Genesis 28:8
So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac his father,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Esau's decision to marry a daughter of Ishmael wasn't just about pleasing his parents; it was a superficial attempt to reconcile his own worldly desires with divine favor, failing to grasp that true favor comes from a radical reorientation of the heart, not just a change of wives. He saw his parents' disapproval of Canaanite women as a mere preference, missing the deeper spiritual implications of their faith and God's covenant.
Fearing his father's anger after Jacob had received the blessing meant for him, Esau attempted to secure a wife from an acceptable lineage, noticing that his Canaanite wives deeply displeased his parents. Thus, Esau married Mahalath, Ishmael's daughter, in hopes of appeasing Isaac. Meanwhile, Jacob was sent away to find a suitable wife among his mother's relatives in Paddan-aram.
Esau saw that his father was displeased with his wives. What did he do about it? And more importantly, was his father's displeasure the real issue?
The verse highlights Esau's reaction to his father Isaac's dissatisfaction with Esau's Canaanite wives. Esau saw this disapproval, and his response was to seek favor with his parents.
Esau's Motivation
Esau's actions here are driven by a desire to please his father. He recognizes that his existing marriages are a source of distress to Isaac. The commentary notes that Esau perceived these wives were 'evil in his eyes' and 'offensive to him.'
A Superficial Change
However, Esau's focus is on appeasing his parents, not on the deeper spiritual implications of his choices. He doesn't seem concerned with God's will or the covenantal implications of marrying outside the chosen lineage. His attempt to 'fix' the situation by marrying Mahalath, a daughter of Ishmael, is a strategic move to regain favor, rather than a genuine turning toward God or obedience to his parents' deeper concerns.
This shows a common human tendency: attempting to address a problem superficially without tackling the root cause. Esau’s decision is about managing external perception rather than internal transformation.
Esau's choice of a new wife seems logical on the surface, but it reveals a profound misunderstanding of God's plan for his family.
The narrative surrounding Genesis 28:8 reveals Esau's fundamental disconnect from the covenantal promises God had made to Abraham and Isaac.
Marrying Within the Family
Isaac's charge to Jacob (Genesis 28:1-2) was clear: find a wife from the 'daughters of Canaan.' This wasn't just a preference; it was about maintaining the purity of the lineage through which God's promises would flow. Esau's initial marriages into Canaanite families were a rejection of this.
Esau's 'Correction'
Understand the original words
ra'a' · Hebrew Verb
A term used in a moral or religious sense to describe that which is acceptable, good, or pleasing in the sight of God or His authorized representative.
Esau's attempt to appease his father by marrying Mahalath, Ishmael's daughter, highlights his superficial understanding of pleasing God. He still retained his previous wives who had displeased Isaac, showing a lack of genuine repentance or commitment to his parents' spiritual concerns.
~1800 BC
Abraham's Covenant Promises
God establishes a covenant with Abraham, promising him descendants and land, setting the stage for Isaac and Jacob.
c. 1845 BC
Isaac's Marriage
Isaac marries Rebekah, a woman from Abraham's extended family, following Abraham's instruction to avoid Canaanite women.
c. 1830 BC
Birth of Jacob and Esau
Isaac's twin sons, Jacob and Esau, are born. Esau later marries Canaanite women, which deeply displeases Isaac and Rebekah.
c. 1805 BC
Jacob Obtains Birthright and Blessing
Jacob, through deception and the connivance of Rebekah, obtains the patriarchal blessing intended for Esau. This causes a rift between the brothers.
c. 1805 BC
This verse directly precedes the one provided, showing Isaac's frustration with Esau's wives and his desire for Jacob to marry someone from their own family line.
Genesis 26:34-35These verses describe Esau's first two marriages to Hittite women, highlighting the sorrow they caused Isaac and Rebekah, thus providing the immediate context for why Esau's wives 'did not please' Isaac.
Genesis 36:2-3This passage shows Esau's later attempt to mitigate the displeasure caused by his Canaanite wives by marrying Ishmael's daughter, demonstrating a pattern of trying to appease his parents rather than genuinely seeking God's will.
Deuteronomy 7:3-4This Mosaic Law reiterates the principle behind Isaac's concern, warning the Israelites against intermarrying with the surrounding nations, as it would lead them astray from God.
calvinGenesis 28:1-22: "And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan."
When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;
Et vidit Esau quod benedixisset Ishac Iahacob, et misisset eum in Padan Aram, ut caperet sibi inde uxorem: et benedicendo…
gillGenesis 28:8: "And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;"
And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father. Who he perceived was displeased with the daughters of Canaan, or that they were "evil in his eyes" (i), offensive to him, and disapproved of by him, because of their ill manners: Rebekah is not mentioned, whose displeasure he cared not for. (i) "malae in oculis", Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius, Schmidt.
Esau's decision to marry a daughter of Ishmael wasn't just about pleasing his parents; it was a superficial attempt to reconcile his own worldly desires with divine favor, failing to grasp that true favor comes from a radical reorientation of the heart, not just a change of wives. He saw his parents' disapproval of Canaanite women as a mere preference, missing the deeper spiritual implications of their faith and God's covenant.
Fearing his father's anger after Jacob had received the blessing meant for him, Esau attempted to secure a wife from an acceptable lineage, noticing that his Canaanite wives deeply displeased his parents. Thus, Esau married Mahalath, Ishmael's daughter, in hopes of appeasing Isaac. Meanwhile, Jacob was sent away to find a suitable wife among his mother's relatives in Paddan-aram.
Fearing his father's anger after Jacob had received the blessing meant for him, Esau attempted to secure a wife from an acceptable lineage, noticing that his Canaanite wives deeply displeased his parents. Thus, Esau married Mahalath, Ishmael's daughter, in hopes of appeasing Isaac. Meanwhile, Jacob was sent away to find a suitable wife among his mother's relatives in Paddan-aram.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Genesis 28:8 is available in the Sola app.
When Esau observes Isaac's displeasure, he reacts by marrying Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael. While Ishmael was Abraham's son, his lineage was also set aside from the primary covenantal line, which passed through Isaac. Esau's move shows he still doesn't grasp the specific, chosen path God intended. He is still operating on a familial, rather than a divinely appointed, basis.
The True Inheritance
Commentators point out that Esau doesn't see the distinction grace makes – that God has chosen a people, and natural advantages don't secure that place. His actions demonstrate that he viewed the 'inheritance' as something that could be secured by family connections or outward actions, rather than by God's sovereign choice and the faith it requires.
Esau's Marriage to Canaanite Women
Esau, seeing his father Isaac displeased with his previous Canaanite wives, takes a third wife, Mahalath, daughter of Ishmael, yet still fails to please Isaac regarding his marriage choices.
c. 1805 BC
Jacob Flees to Haran
Following Isaac's charge to take a wife from his mother's relatives and to avoid Canaanite women, Jacob flees Esau's wrath and journeys to Padan-aram.
c. 1805 BC
Jacob's Dream at Bethel
While fleeing, Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven, with angels ascending and descending, and God reaffirms the covenant promises to him.
"So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac his father," — Esau's decision to marry a daughter of Ishmael wasn't just about pleasing his parents; it was a superficial attempt to reconcile his own worldly desires with divine favor, failing to grasp that true…
