Genesis 36 12

Genesis 36:12 kjv

And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife.

Genesis 36:12 nkjv

Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau's son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau's wife.

Genesis 36:12 niv

Esau's son Eliphaz also had a concubine named Timna, who bore him Amalek. These were grandsons of Esau's wife Adah.

Genesis 36:12 esv

(Timna was a concubine of Eliphaz, Esau's son; she bore Amalek to Eliphaz.) These are the sons of Adah, Esau's wife.

Genesis 36:12 nlt

Timna, the concubine of Esau's son Eliphaz, gave birth to a son named Amalek. These are the descendants of Esau's wife Adah.

Genesis 36 verses

Genesis 36 12 meaning

Genesis 36:12 reveals a critical detail within the lineage of Esau, stating that Timna, who was a concubine to Eliphaz, Esau's son, bore Amalek to Eliphaz. This verse is pivotal as it records the direct ancestry of Amalek, the forefather of the Amalekites, a people who would become one of ancient Israel's most enduring and bitter enemies. It establishes their connection to Esau's extended family, thereby linking future conflicts to an already intertwined tribal history.

Genesis 36 12 Context

Genesis chapter 36 provides an extensive genealogy of Esau, detailing his wives, sons, and grandsons, as well as the chiefs (clans) and kings who descended from him, collectively forming the nation of Edom. This chapter serves to document the fulfillment of God's blessing on Esau (Gen 27:39-40; 33:16) despite his not being the heir of the Abrahamic covenant. It demonstrates how his descendants established themselves as a powerful nation in Mount Seir before Israel even had kings. Within this detailed list of lineages, verse 12 stands out for introducing Amalek. His inclusion here, alongside other key descendants of Esau, highlights the patriarchal society's focus on tracing bloodlines for national identity and future relationships, prophetically setting the stage for the deeply ingrained and protracted hostility that would characterize the interactions between Israel and the Amalekites throughout biblical history.

Genesis 36 12 Word analysis

• And: A conjunction, connecting this genealogical detail to the preceding listing of Esau's family, indicating a continuation of the family record.

• Timna: Hebrew תִּמְנָע (Timnaʿ). She is identified in Gen 36:22 as the sister of Lotan, a Horite chief of Seir. Her inclusion signifies a mingling of the Edomite (Esau's) lineage with the indigenous Horite people who inhabited Seir. This intermarriage indicates a blending of cultures and bloodlines.

• was concubine: Hebrew פִּילֶגֶשׁ (pilegesh). A concubine was a recognized secondary wife, distinct from a principal wife, though her children were considered legitimate heirs. This highlights a common marital custom of the ancient Near East, often involving a woman of lower social standing or one obtained differently than a primary wife. Children of concubines sometimes had differing inheritance rights compared to children of primary wives, but they were still part of the family lineage.

• to Eliphaz: The firstborn son of Esau and Adah (Gen 36:4). Eliphaz is a direct and prominent descendant of Esau, making his offspring a significant branch of the Edomite lineage.

• Esau's son: This phrase explicitly confirms the paternal lineage of Eliphaz, removing any ambiguity and firmly placing Amalek's immediate ancestor within Esau's direct line.

• and she bare: A direct statement of procreation. It denotes the act of giving birth, firmly establishing Amalek as the physical descendant of Timna and Eliphaz.

• to Eliphaz: Reaffirms Eliphaz as the father of Amalek.

• Amalek: Hebrew עֲמָלֵק (Amaleq). The progenitor of the Amalekites, a prominent nomadic people. This name is supremely significant because the Amalekites would become the first, most consistent, and deeply condemned adversary of the Israelites following their Exodus from Egypt (Exo 17; Deu 25). Their perpetual antagonism against Israel made them a symbol of unwavering opposition to God's people and, by extension, to God's plan itself.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son": This phrase details the unconventional yet legitimate union that produced Amalek. The specific identification of Timna's status (concubine) and connection to the Horites highlights the socio-cultural dynamics and ethnic mixture within Esau's burgeoning family tree. It subtly indicates that not all key figures originated from principal wives, yet their lineage was fully recorded.
  • "and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek": This directly links Amalek to the line of Esau. It's a crucial link establishing the genetic connection between Israel's future sworn enemy and the brother of Israel's patriarch, Jacob, making the future conflicts between them a family quarrel writ large, albeit one with profound spiritual and national implications. The concise statement emphasizes the origin point of a people known for relentless enmity.

Genesis 36 12 Bonus section

The deep-seated animosity commanded by God against Amalek (e.g., Exo 17:16; Deu 25:17-19) is largely attributed to their unprovoked attack on the weakest and most vulnerable of the Israelites—the stragglers and weary at the rear—shortly after the Exodus from Egypt. This act was seen not merely as an act of war but as an affront to God, who was protecting Israel. Thus, Amalek came to symbolize an implacable spiritual enemy, representing all that opposes God's people and their advancement in God's will. The appearance of Amalek's lineage so early in Genesis, right after Esau's family is detailed, emphasizes a deliberate foreshadowing and serves as a subtle theological reminder that opposition to God's covenant people can arise even from within broader family connections. Furthermore, the persistent theme of blotting out the remembrance of Amalek speaks to the theological principle of eliminating anything that stands in persistent opposition to God's redemptive plan.

Genesis 36 12 Commentary

Genesis 36:12 serves as a seemingly small detail within an extensive genealogy, yet it holds immense significance for understanding the later narrative of Israel. By detailing the birth of Amalek through Eliphaz, Esau's son, and a concubine named Timna (a Horite woman), the text establishes Amalek's familial connection to Esau, the brother of Jacob. This lineage provides the foundational context for the fierce and persistent conflict between the Israelites and the Amalekites that dominates various biblical accounts. The specific detail of Timna being a concubine and a Horite also suggests a mixing of Esau's descendants with the indigenous peoples of Seir, contributing to the identity of the nascent Edomite nation and its allied groups. The brevity of the verse belies its profound predictive nature, foreshadowing a relentless adversary that would oppose Israel's journey and God's purposes through their descendants.