The attitude of Esau toward Jacob is described as a root of bitterness. This attitude consists of a profound and deep-set animosity that ultimately corrupts and defiles one who maintains it. This reveals the mindset of Esau and his descendants, the Edomites. Everything that should have been theirs was now Jacob's, and they will fight until the bitter end of days to get it back. Yet God says it is not to be. His prophecy in the blessing allows Esau only occasional supremacy. Since Jacob's seed possessed both the birthright and the blessing, they would normally prevail and ultimately have the ascendancy.

Some people react to the trials, troubles and chastisement of life by becoming bitter. Before hard times came upon them, they seemed to be very nice and friendly, but when these things happen they become bitter, self-centered, difficult, and inward. They become difficult even with people who try to help them, and who are anxious to help them. They turn in on themselves and they feel that the whole world is against them. The bitterness enters into their heart and mind. It appears in their faces and in their appearance. A complete change seems to take place, and it is not a good change. We often unconsciously proclaim what we are, by the way that we react to what happens to us. These things test us, they test us to the very depths of our being, and they show whether we are truly children of God or not. Those who are not children of God are generally made bitter by hardships. Sometimes, temporarily, even the children of God may be affected in this way, and we need to be cautioned against this reaction to God's chastisement and trouble. Sometimes we need to be warned against a root of bitterness springing up. If we are guilty of any one of these three dangers or reactions of despising, of discouragement, or of bitterness the things that happen to us will not help us. Even the chastisements of God will not do us any good if that is the way we react. If we shrug it off, if we faint under it, if we become bitter because of it, it will not benefit us.