Esau (pronounced /ˈisɔ/) (Hebrew עֵשָׂו, Standard Hebrew Esav, Tiberian Hebrew ʿĒśāw) is the brother of Jacob (whom God renamed Israel) -- the patriarch and founder of the Israelites -- in the biblical Book of Genesis. Esau was the oldest son of Isaac and Rebekah and the grandson of Abraham. Jacob and Esau were fraternal twins, with Esau born minutes before Jacob (Israel) and thus entitled to lead the family and obtain a preferred inheritance after Isaac's death.
Esau's name in Hebrew means "hairy", and, according to Genesis 25:25, it is a reference to his hairiness at birth. He is also called "Edom", which means red. Genesis relates this directly to his selling his birthright for some "red lentil stew" (Gen. 25:30). However, Genesis makes a point of mentioning that he was red when he emerged from the womb (Gen 25:25). However, this may be an example of retroactive nomenclature, as the land which was supposedly inhabited by his descendants, Edom, contains a great abundance of red rock, and some believe that the name of the land is a topographical reference. However, this is speculation, and has no basis in the biblical text.
