Genesis 25:29­–30 | Esau Sells Birthright for Red Lentil Stew

And Jacob cooked a stew, and Esau came from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me from this red lentil [stew], because I am weary.” Because of this, his name was Edom (Genesis 25:29­–30).

Weary from coming in from the field, Esau was willing to give up his birthright for a bowl of red lentil stew (Genesis 25:31–32). This birthright related to the promise of land God gave Abraham. As the firstborn from Isaac, the promise would go to Esau. However, God revealed to Rebekah, while the two children were in the womb, that the younger would be greater than the older.

Because of Esau’s actions, he gained the name Edom. Edom is derived from the Hebrew word for red. When Esau was born, he came out red and with a cloak of hair. Now, in asking his brother for red lentil stew, his descendants earn the name Edom—the crux of the etymological pun from his red appearance at birth.

Because of Esau’s willingness to sell his birthright, he showed his disregard for God’s promise (Genesis 25:33); therefore, the twelve tribes of Israel would come from his brother. Edom settled in the mountains of Seir after separating from Jacob (Genesis 36:6–8). Israel was instructed not to take this land, as it was given to Esau as a possession (Deuteronomy 2:4–5). When Israel came out of Egypt on their way to the Promised Land, Edom refused to let them pass through their land (Numbers 20:14–20). Because of Edom’s continual violence against Israel, the land of Edom will be given to others to possess (Obadiah 1:8–10).