esau
Definition
Proper noun: - In the Old Testament of the Bible, the elder twin son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the elder brother of Jacob. He is depicted as a skilled hunter and outdoorsman. Esau famously sold his birthright (his rights as the firstborn son) to his brother Jacob for a meal ("a mess of pottage").
Usage
- As a subject:
- In possessive form:
- In historical/religious context:
Advanced Usage
- "Esau's birthright": Refers to the privileges and inheritance rights of a firstborn son in ancient patriarchal societies, which Esau forfeited. It is often used metaphorically to describe something of great value that is foolishly given up for an immediate, lesser gratification.
- Selling the company stock for quick cash was like selling Esau's birthright.
Variants and Related Words
- Edom: The nation traditionally descended from Esau. The name "Edom" (meaning "red") is connected to the red stew ("pottage") for which he traded his birthright and to his red hair at birth.
- Edomite: A member of the nation of Edom, considered descendants of Esau.
Synonyms
- There are no direct synonyms for this proper noun. In narrative contexts, he may be described as the elder brother of Jacob or the son who sold his birthright.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "Sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage": To sacrifice a long-term, valuable asset or principle for an immediate, trivial gain. This idiom comes directly from the biblical story of Esau.
- He sold his artistic integrity for a mess of pottage—a lucrative but meaningless advertising job.
Noun
-
(Old Testament) the eldest son of Isaac who would have inherited the covenant that God made with Abraham and that Abraham passed on to Isaac; he traded his birthright to his twin brother Jacob for a mess of pottage
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