{"id":51851,"date":"2020-07-11T22:29:45","date_gmt":"2020-07-11T19:29:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=51851"},"modified":"2025-07-01T17:49:56","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T14:49:56","slug":"jacob-i-loved-but-esau-i-hated-what-does-this-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/07\/11\/jacob-i-loved-but-esau-i-hated-what-does-this-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"“Jacob I Loved, But Esau I Hated\u201d \u2013 What Does This Mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Romans 9:13)<\/em><\/p>\n

Question:<\/strong> If God truly loves all people, why does the Bible say that He hated Esau?<\/p>\n

This is an important and often misunderstood verse. On the surface, it sounds harsh\u2014how could a loving and just God “hate” someone? But to understand this, we must interpret Scripture using sound theology and proper biblical context, not human emotion.<\/p>\n

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Understanding Romans 9:13<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cJust as it is written: \u2018Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.\u2019\u201d<\/em>
\n\u2014 Romans 9:13<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This verse is actually a quotation from the Old Testament<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I have loved Jacob, and Esau I have hated\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n\u2014 Malachi 1:2\u20133<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here, \u201clove\u201d and \u201chate\u201d do not refer to emotions in the way humans often understand them. In biblical Hebrew and New Testament Greek, these words can mean “to choose” or “to favor”<\/strong> versus “to reject” or “not to choose.”<\/strong> This is common in ancient idiomatic expressions.<\/p>\n

Theologians describe this as the doctrine of divine election<\/strong>\u2014that God, in His sovereign will, chooses certain people or nations for specific purposes in redemptive history.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026in order that God\u2019s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by Him who calls.\u201d<\/em>
\n\u2014 Romans 9:11\u201312<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So, when God says He “hated” Esau, it doesn\u2019t mean He wished him evil. Rather, it means He did not choose him<\/strong> as the carrier of the covenant promise (see Genesis 25:23). Jacob was chosen, even before they were born\u2014not because of merit, but because of God\u2019s sovereign purpose.<\/p>\n

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God\u2019s Love Is Universal, But His Favor Is Conditional<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cFor God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n\u2014 John 3:16<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yes, God loves the world<\/strong>\u2014meaning all humanity. But not all people receive His covenant blessings<\/strong>, because not all respond to Him in faith and obedience. God is both loving and holy. He loves people but hates sin and rebellion.<\/p>\n

Esau\u2019s life reflected a disregard for spiritual things<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

\u201cSo Esau despised his birthright.\u201d<\/em>
\n\u2014 Genesis 25:34<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cSee that no one is\u2026 godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights.\u201d<\/em>
\n\u2014 Hebrews 12:16<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Esau represents those who treat the things of God as worthless<\/strong>. Jacob, though flawed, valued the covenant<\/strong>, and God chose to work through him.<\/p>\n

This reinforces the theological truth found in:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.\u201d<\/em>
\n\u2014 Proverbs 16:5<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cThe eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry.\u201d<\/em>
\n\u2014 Psalm 34:15<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Jesus\u2019 Teaching Clarifies the Use of “Hate” in Scripture<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jesus used similar language when teaching about discipleship:<\/p>\n

\u201cIf anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children… such a person cannot be my disciple.\u201d<\/em>
\n\u2014 Luke 14:26<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Of course, Jesus wasn’t teaching literal hatred. He was emphasizing loyalty to God above all human relationships<\/strong>. The same applies to Romans 9:13\u2014God didn\u2019t emotionally hate Esau, but He gave priority to Jacob in His redemptive plan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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The Sovereignty and Justice of God<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Paul, in Romans 9, is not just talking about Esau and Jacob as individuals, but also as representative heads of nations<\/strong>\u2014Edom and Israel. God’s choice of Jacob (Israel) shows that He is not obligated to choose based on human effort<\/strong>, but based on His mercy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.\u201d<\/em>
\n\u2014 Romans 9:15<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is not unfairness, but divine sovereignty<\/strong>. God knows all things perfectly and makes decisions based on His righteous will and foreknowledge.<\/p>\n

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What Does This Mean for Us?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This verse reminds us of a powerful truth:
\nGod is sovereign<\/strong>, and we must not take His grace lightly.<\/p>\n

Esau lost his place not because of fate, but because of his own choices. He treated God’s blessings as unimportant<\/strong> and gave them up for temporary satisfaction.<\/p>\n

We are warned not to do the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cWork out your salvation with fear and trembling.\u201d<\/em>
\n\u2014 Philippians 2:12<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cSo, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don\u2019t fall!\u201d<\/em>
\n\u2014 1 Corinthians 10:12<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Final Thoughts: God\u2019s Desire Is For All to Be Saved<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Though God chooses according to His will, He is not unjust. He gives everyone the opportunity to repent and believe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lord is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.\u201d<\/em>
\n\u2014 2 Peter 3:9<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Let us, then, be like Jacob\u2014not perfect, but willing to value God’s promises<\/strong>. Let\u2019s live lives that please God, fearing Him and honoring His Word.<\/p>\n

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Conclusion:<\/strong><\/h3>\n