Have you ever wondered why the Bible goes out of its way to describe the physical appearance of certain people? In my series, Colors in the Bible, we look past the black-and-white text to discover the vibrant, living hues of the biblical world.
Today, we’re looking at one of the most distinct figures in Genesis: Esau, the man defined by the color red.
The Prophecy of Two Nations
The story begins with a difficult pregnancy. Rebekah, the wife of Isaac and daughter-in-law of Abraham, felt a “struggle” within her womb that was so intense she sought the Lord for answers. The divine response was prophetic:
“Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”
When the time came for delivery, the first twin out of the gate didn’t just look different—he looked like a different species.
The “Hairy Cloak”: A Case of Hypertrichosis?
Genesis 25:25 describes Esau’s entrance into the world vividly: “The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak; so they called his name Esau.”
As a color professional, I look at descriptions like “hairy cloak” and see more than just a metaphor. While we don’t have ancient medical charts, Esau may have had what we now call Congenital Hypertrichosis. This is a rare condition characterized by excessive hair growth over the body from birth.
Even his name reflects this. Esau (Esav) is closely linked to the Hebrew word se’ar (hair) and is a play on Seir, the rugged, mountainous land he would eventually inhabit.
“Admonni”: Why Was Esau So Red?
The Bible describes Esau as admonni—reddish or ruddy. While many newborns appear red due to thin skin and active blood circulation immediately after birth, Esau’s redness was a defining, permanent trait.
From my perspective as a trained color expert, this suggests a very specific biological makeup.
The Power of Pheomelanin
We all have melanin, but the type and concentration dictate our unique palette. While Eumelanin provides brown and black pigments, Pheomelanin is responsible for red and yellow hues.
- Where we see it: Pheomelanin is what gives human lips and nipples their pinkish tones.
- The Esau Hypothesis: In people with red or “strawberry” hair, pheomelanin is the dominant pigment.
Because Esau’s redness was so distinct that it stayed with him into adulthood (eventually earning him the nickname Edom, meaning “Red”), it’s highly probable he had an unusually high concentration of pheomelanin. His physical appearance was a literal “color identity” that set him apart from his twin brother, Jacob.
A Study in Contrasts: Red vs. Smooth
The Bible loves a good foil, and Jacob was the perfect contrast to Esau. While Esau was the “red and hairy” outdoorsman, Jacob was described as a “smooth man.”
This physical difference became the focal point of one of the Bible’s greatest dramas. To steal his brother’s blessing, Jacob had to wear Esau’s clothes and cover his own smooth skin with goat membranes to mimic Esau’s texture. He had to feel like Esau because he certainly didn’t look like him.
Red: More Than Just a Color
For Esau, red wasn’t just a birthmark; it was his destiny. From the “red stew” he traded his birthright for, to the red rocks of Edom, this color followed him throughout his life.
What do you think? Does seeing the biological and color-science side of Esau change how you picture this biblical patriarch?
Stay tuned for the next episode of Colors in the Bible, where we’ll dive deeper into how the color RED continued to shape Esau’s legacy!
Ingrid Nieto-Pagulayan, AICI CIC 