Then 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 25:34KJV
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Genesis 25:34 (KJV)

What does Genesis 25:34 mean?

Genesis 25:34 describes how Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew, and Esau ate and drank before leaving, showing that Esau did not value his birthright. The verse ends by saying Esau "despised his birthright," meaning he treated something important as if it were worthless.

In this scene, Jacob and Esau are brothers, and Esau has just traded his rights as the firstborn son for a simple meal. The verse highlights how easily Esau gave up a significant family privilege for immediate physical satisfaction. This moment sets the stage for later family dynamics and shows the seriousness of Esau's decision in the eyes of the storyteller.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 25:34

  • "Despised" (בָּזָה, bazah): This word means to treat with contempt or to consider something as insignificant. The verse uses it to show that Esau did not just make a casual trade—he truly disregarded the value of his birthright.
  • "Birthright" (בְּכֹרָה, b'khorah): This refers to the special status and inheritance rights of the firstborn son in ancient families. By giving this up, Esau lost both material benefits and a place of honor in the family story.

Why Genesis 25:34 matters

  • Genesis 25:34 clarifies that Esau's decision was not just a moment of hunger but a sign of his attitude toward his responsibilities and privileges as firstborn.
  • The verse connects to the larger narrative by showing why Jacob, not Esau, becomes the central figure in the family line, as Esau willingly gave up his special role.
  • This verse helps clear up the misunderstanding that the transaction was minor or trivial; the language stresses that Esau's choice had lasting consequences for both brothers.

Where else these words appear

“lentiles” Hebrew H5742 · used in 4 verses

  • 2 Samuel 17:28 Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,
  • 2 Samuel 23:11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.
  • Ezekiel 4:9 Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.

“pottage” Hebrew H5138 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 25:29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
  • 2 Kings 4:38 And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.
  • 2 Kings 4:40 So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.

“birthright” Hebrew H1062 · used in 14 verses

  • Genesis 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
  • Genesis 27:36 And 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?
  • Deuteronomy 14:23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.

“despised” Hebrew H959 · used in 41 verses

  • Numbers 15:31 Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
  • Psalms 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
  • Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.