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Hebrews 12:16The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
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16
μή τις πόρνος ἢ βέβηλος ὡς Ἠσαῦ, ὃς ἀντὶ βρώσεως μιᾶς ἀπέδετο τὰ πρωτοτόκια ἑαυτοῦ.
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Hebrews 12:16The Bible in Living English
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16 no libertine or unsanctified man like Esau, who for one meal sold his rights as eldest son;
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Hebrews 12:16American Standard Version
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16 lest there be any fornication, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright.
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Hebrews 12:16The Emphasized Bible
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16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person like Esau,—Who for the sake of one meal yielded up his own firstborn rights;
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Hebrews 12:16King James Version
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16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
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Hebrews Study Notes—Chapter 12New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
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no one who is sexually immoral: In this verse, Paul mentions people who are sexually immoral as well as those who fail to appreciate sacred things. The Genesis record contains no direct mention of Esau’s committing sexual sins. However, the record clearly shows that Esau valued physical things far more than the blessings that Jehovah offers. (Ge 25:27, 30-34) By mentioning both types of people in the same context, Paul may have in mind that a man who shows contempt for sacred things is more likely to give in to fleshly desires and commit other serious sins, such as sexual immorality. Some suggest that Paul is here referring to the way that the terms for “sexual immorality” (including “prostitution”) are sometimes used in the Hebrew Scriptures. These terms are often used figuratively to describe the sins of those who turn away from the true God and worship other gods.—De 31:16; Jg 2:17; Ho 1:2; see also Glossary, “Sexual immorality.”
anyone who does not appreciate sacred things: Paul here alludes to the account about Esau at Ge 25:30-34. Esau’s actions show how wrong it is for Christians to value the satisfying of their own fleshly desires more than seeking God’s blessings and approval. The Genesis account describes how Esau “sold his right as firstborn” for bread and lentil stew, and then concludes: “Thus Esau despised the birthright.” (See study note on his rights as firstborn in this verse.) Regarding the Greek expression rendered “anyone who does not appreciate sacred things,” one reference work says that it “describes a character which recognises nothing as higher than earth . . . for whom there is nothing sacred.” The term could also be rendered “anyone who is profane [or, “irreverent”].” (1Ti 1:9; 4:7) Esau further displayed his irreverent, or profane, attitude by marrying two pagan women.—Ge 26:34, 35.
his rights as firstborn: Even before the Mosaic Law set out clear rights for the firstborn son, the Scriptures indicate that he had rights and a special status in patriarchal society. (Ge 25:31-33; 43:33; 48:17, 18) Later, the Mosaic Law gave some specific instructions regarding the firstborn son’s rights. (De 21:15-17) In the case of Esau’s father, Isaac, the “rights as firstborn” were directly connected to God’s promise to Abraham that his offspring would inherit the prospect of passing down divine blessing to all the nations.—Ge 21:12; 22:17, 18; 27:1, 4, 36; Heb 11:9, 18.
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