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How did early Christian writers turn Esau into a symbol of a rejected people?

Research question: How did early Christian writers turn Esau into a symbol of a rejected people, and how did that change over time?

The records show that the rejection motif starts in the Hebrew Bible, where Malachi says God hated Esau, turned his mountains into a desolation, and gave his heritage to jackals ¹². Malachi also says Edom, descended from Esau, will be called "The border of wickedness" and "The people whom the LORD execrateth for ever" ³. Edom's plan to rebuild is answered with God's declaration that he will throw down what they build, leaving them under lasting divine indignation ⁴. All of the verified facts come from Malachi 1:1-6 ¹²³⁴, so they do not show how early Christian writers used Esau as a symbol or how that use changed over time.

Checked 2026-10-18. Only documented and supported facts are used.

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[1] documented

Malachi states that God hated Esau, made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to jackals, which is the Hebrew Bible's basis for the motif of Esau as a rejected people.

"But Esau I hated, And made his mountains a desolation, And gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness."

Malachi 1:1-6 [Hebrew Bible (JPS 1917 English, Sefaria)]

[2] supported

The Hebrew prophet Malachi presents God as saying he hated Esau and turned Esau's mountains and heritage into a wasteland, which set up the rejection theme later writers could draw on.

"And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness."

Malachi 1:1-6 [King James Version]

[3] documented

Malachi says the people of Edom, descended from Esau, will be called "The border of wickedness" and "The people whom the LORD execrateth for ever."

"And they shall be called The border of wickedness, And The people whom the LORD execrateth for ever."

Malachi 1:1-6 [Hebrew Bible (JPS 1917 English, Sefaria)]

[4] supported

Edom's hope to rebuild is answered by God's declaration that he will throw down whatever they build, and the people will be known as the border of wickedness and a people under lasting divine indignation.

"They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever."

Malachi 1:1-6 [King James Version]