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Bible chapter guide

Genesis 25

Abraham dies 'full of years' and is buried beside Sarah. Ishmael's twelve sons are listed. Rebekah bears twins, Esau and Jacob, who struggle even in the womb, and Esau later sells his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew.

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  • Textually stated

    Esau: Also called Edom, “red”, after the red stew he sold his birthright for.

  • Plausible

    Abraham, ages 137–175: Full of years

    His last decades are spent on small, faithful acts: buying a grave in the land he was promised but never owned, and finding a wife for Isaac. He dies "full of years". The promise was still mostly future, yet he finished well, planting his family in the land b…

  • Plausible

    Isaac, ages 40–60: Twenty years of prayer

    Isaac married at 40 and became a father at 60. Genesis tells those twenty years in one verse: Isaac entreated the LORD for his barren wife, and the LORD answered. His father's waiting had included Hagar; Isaac's is marked by prayer. Compare the two bands in t…

  • Speculative

    Jacob was about 40: Buys Esau's birthright for stew.

    After "the boys grew" (Gen 25:27); no age is given.

  • Speculative

    Jacob, ages 0–77: The heel-grabber

    Jacob is born holding his brother's heel and spends half his life reaching for what was promised to him anyway (Gen 25:23). The birthright and the blessing both come by bargaining and deceit. Genesis shows how God's purpose can stand while the person carrying…

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