Genesis 25 · Verse 32

Genesis 25:32

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
Genesis 25:32, King James Version

Genesis 25:32 in other translations

BSB“Look,” said Esau, “I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”
WEBEsau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?”
ASVAnd Esau said, Behold, I am about to die: and what profit shall the birthright do to me?
YLTAnd Esau saith, ‘Lo, I am going to die, and what is this to me--birthright?'
DARBYAnd Esau said, Behold, I am going to die, and of what use can the birthright be to me?
BBEAnd Esau said, Truly, I am at the point of death: what profit is the birthright to me?
WebsterAnd Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birth-right bring to me?

What does Genesis 25:32 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
32. Esau said ... I am at the point to die--that is, I am running daily risk of my life; and of what use will the birthright be to me: so he despised or cared little about it, in comparison with gratifying his appetite--he threw away his religious privileges for a trifle; and thence he is styled "a profane person" (He 12:16; also Job 31:7, 16; 6:13; Php 3:19). "There was never any meat, except the forbidden fruit, so dear bought, as this broth of Jacob" [Bishop Hall].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 25:29-34

We have here the bargain made between Jacob and Esau about the right, which was Esau's by birth, but Jacob's by promise. It was for a spiritual privilege; and we see Jacob's desire of the birth-right, but he sought to obtain it by crooked courses, not like his character as a plain man. He was right, that he coveted earnestly the best gifts; he was wrong, that he took advantage of his brother's need. The inheritance…

Read the full comment on Genesis 25:29-34 →

Genesis 25:32 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
עֵשָׂ֔ו'e.SavEsauH6215
הִנֵּ֛הhi.Nehhere!H2009
אָנֹכִ֥י'a.no.KhiIH595
הוֹלֵ֖ךְho.Lekh[am] goingH1980
לָמ֑וּתla.Mutto dieH4191
וְלָמָּה\־ve.la.mah-and for what?H4100
זֶּ֥הzehthisH2088
לִ֖יlito <the> me
בְּכֹרָֽה\׃be.kho.Rah[is] a birthrightH1062

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 25:32

  • Job 34:9

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

  • Job 22:17

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

  • Job 21:15

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

  • Malachi 3:14

    Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?

  • 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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
at the point to die. Heb. going to die. and what.
Job 21:15; 22:17; 34:9; Mal 3:14
birthright.
Ex 22:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 25:31

    And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

  • Genesis 25:32

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

  • Genesis 25:33

    And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

Read all of Genesis 25

Genesis 25:32 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces dijo Esaú: He aquí yo me voy á morir; ¿para qué, pues, me servirá la primogenitura?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Ésaü dit: Voici, je m’en vais mourir; et de quoi me sert le droit d’aînesse?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Esau sprach: Siehe, ich gehe hin zu sterben, und wozu mir da das Erstgeburtsrecht?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ille respondit: En morior, quid mihi proderunt primogenita?