Genesis 25:31-33

25:31 But Jacob replied, “First ¹  sell me your birthright.” 25:32 “Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die! What use is the birthright to me?” ²  25:33 But Jacob said, “Swear an oath to me now.” ³  So Esau ⁴  swore an oath to him and sold his birthright ⁵  to Jacob.

[25:31]  ¹ tn Heb “today.”

[25:32]  ² tn Heb “And what is this to me, a birthright?”

[25:33]  ³ tn Heb “Swear to me today.”

[25:33]  ⁴ tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Esau) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[25:33]  ⁵ sn And sold his birthright. There is evidence from Hurrian culture that rights of inheritance were occasionally sold or transferred. Here Esau is portrayed as a profane person who would at the moment rather have a meal than the right to inherit. He will soon forget this trade and seek his father’s blessing in spite of it.