Hebrews 12:16 Meaning and Explanation
“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Let no one be sexually immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright for a single meal.
What Does Hebrews 12:16 Mean?
The watchfulness of the previous verse is made concrete with a warning and an example. Sexual sin and a profane spirit are named as dangers to guard against in the community.
Esau stands as the picture of the profane person -- not godless in word, but in his scale of values. For one bowl of food he gave away his birthright, treating a sacred inheritance as a cheap thing. The story from Genesis 25 warns against the heart that trades lasting blessing for momentary appetite. What is holy must not be sold for what is passing.
Hebrews 12:16 in the Original Language
bebelos (βέβηλος), 'profane' -- treating as common and worthless what is meant to be sacred.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 12:16
What does Hebrews 12:16 mean?
Let no one be sexually immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright for a single meal.