Genesis 25:32
New International Version
“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

New Living Translation
“Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”

English Standard Version
Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?”

Berean Standard Bible
“Look,” said Esau, “I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”

King James Bible
And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

New King James Version
And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”

New American Standard Bible
Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?”

NASB 1995
Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?”

NASB 1977
And Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?”

Legacy Standard Bible
And Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?”

Amplified Bible
Esau said, “Look, I am about to die [if I do not eat soon]; so of what use is this birthright to me?”

Christian Standard Bible
“Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die, so what good is a birthright to me? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”

American Standard Version
And Esau said, Behold, I am about to die: and what profit shall the birthright do to me?

Contemporary English Version
"I'm about to die," Esau answered. "What good will those rights do me?"

English Revised Version
And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall the birthright do to me?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I'm about to die." Esau said. "What good is my inheritance to me?"

Good News Translation
Esau said, "All right! I am about to die; what good will my rights do me?"

International Standard Version
"Look! I'm about to die," Esau replied. "What good is this birthright to me?"

Majority Standard Bible
“Look,” said Esau, “I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”

NET Bible
"Look," said Esau, "I'm about to die! What use is the birthright to me?"

New Heart English Bible
Esau said, "Look, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birth-right bring to me?

World English Bible
Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Esau says, “Behold, I am going to die, and what is this to me—a birthright?”

Young's Literal Translation
And Esau saith, 'Lo, I am going to die, and what is this to me -- birthright?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Esau will say, Behold, I am going to die, and what to me this birthright?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He answered: Lo I die, what will the first birthright avail me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He answered, “Lo, I am dying, what will the right of the firstborn provide for me?”

New American Bible
“Look,” said Esau, “I am on the point of dying. What good is the right as firstborn to me?”

New Revised Standard Version
Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point of death; and what profit shall a birthright be to me?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Esau said in his heart, “Behold, I am going to die. Why is the inheritance going to me?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Esau said: 'Behold, I am at the point to die; and what profit shall the birthright do to me?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Esau said, Behold, I am going to die, and for what good does this birthright belong to me?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Esau Sells His Birthright
31“First sell me your birthright,” Jacob replied. 32“Look,” said Esau, “I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?” 33“Swear to me first,” Jacob said. So Esau swore to Jacob and sold him the birthright.…

Cross References
Hebrews 12:16
See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.

Romans 9:10-13
Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac. / Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand, / not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” ...

Malachi 1:2-3
“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved, / but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”

Philippians 3:19
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.

1 Corinthians 6:13
“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will destroy them both. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

Matthew 16:26
What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Luke 12:19-20
Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ / But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

2 Timothy 3:4
traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

Proverbs 15:27
He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.

Proverbs 20:21
An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.

Proverbs 23:4-5
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. / When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

Ecclesiastes 1:14
I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:11
Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 5:10
He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.

Isaiah 55:2
Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.


Treasury of Scripture

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

at the point to die.

Job 21:15
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

Job 22:17
Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?

Job 34:9
For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

birthright.

Exodus 22:9
For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.

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Genesis 25
1. The sons of Abraham by Keturah.
5. The division of his goods.
7. His age, death, and burial.
11. God blesses Isaac.
12. The generations of Ishmael.
17. His age and death.
19. Isaac prays for Rebekah, being barren.
22. The children strive in her womb.
24. The birth of Esau and Jacob.
27. Their different characters and pursuits.
29. Esau sells his birthright.














Look
The Hebrew word here is "הִנֵּה" (hinneh), often translated as "behold" or "look." It is a word that calls for attention, emphasizing the urgency and importance of what follows. In the context of Esau's statement, it underscores his desperation and impulsive nature. This word sets the tone for the gravity of the decision Esau is about to make, highlighting a moment of critical choice that will have lasting consequences.

said Esau
Esau, whose name in Hebrew is "עֵשָׂו" (Esav), is a central figure in this narrative. Known for his physical strength and hunting skills, Esau represents the archetype of the worldly man, driven by immediate needs and desires. His character contrasts with his brother Jacob, who is more contemplative and future-oriented. This moment captures Esau's impulsive character, which is a recurring theme in his life story.

I am about to die
The phrase reflects Esau's exaggerated sense of urgency and desperation. The Hebrew word for "die" is "מוּת" (muth), which can mean physical death but also conveys a sense of extreme need or exhaustion. Esau's statement reveals his shortsightedness, prioritizing immediate physical satisfaction over long-term spiritual and familial responsibilities. This hyperbolic expression underscores the folly of valuing temporal needs over eternal promises.

of what use
The Hebrew word "זֶה" (zeh) is used here, meaning "this" or "what." It questions the value or benefit of something. Esau's rhetorical question reveals his inability to see the intrinsic value of the birthright, which includes spiritual leadership and covenantal blessings. This reflects a lack of spiritual discernment, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative, warning against undervaluing God's promises.

is the birthright
The term "birthright" in Hebrew is "בְּכֹרָה" (bekorah), referring to the rights and privileges of the firstborn son. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the birthright included a double portion of the inheritance and leadership of the family. Spiritually, it also carried the promise of God's covenant blessings. Esau's disregard for his birthright symbolizes a rejection of spiritual heritage and divine calling, a cautionary tale about the consequences of neglecting God's gifts.

to me?
The phrase "to me" emphasizes Esau's self-centered perspective. The Hebrew "לִי" (li) indicates possession or personal relevance. Esau's focus is on his immediate circumstances rather than the broader implications of his actions. This self-focused viewpoint is a reminder of the dangers of prioritizing personal gratification over communal and spiritual responsibilities. It challenges readers to consider the eternal significance of their choices and the legacy they leave behind.

Verse 32. - And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: - literally, going to die; meaning, "on the eve of expiring," through hunger; "ex animo testetur se mortis sensu urgeri" (Calvin); or, "liable to death," through the, dangerous pursuits of his daily calling (Ainsworth, Bush, Rosenmüller); or, what is most probable, "on the way to meet death" - uttered in a spirit of Epicurean levity, "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die" (Keil, Kalisch) - and what profit shall this birthright do to me? - literally, of what (use) this (thing) to me, (called) a birthright? signifying, according to the sense attached to the foregoing expression, either,-Of what use can a birthright be to a man dying of starvation? or, The birthright is not likely ever to be of service to me, who am almost certain to be cut off soon by a violent and sudden death; on What signifies a birthright whose enjoyment is all in the future to a man who has only a short time to live? I prefer present gratifications to deferred felicities.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Look,”
הִנֵּ֛ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

said
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

Esau,
עֵשָׂ֔ו (‘ê·śāw)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6215: Esau -- oldest son of Isaac

“I am
אָנֹכִ֥י (’ā·nō·ḵî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

about to die,
הוֹלֵ֖ךְ (hō·w·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

so what good
וְלָמָּה־ (wə·lām·māh-)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

is a birthright
בְּכֹרָֽה׃ (bə·ḵō·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1062: The firstling of man, beast, primogeniture

to me?”
לִ֖י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Law: Genesis 25:32 Esau said Behold I am about (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 25:31
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