Who does Hebrews 12:16 call a fornicator and profane person?
Hebrews 12:16 identifies Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, as the fornicator and profane person. He sold his birthright for one morsel of food. The passage presents immorality and irreverence as going hand in hand, making Esau the scriptural example.
Les explains that Hebrews 12:16 refers to Esau, one of the twins born to Isaac and Rebekah. He points out that the verse calls him a fornicator or profane person, and that these two traits go hand in hand: when someone is immoral, he is profane for all practical purposes. Esau is the example because he sold his birthright for one morsel of food. Les suggests this has always been the most crucial shortcoming of the human race, and he sees it exploding in the 1990s. The context also mentions gross sexual wickedness evident in the past, going back to Ishmael and Esau.
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
More Questions
How are fornication and profanity connected?
Fornication and profanity go hand in hand; practically speaking, an immoral person is profane.