עֵשָׂו (H6215) — Hebrew Lexicon

עֵשָׂו

𐤏𐤔𐤅

Esav

H6215 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עשׂה to do, make, fashion, produce

Definition

Proper noun: Esav, the elder twin son of Yitzhak (Isaac) and Rivkah (Rebekah), and brother of Yaakov (Jacob); founding ancestor of the Edomite people. In biblical narrative, the name also denotes the nation descended from him (the Edomites) in certain contexts. The term is used both personally and collectively, most frequently designating Yitzhak's son and, by extension, his lineage.

Semantic Range

proper name of an individual (Esav, son of Yitzhak), eponym of the Edomite nation, poetic/metonymic reference to Edom

Root / Etymology

The etymology of עֵשָׂו (Esav) is uncertain. While Strong linked it to the root עשה (ʿśh, 'to do, make'), modern scholarship generally rejects this derivation due to lack of morphological and semantic evidence. The name is associated in Genesis 25:25 with the Hebrew adjective עָשׂוֹ (ʿāśō), meaning 'hairy,' referring to Esav's appearance at birth, but this is likely a folk etymology rather than a strict derivation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Esav appears exclusively as a personal and ancestral name in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in Genesis (especially chs. 25-36), where he is depicted as Isaac's favored firstborn. The narrative presents Esav both as an individual and (eponymously) as the progenitor of Edom, a neighboring people frequently in tension with Israel. Use of 'Esav' to refer to the nation is typically in poetic or prophetic passages (e.g., Obadiah, Malachi), while the genealogical and narrative texts focus on the individual. Later English translations often use 'Esau,' but this transliteration reflects Latin and Greek rendering, not the Hebrew pronunciation. Standard translations sometimes conflate temporal and ethnic references, but in Israelite usage, 'Esav' remained a personal or eponymous term, distinct from the territorial term 'Edom.' The contrast with 'Yaakov' (Jacob) as the ancestor of Israel is central to biblical narrative and later interpretive traditions. In Rabbinic and medieval texts, 'Esav' sometimes acquires new metaphorical referents, but these extend beyond the biblical period and should not be read back anachronistically.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently a form of the passive participle of עָשָׂה in the original sense of handling; rough (i.e. sensibly felt); Esav, a son of Isaac, including his posterity; Esau.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עשׂה (ʿ-ś-h) — to do, make, fashion, produce

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H1202	בַּעֲשֵׂיָה	Yah-has-worked

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H6215-01`	עֵשָֽׂו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav	86
`H6215-02`	לְ/עֵשָׂ֗ו	leesav	`HR/Np`	to Esau	to Esav	9
`H6215-03`	וְ/עֵשָׂ֣ו	veesav	`HC/Np`	and Esau's	and Esav	2

Occurrences in Scripture

97 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H6215-01`	Genesis 25:25	עֵשָֽׂו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 25:26	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 25:27	עֵשָׂ֗ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 25:28	עֵשָׂ֖ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 25:29	עֵשָׂ֛ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 25:30	עֵשָׂ֜ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 25:32	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-02`	Genesis 25:34	לְ/עֵשָׂ֗ו	leesav	`HR/Np`	to Esau	to Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 25:34	עֵשָׂ֖ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 26:34	עֵשָׂו֙	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:1	עֵשָׂ֣ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:5	עֵשָׂ֖ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:5	עֵשָׂו֙	esav-2	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:6	עֵשָׂ֥ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:11	עֵשָׂ֤ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:15	עֵשָׂ֜ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:19	עֵשָׂ֣ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:21	עֵשָׂ֖ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:22	עֵשָֽׂו	esav	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:23	עֵשָׂ֥ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:24	עֵשָׂ֑ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-03`	Genesis 27:30	וְ/עֵשָׂ֣ו	veesav	`HC/Np`	that Esau	and Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:32	עֵשָֽׂו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:34	עֵשָׂו֙	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-02`	Genesis 27:37	לְ/עֵשָׂ֗ו	leesav	`HR/Np`	to Esau	to Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:38	עֵשָׂ֜ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:38	עֵשָׂ֛ו	esav-2	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:41	עֵשָׂו֙	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:41	עֵשָׂ֜ו	esav-2	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:42	עֵשָׂ֖ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 27:42	עֵשָׂ֣ו	esav-2	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-03`	Genesis 28:5	וְ/עֵשָֽׂו	veesav	`HC/Np`	and Esau's	and Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 28:6	עֵשָׂ֗ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 28:8	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 28:9	עֵשָׂ֖ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 32:4	עֵשָׂ֖ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-02`	Genesis 32:5	לְ/עֵשָׂ֑ו	leesav	`HR/Np`	to Esau	to Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 32:7	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 32:9	עֵשָׂ֛ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 32:12	עֵשָׂ֑ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-02`	Genesis 32:14	לְ/עֵשָׂ֥ו	leesav	`HR/Np`	for Esau	to Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 32:18	עֵשָׂ֣ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-02`	Genesis 32:19	לְ/עֵשָׂ֑ו	leesav	`HR/Np`	to Esau	to Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 32:20	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 33:1	עֵשָׂ֣ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 33:4	עֵשָׂ֤ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 33:9	עֵשָׂ֖ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 33:15	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 33:16	עֵשָׂ֛ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 35:1	עֵשָׂ֥ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 35:29	עֵשָׂ֥ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:1	עֵשָׂ֖ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:2	עֵשָׂ֛ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-02`	Genesis 36:4	לְ/עֵשָׂ֖ו	leesav	`HR/Np`	to Esau	to Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:5	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:6	עֵשָׂ֡ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:8	עֵשָׂו֙	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:8	עֵשָׂ֖ו	esav-2	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:9	עֵשָׂ֖ו	esav	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:10	עֵשָׂ֑ו	esav	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:10	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav-2	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:10	עֵשָֽׂו	esav-3	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:12	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:12	עֵשָֽׂו	esav-2	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:13	עֵשָֽׂו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:14	עֵשָׂ֑ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau's	Esav
`H6215-02`	Genesis 36:14	לְ/עֵשָׂ֔ו	leesav	`HR/Np`	to Esau	to Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:15	עֵשָׂ֑ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:15	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav-2	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:17	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:17	עֵשָֽׂו	esav-2	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:18	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:18	עֵשָֽׂו	esav-2	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:19	עֵשָׂ֛ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:40	עֵשָׂו֙	esav	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Genesis 36:43	עֵשָׂ֖ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Deuteronomy 2:4	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-02`	Deuteronomy 2:5	לְ/עֵשָׂ֔ו	leesav	`HR/Np`	to Esau	to Esav
`H6215-01`	Deuteronomy 2:8	עֵשָׂ֗ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Deuteronomy 2:12	עֵשָׂ֣ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Deuteronomy 2:22	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Deuteronomy 2:29	עֵשָׂ֗ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Joshua 24:4	עֵשָׂ֑ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-02`	Joshua 24:4	לְ/עֵשָׂ֜ו	leesav	`HR/Np`	to-Esau	to Esav
`H6215-01`	Jeremiah 49:8	עֵשָׂ֛ו	esav	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Jeremiah 49:10	עֵשָׂ֗ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Obadiah 1:6	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Obadiah 1:8	עֵשָֽׂו	esav	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Obadiah 1:9	עֵשָׂ֖ו	esav	`HNp`	of-Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Obadiah 1:18	עֵשָׂו֙	esav	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Obadiah 1:18	עֵשָׂ֔ו	esav-2	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Obadiah 1:19	עֵשָׂ֗ו	esav	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Obadiah 1:21	עֵשָׂ֑ו	esav	`HNp`	of Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Malachi 1:2	עֵשָׂ֤ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	Malachi 1:3	עֵשָׂ֖ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	1 Chronicles 1:34	עֵשָׂ֖ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav
`H6215-01`	1 Chronicles 1:35	עֵשָׂ֑ו	esav	`HNp`	Esau	Esav

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