Genesis 25:29

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he [was] faint:

Complete Jewish Bible:

One day when Ya'akov had cooked some stew, 'Esav came in from the open country, exhausted,

Berean Standard Bible:

One day, while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the field and was famished.

American Standard Version:

And Jacob boiled pottage: and Esau came in from the field, and he was faint:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Jacob{H3290} sod{H2102} pottage{H5138}: and Esau{H6215} came{H935} from the field{H7704}, and he was faint{H5889}:

Cross-References (KJV):

Isaiah 40:30

  • Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

Isaiah 40:31

  • But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

Proverbs 13:25

  • ¶ The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

1 Samuel 14:28

  • Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed [be] the man that eateth [any] food this day. And the people were faint.

1 Samuel 14:31

  • And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.

Judges 8:4

  • ¶ And Gideon came to Jordan, [and] passed over, he, and the three hundred men that [were] with him, faint, yet pursuing [them].

Judges 8:5

  • And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they [be] faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.

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Commentary for Genesis 25:29

1. **Themes:**
- **Human Nature and Impulsivity:** Esau's decision to trade his birthright for a bowl of stew demonstrates the theme of human impulsivity and the consequences of giving in to immediate desires without considering long-term implications.
- **Birthright and Inheritance:** The concept of birthright is central to the narrative, highlighting its significance in ancient societies where the firstborn son traditionally received a double portion of the inheritance.
- **Family Dynamics and Rivalry:** The interaction between Jacob and Esau reflects sibling rivalry and the complex relationships within the family, setting the stage for future conflicts and reconciliation.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Patriarchal Society:** The story is set in the context of a patriarchal society in the ancient Near East, where birthright and blessing were crucial for the continuation of the family lineage and the transmission of property and authority.
- **Nomadic Lifestyle:** The characters are part of a nomadic herding family, which explains Esau's role as a hunter and Jacob's as a cook, reflecting the division of labor and daily life activities of the time.
- **Cultural Significance of Birthright:** In the cultural and historical setting of Genesis, the birthright was not merely a symbolic title but had tangible benefits, including a double share of the inheritance and leadership of the family upon the father's death.

In Genesis 25:29, the narrative captures a pivotal moment where Esau's immediate physical needs overshadow his future responsibilities and privileges, leading him to sell his birthright to his younger brother Jacob. This event foreshadows the reversal of roles between the brothers and the fulfillment of the divine oracle given to their mother Rebekah, which stated that the older would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23).

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H3290
    There are 319 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יַעֲקֹב
    Transliteration: Yaʻăqôb
    Pronunciation: yah-ak-obe'
    Description: from עָקַב; heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch; Jacob.
  2. Strong's Number: H2102
    There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: זוּד
    Transliteration: zûwd
    Pronunciation: zood
    Description: or (by permutation) זִיד; a primitive root; to seethe; figuratively, to be insolent; be proud, deal proudly, presume, (come) presumptuously, sod.
  3. Strong's Number: H5138
    There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָזִיד
    Transliteration: nâzîyd
    Pronunciation: naw-zeed'
    Description: from זוּד; something boiled, i.e. soup; pottage.
  4. Strong's Number: H6215
    There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֵשָׂו
    Transliteration: ʻÊsâv
    Pronunciation: ay-sawv'
    Description: apparently a form of the passive participle of עָשָׂה in the original sense of handling; rough (i.e. sensibly felt); Esav, a son of Isaac, including his posterity; Esau.
  5. Strong's Number: H935
    There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בּוֹא
    Transliteration: bôwʼ
    Pronunciation: bo
    Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
  6. Strong's Number: H7704
    There are 309 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׂדֶה
    Transliteration: sâdeh
    Pronunciation: saw-deh'
    Description: or שָׂדַי; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat); country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild.
  7. Strong's Number: H5889
    There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָיֵף
    Transliteration: ʻâyêph
    Pronunciation: aw-yafe'
    Description: from עָיֵף; languid; faint, thirsty, weary.