Single lesson
Jacob and Esau: The Birthright
Genesis 25:19–34
This lesson helps children follow the account of Jacob and Esau from Isaac and Rebekah’s family story to Esau selling his birthright. Students will trace the order of events, notice each person’s choices, and think carefully about the passage’s final comment.
Before you teach
Genesis 25:19–34 begins the family history of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Isaac prayed for Rebekah because she was barren, and Yahweh answered. Before the twins were born, Yahweh spoke about two peoples and said the elder would serve the younger. Later, the passage describes the brothers after they had grown and records the birthright exchange.
Students will be able to sequence Genesis 25:19–34 and explain from the passage that Esau sold his birthright to Jacob and that the text says Esau despised his birthright.
Welcome: Meet Isaac’s family
5 minBegin by introducing the family in this passage: Isaac is Abraham’s son, and Rebekah is Isaac’s wife. Read the opening verses aloud. Ask children to listen for the family members and for what Isaac did when Rebekah was barren. Point out that Yahweh answered Isaac’s prayer and Rebekah conceived twins.
Genesis 25:19, Genesis 25:20, Genesis 25:21, Genesis 25:24
Read and explain: Before the twins were born
7 minRead the next verses slowly. Explain that the babies struggled within Rebekah, and she inquired of Yahweh. Yahweh said there were two nations in her womb, two peoples would be separated from her body, and the elder would serve the younger. Then note the twins’ birth order: Esau came first, and Jacob came after him holding Esau’s heel.
Genesis 25:22, Genesis 25:23, Genesis 25:24, Genesis 25:25, Genesis 25:26
Discuss: The brothers grow and make a deal
6 minRead how the passage describes the boys as they grew. Esau was a skilful hunter and Jacob lived in tents. Isaac loved Esau, and Rebekah loved Jacob. Then read the stew scene in order. Esau asked for food because he was famished. Jacob asked for Esau’s birthright first. Esau agreed, swore, and sold it to Jacob.
Genesis 25:27, Genesis 25:28, Genesis 25:29, Genesis 25:30, Genesis 25:31, Genesis 25:32, Genesis 25:33
Make and respond: Sequence the account
8 minGive children simple cards or slips of paper to sequence key moments from the passage: Isaac prayed, Yahweh spoke to Rebekah, the twins were born, the boys grew up, Jacob cooked stew, Esau sold his birthright, and Esau ate and went his way. After sequencing, ask children which choices in the story mattered most and which sentence gives the passage’s own judgement.
Genesis 25:21, Genesis 25:23, Genesis 25:24, Genesis 25:27, Genesis 25:29, Genesis 25:33, Genesis 25:34
Closing: What the passage wants us to notice
4 minFinish by rereading the last line: “Esau despised his birthright.” Help children see that the passage does more than tell what happened. It also tells how Esau treated his birthright. Review the order of the account together and invite students to say one true sentence from the passage about God and one about people’s choices.
Genesis 25:21, Genesis 25:23, Genesis 25:34
Questions to explore
What did Isaac do when Rebekah was barren, and what happened next?
Look at the verse that says Isaac entreated Yahweh and the verse that says Rebekah conceived.
Genesis 25:21
What words did Yahweh say to Rebekah before the twins were born?
Use the verse about two nations, two peoples, and the elder serving the younger.
Genesis 25:23
How does the passage itself describe Esau’s action after he sold his birthright?
Read the end of the final verse and use the exact summary given there.
Genesis 25:34
Make, think or respond
Birthright Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or markers
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Write or draw eight moments from the passage on separate cards: Isaac prayed, Rebekah inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh spoke, the twins were born, the boys grew up, Jacob cooked stew, Esau sold his birthright, and Esau ate and went his way.
- Mix the cards and let children place them in order using the Bible reading for help.
- Ask children to retell the account by pointing to each card in sequence.
- Finish by circling the last card and reading the final sentence of Genesis 25:34 together.
This activity helps children follow the order of Genesis 25:19–34 and notice the passage’s own conclusion about Esau’s birthright.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, reduce the sequence to four cards and use simple drawings instead of full sentences.
- For older or stronger readers, ask them to match each sequence card with the exact verse reference from Genesis 25:19–34.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: “God, thank you that you heard Isaac’s prayer and spoke in this family’s story. Please help us listen carefully to your word and take seriously what you show us. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Genesis 25
19 This is the history of the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham became the father of Isaac.
20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife.
21 Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22 The children struggled together within her. She said, “If it is like this, why do I live?” She went to inquire of Yahweh.
23 Yahweh said to her, “Two nations are in your womb. Two peoples will be separated from your body. The one people will be stronger than the other people. The elder will serve the younger.”
24 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
25 The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him Esau.
26 After that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
27 The boys grew. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents.
28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he ate his venison. Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 Jacob boiled stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was famished.
30 Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with some of that red stew, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom.
31 Jacob said, “First, sell me your birthright.”
32 Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?”
33 Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” He swore to him. He sold his birthright to Jacob.
34 Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.