The Bible explains this name, whose scientific etymological meaning escapes us, by a philosophical characteristic of the person, who was born covered with red hair. In the same way is interpreted his other name «Edom» (Gen. 25:30), which in Hebrew ('edhōnōn') precisely means «reddish» (= 'adhūnōn').
The two twins - E. and Jacob (q.v.) - even before their birth are taken as the symbol of two nations hostile to each other (ibid., 25:23). In fact, their different characters soon appear; while Jacob is presented as «mild and home-loving», E. is described as restless and adventurous. He
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(1) Il Viprò, Surofoggi, tav. 118. 1)