Genesis36
English Standard Version
1These are the of (that is, ).
2 his from the : the of the , the of the of the ,
3and , , the of .
4And to , ; ;
5and , , and . These are the of who were to him in the of .
6Then his , his , his , and all the of his , his , all his , and all his that he had in the of . He into a away his .
7For their were too for them to . The of their not them of their .
8So in the of . ( is .)
9These are the of the of the in the of .
10These are the of : the of the of , the of the of .
11The of were , , , , and .
12( was a of , ; she to .) These are the of , .
13These are the of : , , , and . These are the of , .
14These are the of the of the of , : she to , , and .
15These are the of the of . The of the of : the , , , ,
16 , , and ; these are the of in the of ; these are the of .
17These are the of , : the , , , and ; these are the of in the of ; these are the of , .
18These are the of , : the , , and ; these are the born of the of , .
19These are the of ( that is, ), and these are their .
20These are the of the , the of the : , , , ,
21 , , and ; these are the of the , the of in the of .
22The of were and ; and was .
23These are the of : , , , , and .
24These are the of : and ; he is the who the in the , as he the of his .
25These are the of : and the of .
26These are the of : , , , and .
27These are the of : , , and .
28These are the of : and .
29These are the of the : the , , , ,
30 , , and ; these are the of the , chief by in the of .
31These are the who in the of , any the .
32 the of in , the of his being .
33 , and the of of in his .
34 , and of the of the in his .
35 , and the of , who in the of , in his , the of his being .
36 , and of in his .
37 , and of on the in his .
38 , and the of in his .
39 the of , and in his , the of his being ; his was , the of , of .
40These are the of the of , according to their and their , by their : the , , ,
41 , , ,
42 , , ,
43 , and ; these are the of (that is, , the of ), according to their in the of their .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 36.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Esau and his descendants. (1-43).
vv1-43
The registers in this chapter show the faithfulness of God to his promise to Abraham. Esau is here called Edom, that name which kept up the remembrance of his selling his birth-right for a mess of pottage. Esau continued the same profane despiser of heavenly things. In outward prosperity and honour, the children of the covenant are often behind, and those that are out of the covenant get the start. We may suppose it a trial to the faith of God's Israel, to hear of the pomp and power of the kings of Edom, while they were bond-slaves in Egypt; but those that look for great things from God, must be content to wait for them; God's time is the best time. Mount Seir is called the land of their possession. Canaan was at this time only the land of promise. Seir was in the possession of the Edomites. The children of this world have their all in hand, and nothing in hope, Lu 16:25; while the children of God have their all in hope, and next to nothing in hand. But, all things considered, it is beyond compare better to have Canaan in promise, than mount Seir in possession.
Key Words
תּוֹלְדָה: (plural only) descent, i.e. family; (figuratively) history
עֵשָׂו: Esav, a son of Isaac, including his posterity
אֱדֹם: Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him
לָקַח: to take (in the widest variety of applications)
אִשָּׁה: a woman
עָדָה: Adah, the name of two women
בַּת: a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
אֵילוֹן: Elon, the name of a place in Palestine, and also of one Hittite, two Israelites
חִתִּי: a Chittite, or descendant of Cheth
אׇהֳלִיבָמָה: Oholibamah, a wife of Esau
Cross References
Genesis 36Joshua notes God gave Mount Seir to Esau for his possession, matching Esau dwelling there.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Moses records that God gave Mount Seir to Esau for a possession, confirming the narrative.
Supported by JFB
Israel is commanded not to abhor an Edomite, because he is a brother.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Provides the initial names of Esau's Hittite and Hivite wives, reconciling genealogical differences.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Records Esau marrying Mahalath (Bashemath), Ishmael's daughter and sister of Nebajoth.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God declares He laid Esau's mountains waste, contrasting with Jacob's inheritance.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Introduces Amalek, son of Eliphaz, whose descendants became Israel's perpetual enemies starting at Rephidim.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Explains why Esau is called Edom, referencing the red pottage for which he sold his birthright.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel separation of Abraham and Lot due to their vast possessions, similar to Jacob and Esau.
Supported by John Calvin
Eliphaz the Temanite, Job's friend, descended from Esau's firstborn Eliphaz and his son Teman.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Balaam prophesies that Edom shall be a possession, and Amalek's end shall be destruction.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Explains how the descendants of Esau destroyed and succeeded the Horites of Seir.
Supported by JFB
The parallel genealogical register of Esau's sons in the Chronicles.
Supported by John Calvin
God promised kings would come from Jacob, yet Edom had kings first, testing Israel's faith.
Supported by John Calvin