sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage

verb

To make an unfavorable exchange, especially of something of great, but deferred value, for something of very low, but immediate value.

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Meanings

verbsell one's birthright for a mess of pottage (third-person singular simple present sells one's birthright for a mess of pottage, present participle selling one's birthright for a mess of pottage, simple past and past participle sold one's birthright for a mess of pottage)

present singular third person sells one's birthright for a mess of pottage · participle present selling one's birthright for a mess of pottage · participle past sold one's birthright for a mess of pottage · past sold one's birthright for a mess of pottage

  1. datedidiomaticTo make an unfavorable exchange, especially of something of great, but deferred value, for something of very low, but immediate value.
    1 more example

    An elector, who by his vote should contribute to the establishment of a constitution having for its effect, instead of the greatest happiness of the greatest number, the greatest or supposed greatest happiness of the ruling few at the expense of the happiness of the many, would, supposing himself to become in consequence of the misrule, a sufferer to a greater amount than that of the benefit received by his vote, be an Esau selling his birthright for a mess of pottage.

    a. 1832, Jeremy Bentham, Constitutional Code

Origin

In allusion to the Biblical character Esau, who sold his birthright for a meal of lentil stew (Genesis 25:29-34).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish myydä esikoisoikeutensa hernerokasta
  • myydä esikoisoikeutensa hernerokastaTranslations
Hungarian egy tál lencséért eladja elsőszülöttségét
  • egy tál lencséért eladja elsőszülöttségétTranslations
Polish but see sprzedawać za tanio, sprzedać za tanio
  • but see sprzedawać za tanioTranslations
  • sprzedać za tanioTranslations
Spanish venderse por un plato de lentejas
  • venderse por un plato de lentejasTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sell%20one's%20birthright%20for%20a%20mess%20of%20pottage

MLA

“sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sell%20one's%20birthright%20for%20a%20mess%20of%20pottage. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sell%20one's%20birthright%20for%20a%20mess%20of%20pottage.

Source: sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.