Esau's genealogy spans 43 verses—longer than many covenant narratives—transforming him from Jacob's rival into the progenitor of an entire nation with kings and chiefs.
Genesis 36
The Descendants of Esau
1Now this is the history of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom).
2Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon, the Hittite; and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, the Hivite;
3and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebaioth.
4Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz. Basemath bore Reuel.
5Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan.
6Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, with his livestock, all his animals, and all his possessions, which he had gathered in the land of Canaan, and went into a land away from his brother Jacob.
7For their substance was too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their travels couldn’t bear them because of their livestock.
8Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom.
9This is the history of the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir:
10these are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, the son of Adah, the wife of Esau; and Reuel, the son of Basemath, the wife of Esau.
11The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
12Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau’s son; and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek. These are the descendants of Adah, Esau’s wife.
13These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the descendants of Basemath, Esau’s wife.
14These were the sons of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
15These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz,
16chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief Amalek. These are the chiefs who came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Adah.
17These are the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah. These are the chiefs who came of Reuel in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife.
18These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, chief Korah. These are the chiefs who came of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife.
19These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs.
20These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,
21Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.
22The children of Lotan were Hori and Heman. Lotan’s sister was Timna.
23These are the children of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
24These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the donkeys of Zibeon his father.
25These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.
26These are the children of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.
27These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
28These are the children of Dishan: Uz and Aran.
29These are the chiefs who came of the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah,
30chief Dishon, chief Ezer, and chief Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.
31These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel.
32Bela, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom. The name of his city was Dinhabah.
33Bela died, and Jobab, the son of Zerah of Bozrah, reigned in his place.
34Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.
35Husham died, and Hadad, the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. The name of his city was Avith.
36Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.
37Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the river, reigned in his place.
38Shaul died, and Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.
39Baal Hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his place. The name of his city was Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
40These are the names of the chiefs who came from Esau, according to their families, after their places, and by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth,
41chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,
42chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,
43chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession. This is Esau, the father of the Edomites.
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Theme
Genesis 36 provides a comprehensive genealogical record of Esau's descendants, tracing the formation of the Edomite nation. The chapter details Esau's wives, children, and grandchildren, explaining how his family grew too large to remain in Canaan alongside Jacob's household, leading to their settlement in the hill country of Seir. It also includes the genealogies of the original Horite inhabitants of the land and lists the chiefs and kings who ruled in Edom, establishing the historical foundation for Israel's neighboring nation.
Context
This genealogical chapter follows Jacob's return to Canaan and precedes the Joseph narrative, providing closure to Esau's story while establishing the historical background for Israel's relationship with Edom.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-8 Esau's Family and Migration Lists Esau's wives and sons, explaining his departure from Canaan to Seir due to overcrowding with Jacob's household
- 9-14 Detailed Genealogy of Esau's Sons Provides comprehensive listing of Esau's descendants through his three wives, including grandchildren
- 15-19 Chiefs of Edom Catalogs the tribal chiefs who descended from Esau's sons, organizing them by their maternal lineages
- 20-30 Original Horite Inhabitants Records the genealogy of Seir the Horite and his descendants who originally inhabited the land of Edom
- 31-43 Kings and Chiefs of Edom Lists the kings who ruled in Edom before Israel had kings, followed by additional Edomite chiefs
The Descendants of Esau
36:1–36:43 genealogy narration contemplative
A genealogical record of Esau's descendants who became the Edomites, including his wives, children, and the chiefs and kings who ruled in Edom. This establishes the separation between Jacob's and Esau's lineages.
person_contrast
Esau's genealogy spans 43 verses—longer than many covenant narratives—transforming him from Jacob's rival into the progenitor of an entire nation with kings and chiefs.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Genesis 36:2 3 references
Lexicals 3
Genesis 26:34 Lexical
When Esau was forty years old, he took as wife Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of…
1 Chronicles 1:40 Lexical
The sons of Shobal: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah.
1 Chronicles 1:38 Lexical
The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
Genesis 36:3 3 references
Lexicals 3
Genesis 28:9 Lexical
So Esau went to Ishmael, and took, in addition to the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son…
1 Chronicles 1:29 Lexical
These are their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
Genesis 25:13 Lexical
These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to the order of their birth: the firstborn of Ishm…
Genesis 36:4 1 reference
Genesis 36:5 1 reference
Genesis 36:6 4 references
Lexicals 4
Genesis 31:18 Lexical
and he took away all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had gathered, including the livestock which he had…
Genesis 46:6 Lexical
They took their livestock, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt—Jacob, and…
Genesis 34:23 Lexical
Won’t their livestock and their possessions and all their animals be ours? Only let’s give our consent to them, and they…
Genesis 28:6 Lexical
Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as h…
Genesis 36:7 1 reference
Genesis 36:10 1 reference
Genesis 36:11 2 references
Genesis 36:12 1 reference
Genesis 36:13 1 reference
Genesis 36:14 3 references
Lexicals 3
1 Chronicles 1:35 Lexical
The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
1 Chronicles 1:38 Lexical
The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
1 Chronicles 1:40 Lexical
The sons of Shobal: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah.
Genesis 36:15 2 references
Genesis 36:16 1 reference
Genesis 36:17 1 reference
Genesis 36:18 2 references
Genesis 36:20 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Chronicles 1:38 Lexical
The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
1 Chronicles 1:40 Lexical
The sons of Shobal: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah.
Genesis 14:6 Lexical
and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to El Paran, which is by the wilderness.
Deuteronomy 2:22 Lexical
as he did for the children of Esau who dwell in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them; and they succeeded…
Deuteronomy 2:12 Lexical
The Horites also lived in Seir in the past, but the children of Esau succeeded them. They destroyed them from before the…
Genesis 36:21 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Chronicles 1:38 Lexical
The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
1 Chronicles 1:42 Lexical
The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jaakan. The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.
Genesis 14:6 Lexical
and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to El Paran, which is by the wilderness.
Deuteronomy 2:22 Lexical
as he did for the children of Esau who dwell in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them; and they succeeded…
Deuteronomy 2:12 Lexical
The Horites also lived in Seir in the past, but the children of Esau succeeded them. They destroyed them from before the…
Genesis 36:22 1 reference
Genesis 36:23 2 references
Genesis 36:24 2 references
Genesis 36:25 2 references
Genesis 36:26 1 reference
Genesis 36:27 1 reference
Genesis 36:28 1 reference
Genesis 36:29 2 references
Genesis 36:30 2 references
Genesis 36:32 1 reference
Genesis 36:33 1 reference
Genesis 36:34 1 reference
Genesis 36:35 2 references
Lexicals 2
Genesis 36:36 1 reference
Genesis 36:37 1 reference
Genesis 36:38 1 reference
Genesis 36:39 2 references
Genesis 36:40 1 reference
Genesis 36:41 1 reference
Genesis 36:42 2 references
Genesis 36:43 1 reference
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
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Lemma
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Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
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