Keraia
Genesis 36

Genesis 36:4

The Descendants of Esau · Genesis 36:1–19
Read Genesis 36

Translations

Modern
And Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath gave birth to Reuel,
Traditional
And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;
Literal
And Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz, and Basemath bore Reuel,
Latin
Peperit autem Ada Eliphaz: Basemath genuit Rahuel:

Original

Hebrew
English
And Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath gave birth to Reuel,

Notes

Genesis 36:1–8

The story of Esau emphasizes two main points:

  1. The sons of Esau … were born to him in the land of Canaan (36:5) before he moved to Seir (36:8). In contrast, most of Jacob’s children were born outside Canaan but later moved there. God gave the land to Jacob and his descendants, making space for them by settling Esau elsewhere.

  2. Esau was also known as Edom. Israel often had conflicts with the Edomites (see 1 Samuel 21:7; 22:9–22; Obadiah 1).

Genesis 36:1–43

Genesis now turns to the story of Isaac’s sons. It first finishes the account of Esau’s line (chapter 36), who was not chosen. Then it continues with the line of Jacob (chapter 37), whom God chose.

Theme notes and profiles

Esau Symbolic Numbers

Parallels

1 Chronicles 1:35–37

People

Adah: Hittite wife of Esau; mother of Eliphaz Eliphaz: The firstborn son of Esau Esau: Isaac's firstborn son; sold birthright to Jacob; became Edom Mahalath: Esau's wife, daughter of Ishmael Reuel: Son of Esau and Basemath, a chief of Edom

Glossary

Adah Anah Basemath Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Edom, Edomites Eliphaz Genealogy Genesis, Book of Hivites Mahalath (Person) Oholibamah Patriarchs, Period of the Reuel Zibeon

Topics

Bashemath: Wife of Esau Eliphaz: Son of Esau Reuel: Son of Esau