Gen 25:25 | NETfull | STEP | The first came out reddish all over, like a hairy garment, so they named him Esau.

Genesis 25:25

25 The first came out reddish ^{▼▼ Reddish. The Hebrew word translated “reddish” is אַדְמוֹנִי (’admoni), which forms a wordplay on the Edomites, Esau’s descendants. The writer sees in Esau’s appearance at birth a sign of what was to come. After all, the reader has already been made aware of the “nations” that were being born.} all over, ^{▼▼ Heb “all of him.”} like a hairy ^{▼▼ Hairy. Here is another wordplay involving the descendants of Esau. The Hebrew word translated “hairy” is שֵׂעָר (se’ar); the Edomites will later live in Mount Seir, perhaps named for its wooded nature.} garment, so they named him Esau. ^{▼▼ Heb “And they called his name Esau.” The name “Esau” (עֵשָׂו, ’esav) is not etymologically related to שֵׂעָר (se’ar), but it draws on some of the sounds.}