from him and make him into a great nation (Gen.16:10; Gen.17:12). This demonstrates that Yahweh is not only the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but also the God who wishes to bless all nations, even those who do not come from the line of the messianic promise. As both a circumcised child of Abraham and as a people who would be blessed through Abraham's great descendant Jesus (Gen.12:3; Gen.18:18; Gen.22:18), Ishmael would die and be gathered to his people (Gen.25:17-18).
This Week
Meaning This section begins with a short account of Isaac and Rebekah's struggle to have children and culminates in a double birth that reveals God's plan for the future of this family and the transmission of the messianic promise. It then skips over the childhood of the twins to a time when they were adults. The incident involving Esau selling his birthright to Jacob demonstrates why God from the beginning was correct in choosing Jacob as the heir of the promise.
Next Week
THINK ABOUT THIS: The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He still can be trusted to bless His people with physical provision and the hope of future glory. But the richest blessings that believers presently enjoy are the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Lesson 13 – Jacob & Esau (Genesis 25:19–34)

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Footnotes

  1. Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV). Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016. Genesis 25:19–34.
  2. The Lord's prophecy to Rebekah ("the older shall serve the younger") establishes the sovereignty of God in election before the twins were born (Genesis 25:23).
  3. The Apostle Paul cites Genesis 25:23 to demonstrate that God's saving purposes rest upon His gracious calling rather than human merit (Romans 9:10–13).
  4. The prolonged barrenness of Rebekah parallels Sarah's earlier experience, emphasizing that the covenant line advances through divine intervention rather than natural ability (Genesis 21; 25:21).
  5. Isaac's intercessory prayer on behalf of Rebekah illustrates faithful dependence upon God during prolonged trials (Genesis 25:21).
  6. Jacob's grasping Esau's heel at birth foreshadows the lifelong struggle between the brothers and anticipates Jacob's future character development (Genesis 25:26; Hosea 12:3–4).
  7. Esau's sale of his birthright demonstrates the danger of exchanging eternal blessings for temporary satisfaction (Genesis 25:29–34).
  8. Hebrews describes Esau as "sexually immoral or unholy" (or "godless" in several translations) because he traded his inheritance for a single meal (Hebrews 12:16–17).
  9. The birthright carried both material inheritance and covenant responsibilities, including participation in God's redemptive promise to Abraham (Genesis 17:1–8; 28:3–4).
  10. God's covenant consistently advances through His sovereign choice rather than the customary rights of primogeniture (Genesis 21:12; 25:23; Malachi 1:2–3).
  11. Jacob's methods are not presented as morally exemplary, yet Scripture demonstrates that God accomplishes His purposes through imperfect people who ultimately trust Him (Genesis 32:24–30).
  12. The accompanying commentary emphasizes Isaac's transitional role between Abraham and Jacob, showing how God's covenant promises moved from one generation to the next.

Parallel Scripture References

God's Sovereign Choice

  • Genesis 17:1–8
  • Genesis 21:12
  • Genesis 28:3–4
  • Deuteronomy 7:6–8
  • Malachi 1:2–3
  • Romans 9:10–13
  • Ephesians 1:4–6

Prayer and God's Answer

  • Genesis 18:14
  • Jeremiah 32:17
  • Matthew 7:7–11
  • Luke 1:37
  • James 5:16

Birthright and Inheritance

  • Deuteronomy 21:15–17
  • Hebrews 12:16–17
  • 1 Peter 1:3–5
  • Galatians 3:29

Temporary Appetite versus Eternal Values

  • Proverbs 23:1–3
  • Matthew 4:1–11
  • Matthew 6:19–21
  • John 6:27
  • Philippians 3:18–20
  • Colossians 3:1–4

Family Conflict and God's Grace

  • Psalm 133:1
  • Proverbs 15:1
  • Romans 12:18
  • Ephesians 4:31–32
  • James 3:13–18

Bibliography

Arnold, Bill T. Genesis. Cambridge University Press.

Hamilton, Victor P. The Book of Genesis: Chapters 18–50. New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Eerdmans.

Kidner, Derek. Genesis. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. IVP Academic.

Mathews, Kenneth A. Genesis 11:27–50:26. New American Commentary. B&H Publishing.

Ross, Allen P. Creation and Blessing. Baker Academic.

Sailhamer, John H. The Pentateuch as Narrative. Zondervan.

Waltke, Bruce K. Genesis: A Commentary. Zondervan.

Wenham, Gordon J. Genesis 16–50. Word Biblical Commentary. Thomas Nelson.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Crossway, 2016.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Thomas Nelson.

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Biblica.

Lesson 13: Jacob and Esau—Genesis 25:19–34, First Book of Moses: Genesis Commentary. User-provided instructional commentary.

Hyperlinks

Bible Resources

Background Study

TMFBSG Primary Text

  • Lesson 13 – Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:19–34) User-supplied Genesis Commentary (source document). 

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