The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights not just Esau's physical appearance—being red and hairy—but also the subtle wordplay. The name "Esau" likely connects to his hairy nature, but it also sounds like the Hebrew word for "made," hinting at his robust, perhaps even "fully formed" appearance at birth, setting the stage for his future identity.
The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse describes the birth of Esau, the firstborn twin son of Isaac and Rebekah. His dramatic appearance, covered in red hair like a garment, immediately set him apart and led to his name, Esau, which likely relates to his hairy nature and foreshadows his connection to the land of Seir. This birth is not just a family event; it follows God's prophecy to Rebekah that two nations were in her womb and the older would serve the younger, setting the stage for the rivalry between Esau and his twin brother Jacob.
Esau's birth isn't just a biological event; it's laden with meaning from his very first appearance.
The text in Genesis 25:25 vividly describes Esau's birth: 'the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment.' This wasn't just a physical description; it carried symbolic weight.
A Sign of Things to Come
The 'red' appearance is linked to the name 'Edom' (Genesis 25:30), which means 'red.' Commentaries suggest this color, combined with his hairiness, foreshadowed his strong, potentially violent, and passionate nature. Think of it like an early indicator of his future character and the disposition of his descendants.
The 'Hairy Garment'
The phrase 'all over like a hairy garment' emphasizes an unusual abundance of hair covering his entire body. This distinctive feature not only gave him the name Esau (often linked to 'hairy' or 'covered') but also set him apart physically from the start. This physical distinctiveness is later echoed when Jacob has to use animal skins to imitate Esau's hairiness to deceive Isaac.
Was Esau's name just a nickname, or did it point to something deeper about his birth and future?
The naming of Esau is more than just labeling; it's an interpretation of the circumstances of his birth.
'Hairy' or 'Made'?
Ask a follow-up
Scholars discuss the origin of the name 'Esau.' While the most common understanding links it to his hairy appearance (from an Arabic root), some ancient interpretations also connect it to the Hebrew verb 'asah,' meaning 'to make' or 'to do.'
This leads to interpretations like 'made' or 'perfectly formed,' suggesting he appeared more robust or 'made' than a typical newborn. This emphasis on his physical completeness at birth further distinguishes him.
Foreshadowing Identity
Regardless of the exact linguistic root, the name 'Esau' became intrinsically tied to his distinctive physical traits and his role as the firstborn. It wasn't just a label but an identifier that would later be contrasted with his brother Jacob's name and destiny. The very name given at birth sets the stage for the narrative of two distinct individuals with vastly different paths.
Understand the original words
admoni · Hebrew Adjective
A description of color, specifically reddish or ruddy; it serves as a signifier for the physical characteristics of the descendants of Esau (Edom).
c. 1850 BC
Abraham's sons Isaac and Ishmael reunite
Abraham's sons Isaac and Ishmael, though long estranged, come together to bury their father in the cave of Machpelah, indicating a reconciliation or at least a shared duty.
c. 1830 BC
Isaac marries Rebekah
Isaac, who is forty years old, marries Rebekah, a Syrian woman from Padan-aram. She is initially barren.
c. 1805 BC
Rebekah conceives twins after Isaac's prayer
After twenty years of marriage, Rebekah conceives twins after Isaac earnestly prays to the LORD on her behalf. The children struggle within her womb.
c. 1805 BC— this verse
The birth of Esau and Jacob
Rebekah gives birth to twins. The firstborn is red and covered in hair, and they name him Esau. The second is born grasping Esau's heel and is named Jacob.
This passage directly explains the origin of the name Edom, which is strongly connected to Esau's reddish appearance at birth and his later sale of his birthright for 'red pottage'.
Genesis 27:11This verse highlights the physical characteristic of Esau ('hairy') that was noted at his birth, explaining how Rebekah imitated it to deceive Isaac.
Malachi 1:3This prophetic passage explicitly contrasts Esau (Edom) with Jacob (Israel), stating God's preference for Jacob and showing the long-standing spiritual conflict between their descendants.
Romans 9:13This New Testament passage directly quotes and interprets the prophecy from Genesis 25:23 ('The elder shall serve the younger'), applying it to God's sovereign choice in salvation, paralleling Esau's rejection with spiritual rejection.
clarkeGenesis 25:25: "And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau."
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…
calvinGenesis 25:1-34: "Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah."
And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.
Et Iocsan genuit Seba, et Dedan. Filii autem Dedan fuerunt Assurim, et Letusim, et Leummin.
And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
Filii vero Midian, Hephah, et Hepher, et Hanoch, et Abidah, et Eldaah: omnes isti, filii Ceturae.…
The verse highlights not just Esau's physical appearance—being red and hairy—but also the subtle wordplay. The name "Esau" likely connects to his hairy nature, but it also sounds like the Hebrew word for "made," hinting at his robust, perhaps even "fully formed" appearance at birth, setting the stage for his future identity.
This verse describes the birth of Esau, the firstborn twin son of Isaac and Rebekah. His dramatic appearance, covered in red hair like a garment, immediately set him apart and led to his name, Esau, which likely relates to his hairy nature and foreshadows his connection to the land of Seir. This birth is not just a family event; it follows God's prophecy to Rebekah that two nations were in her womb and the older would serve the younger, setting the stage for the rivalry between Esau and his twin brother Jacob.
This verse describes the birth of Esau, the firstborn twin son of Isaac and Rebekah. His dramatic appearance, covered in red hair like a garment, immediately set him apart and led to his name, Esau, which likely relates to his hairy nature and foreshadows his connection to the land of Seir. This birth is not just a family event; it follows God's prophecy to Rebekah that two nations were in her womb and the older would serve the younger, setting the stage for the rivalry between Esau and his twin brother Jacob.
"The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau." — The verse highlights not just Esau's physical appearance—being red and hairy—but also the subtle wordplay. The name "Esau" likely connects to his hairy nature, but it also sounds like the Hebrew word…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026