What does 'Esau have I hated' mean in Romans 9:13?
In Romans 9:13, 'Esau have I hated' is a comparative term, not malicious hatred or a desire to harm. It is not intrinsic hatred. It means God's love for Jacob was beyond comprehension, so that it was as if Esau was hated.
In Romans 9:13, the statement 'Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated' is not describing a malicious hatred. Les explains that the word 'hated' must be qualified: it is not hate as we think of hating someone enough to practically do them harm. It is a comparative term. Jesus used the same kind of language when He said that unless a person hates father and mother, he cannot be His disciple; He did not expect literal hatred of parents, but meant that love for Him should be so great that, by comparison, family love seems like hatred. Likewise, God did not have an intrinsic hatred for Esau. Instead, His love for Jacob was beyond comprehension, so that it was as if Esau was hated. The context also notes God said the elder would serve the younger before the boys were born.
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
More Questions
Why did God say 'Esau have I hated' if it doesn't mean literal hatred?
God's 'hatred' of Esau was not an intrinsic hatred; it was because His love for Jacob was beyond comprehension, so that it was as if Esau was hated.
How did Spurgeon answer the woman who could not understand how God could hate Esau?
Spurgeon told a woman troubled by how God could hate Esau that her question was not the real problem—the real problem and mystery is how God could ever love Jacob.