Genesis 25:25

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 25:19-28

We have here an account of the birth of Jacob and Esau, the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah: their entrance into the world was (which is not usual) one of the most considerable parts of their story; nor is much related concerning Isaac but what had reference to his father while he lived and to his sons afterwards. For Isaac seems not to have been a man of action, nor much tried, but to have spent his days in quietness and silence. Now concerning Jacob and Esau we are here told, I. That they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:25

And the first came out red ,.... Either his body, or rather the hair it was covered with, red; which was a sign, as Jarchi observes, that he would be a shedder of blood, fierce and cruel as were he and his posterity: all over like an hairy garment ; his body was all over full of hair, which stood as thick as a garment made of hair, and was a sign of the roughness of his disposition, as well as of the strength of his body: and they called his name Esau ; his parents, and those present... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 25:25

Red, all over like a hairy garment - This simply means that he was covered all over with red hair or down; and that this must be intended here is sufficiently evident from another part of his history, where Rebekah, in order to make her favourite son Jacob pass for his brother Esau, was obliged to take the skins of kids, and put them upon his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. They called his name Esau - It is difficult to assign the proper meaning of the original עשו esau or ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 25:19-26

The childless pair. I. THE DISAPPOINTED HUSBAND . 1. The grievous affliction . Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, was barren. Though neither uncommon nor unjust, this was to Isaac 2. The earnest intercession . "Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife." Isaac's supplication was 3. The gracious response . "The Lord was entreated of Isaac, and Rebekah conceived. Note the character of God as the Hearer of prayer, the habitual practice of God, which is to listen to his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 25:19-34

Divine purposes unfolded. We are now entering a new stage of the sacred history, where we are looking less upon the development of one man's character than upon the unfolding purposes of Jehovah in the family with which he has made his covenant. Again we are in the region of— 1. Gracious interposition . 2. Supernatural assistance of human infirmity . 3. Prophetic announcements . The atmosphere is that of the covenant. The children in the womb are two nations. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 25:25

And the first came out red ,— Adhmoni , πυῤῥάκης ( LXX .), rufus (Vulgate), red-haired (Gesenius), of a reddish color (Lange), containing an allusion to Adham , the red earth— all over like an hairy garment. Literally, all of him as a cloak of hair (not, as the LXX ; Vulgate, et alii , all of him hairy, like a cloak); the fur cloak, or hair mantle, forming one notion (Gesenius). The appearance of the child's body, covered with an unusual quantity of red hair, was... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 25:19-34

- LIII. Birth of Esau and Jacob20. פדן padān, Paddan, “plowed field;” related: “cut, plow.”25. עשׂי ‛êśâv, ‘Esaw, “hairy, or made.”26. יעקב ya‛ăqôb, Ja’aqob, “he shall take the heel.”27. תם tām, “perfect, peaceful, plain.” The epithet refers to disposition, and contrasts the comparatively civilized character of Jacob with the rude temper of Esau.30. אדים 'ědôm, Edom, “red.”The ninth document here begins with the usual phrase, and continues to the end of the thirty-fifth chapter. It... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 25:25

Genesis 25:25. Red, like a hairy garment With red hair all over his body, as if he had been already a grown man, whence he had his name, Esau, made, reared already. This was an indication of a very strong constitution, and gave cause to expect that he would be a very robust, daring, active man. But Jacob was smooth and tender, as other children. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 25:19-34

25:19-28:9 ISAAC PASSES ON THE INHERITANCEIsaac’s two sons (25:19-34)After being childless for twenty years, Isaac and Rebekah had twin sons. The characters of the two sons proved to be opposites, and this was later reflected in the two nations that were descended from them. God appointed that the elder, Esau, should serve the younger, Jacob (19-26). But that did not excuse the worthlessness of Esau in selling his right as the eldest son (cf. Hebrews 12:16-17). Nor did it excuse the... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 25:25-26

THE NAMES OF THE TWINS"And the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came forth his brother, and his hand had hold of Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was three score years old when she bare them.""Esau ... Jacob ..." For many centuries, all of the dictionaries gave the meanings of these two names as "hairy" and "supplanter" (or heel-catcher)[17] respectively; but recently, critical denials based upon all kinds of... read more

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