Genesis 36:10 kjv

These are the names of Esau's sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau.

Genesis 36:10 nkjv

These were 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.

Genesis 36:10 niv

These are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz, the son of Esau's wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau's wife Basemath.

Genesis 36:10 esv

These are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau.

Genesis 36:10 nlt

These are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz, the son of Esau's wife Adah; and Reuel, the son of Esau's wife Basemath.

Genesis 36 verses

Genesis 36 10 Meaning

Genesis 36:10 begins the detailed enumeration of the offspring of Esau, also known as Edom, through his two main wives mentioned, Adah and Basemath. This verse specifically lists his first two significant sons, Eliphaz and Reuel, each identified by their mothers. It serves to establish the primary lineages that would constitute the nation of Edom, highlighting the rapid expansion and separate identity of Esau's descendants, distinct yet parallel to the emerging nation of Israel from Jacob's line.

Genesis 36 10 Context

Genesis 36 presents the complete genealogy and history of Esau, detailing his wives, sons, and grandsons, culminating in the list of the chiefs and kings who ruled in the land of Edom. The preceding chapter, Genesis 35, focuses on the life and death of Rachel, the birth of Benjamin, and the enumeration of Jacob's twelve sons, who form the twelve tribes of Israel. By providing Esau's genealogy immediately after Jacob's, the author effectively highlights the separation and distinction between the two parallel, yet divinely disparate, lineages of Abraham's descendants. This chapter serves as a theological interlude, explaining the origins of Edom, a neighboring nation frequently hostile to Israel. It fulfills the prophecy that Esau would become a mighty nation, while simultaneously solidifying the unique covenantal identity of Israel through Jacob's line by emphasizing who Israel is not. Historically, the Edomites inhabited the mountainous region south of the Dead Sea, known as Mount Seir, validating their claim to that land (Deut 2:5). The meticulous record underscores a claim to territory and lineage in the ancient world, establishing the foundational identity of the Edomites prior to their later interactions, often antagonistic, with the Israelites.

Genesis 36 10 Word analysis

• These: (Hebrew: אֵלֶּה - 'ēlleh) - A demonstrative pronoun. Signals the commencement of a new list or category within a larger genealogical record. Emphasizes specific, identified individuals.
• are the names: (Hebrew: שְׁמוֹת - šəmōṯ, from שֵׁם - šēm, 'name, reputation, memory'). Names in ancient Israel held deep significance, often reflecting character, destiny, or events associated with the person's birth. To list names is to acknowledge lineage, identity, and historical reality.
• of Esau's sons: (Hebrew: בְנֵי עֵשָׂו - bənéy ‘Ēśāw) - Explicitly identifies the direct offspring of Esau, differentiating them from Jacob's descendants. Esau is given a full genealogy here, demonstrating the fulfillment of God's blessing of fruitfulness (Gen 27:39), albeit outside the primary covenantal line.
• Eliphaz: (Hebrew: אֱלִיפָז - ’Ĕlīp̄āz) - Meaning "My God is strength" or "God is fine gold." This is Esau's firstborn son. His name, invoking "God," highlights that even those outside the Abrahamic covenant often used divine names, suggesting a general awareness of the God of their fathers, though not necessarily a covenantal relationship. Eliphaz is notable as the ancestor of Amalek, a fierce enemy of Israel (Gen 36:12).
• the son of Adah: (Hebrew: בֶּן עָדָה - ben ‘Āḏâ) - Identifies Eliphaz's mother. Adah (עָדָה - ‘Āḏâ), meaning "ornament" or "procession," was one of Esau's three wives and "daughters of Canaan" (Gen 36:2), highlighting a deviation from the patriarchal marriage customs of Isaac and Jacob. The matrilineal identification provides clarity and verifies their specific family branch within Esau's complex household.
• Reuel: (Hebrew: רְעוּאֵל - Rə‘ū’ēl) - Meaning "Friend of God" or "Shepherd of God." Another son of Esau. This name also directly refers to God, reflecting common linguistic practices even among non-covenantal peoples. The repetition of divine names in the sons' nomenclature (Eliphaz and Reuel) subtly notes their awareness of a higher power.
• the son of Basemath: (Hebrew: בֶּן בָּשְׂמַת - ben Bāśəmáṯ) - Identifies Reuel's mother. Basemath (בָּשְׂמַת - Bāśəmáṯ), meaning "sweet smell" or "fragrance," was another wife of Esau (Gen 36:3). The mention of the mother for each son reinforces the distinct maternal lines that would eventually branch into different Edomite clans, each with its unique ancestral background and historical trajectory.

Words-group by Words-group analysis:

• "These are the names of Esau's sons": This phrase introduces a foundational genealogical segment, emphasizing a historical record. It distinguishes Esau's progeny from Jacob's, despite their fraternal relationship. The focus shifts entirely to the lineage of Edom, demonstrating God's consistent approach to genealogies in Scripture, which serve both historical and theological purposes.
• "Eliphaz the son of Adah": This highlights the eldest line, often the most significant in ancient cultures. Eliphaz's prominence is further emphasized later in the chapter as the father of chiefs (Gen 36:15), including Amalek. Adah's maternal identity roots Eliphaz in one of Esau's initial marriages to a Canaanite woman, setting a tone of distinction from Jacob's family lineage choices.
• "Reuel the son of Basemath": This lists another important paternal line and maternal source. While not the firstborn, Reuel also gives rise to significant Edomite chiefs (Gen 36:17). The distinct maternal linkage from Basemath underscores the division of Esau's large family into different clans based on their mothers, providing a detailed, organized account of the Edomite foundation.

Genesis 36 10 Bonus section

The genealogical account in Genesis 36, particularly verses like 36:10, often feels like a "dry" list, yet its theological and historical importance is profound. Scholars refer to such lists as 'toh ledot' sections, signifying generations or histories, which punctuate Genesis, guiding the reader through the unfolding narrative of salvation. The names of Esau's sons, Eliphaz ("My God is strength") and Reuel ("Friend of God"), carrying references to God, underscore that while Abraham’s covenant was with Jacob’s line, God was not unknown to others. This reflects a broader theological point that knowledge of God exists beyond direct covenant beneficiaries. Furthermore, the extensive genealogy for Esau might reflect a pre-Israelite source that the biblical author incorporates, providing external historical validation to the emerging distinctiveness of Israel. This detail emphasizes God's sovereign work not only in electing one people but also in establishing other nations, acknowledging their historical existence within His broader plan. The subsequent history of conflict between Israel and Edom reveals the tension between natural brotherhood and divine election.

Genesis 36 10 Commentary

Genesis 36:10 initiates the precise historical record of Esau’s offspring, establishing the core paternal and maternal lines of Edom. The detailed enumeration of Esau's sons, Eliphaz and Reuel, by their specific mothers, Adah and Basemath, is more than a mere listing; it serves several crucial purposes within the biblical narrative. Firstly, it fulfills the divine blessing that Esau too would become a great nation, providing the groundwork for understanding the nation of Edom. Secondly, placed directly after the genealogy of Jacob (Genesis 35), it meticulously distinguishes Esau’s progeny from the lineage of the covenant chosen people, Israel, underscoring God’s sovereign election and the distinct paths taken by the two brothers and their descendants. This differentiation is vital for the ensuing historical interactions, often conflictual, between Israel and Edom. Lastly, the genealogical precision reflects the ancient Near Eastern cultural emphasis on verifiable lineage for land rights, identity, and tribal relations.