Genesis 36 17

Genesis 36:17 kjv

And these are the sons of Reuel Esau's son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife.

Genesis 36:17 nkjv

These were the sons of Reuel, Esau's son: Chief Nahath, Chief Zerah, Chief Shammah, and Chief Mizzah. These were the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife.

Genesis 36:17 niv

The sons of Esau's son Reuel: Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were the chiefs descended from Reuel in Edom; they were grandsons of Esau's wife Basemath.

Genesis 36:17 esv

These are the sons of Reuel, Esau's son: the chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah; these are the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife.

Genesis 36:17 nlt

The descendants of Esau's son Reuel became the leaders of the clans of Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the clan leaders in the land of Edom who descended from Reuel. All these were descendants of Esau's wife Basemath.

Genesis 36 verses

Genesis 36 17 meaning

Genesis 36:17 specifies a branch of Esau's lineage, detailing four chiefs or "dukes" who descended from his son Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. It clarifies that these chiefs operated in the land of Edom, confirming their territorial leadership, and reiterates their maternal ancestry through Basemath, one of Esau's wives. The verse underscores the development of the Edomite nation with established leadership structures, fulfilling prophecies concerning Esau's prosperity and nationhood distinct from Jacob.

Genesis 36 17 Context

Genesis chapter 36 serves as a significant genealogical account (a "toledoth") of Esau, Jacob's elder twin brother, and his descendants, highlighting the emergence and establishment of the nation of Edom. This detailed list of wives, sons, and particularly "dukes" or chiefs, demonstrates the rapid fulfillment of the divine promise that two nations would come from Rebekah (Gen 25:23). It systematically traces Esau's family's settlement in Mount Seir (later called Edom), outlining their tribal leadership and societal structure before any king reigned in Israel. Verse 17, specifically, extends this record by identifying the leading figures who arose from Reuel, Esau's son through Basemath, providing names and reiterating their role as chiefs in their designated territory. This thorough listing solidifies Edom's identity as a distinct, established nation with its own system of governance and succession, thereby providing crucial historical context for future interactions with Israel and demonstrating God's broader sovereign activity among nations.

Genesis 36 17 Word analysis

• These: אֵלֶּה ('elleh). A demonstrative pronoun, serving to point out or introduce the specified individuals. Its repeated use throughout genealogical records emphasizes the deliberate listing and identification of distinct lineages and leaders within Esau's sprawling family, ensuring clarity in succession and identity.
• are the sons of: בְּנֵי (bənê). Directly indicates patrilineal descent. In biblical genealogies, "sons of" signifies both direct offspring and, by extension, descendants or members of a particular clan/tribe headed by the named ancestor.
• Reuel: רְעוּאֵל (Rəʿû'ēl). Meaning "friend of God" or "shepherd of God." He is one of Esau's four sons and a foundational patriarch of an Edomite branch. His mention highlights the diversification and proliferation of Esau's family into distinct family units or clans, each capable of producing leaders.
• Esau's son: בֶן עֵשָׂו (ḇen-ʿĒśāw). Explicitly reinforces the primary lineage connection. This emphasis connects Reuel, and by extension his dukes, back to the direct line of Esau (אֵשָׂו, 'Ēśāw), anchoring their legitimacy and role within the larger Edomite structure originating from Esau.
• Duke: אַלּוּף ('alluph). A key term in this chapter. It means "chief" or "head of a clan." Unlike the term "king," 'alluph refers to tribal leaders presiding over families or clans, perhaps indicating an early stage of governance. This title is prominently used for Edomite leaders in Genesis 36, distinguishing their pre-monarchical tribal organization. The word relates to the root for "a thousand" (family unit), indicating authority over a significant group. Its distinctive use here suggests a specific Edomite administrative title.
• Nahath: נַחַת (Naḥath). Possibly meaning "descent" or "rest."
• Zerah: זֶרַח (Zeraḥ). Meaning "rising" or "brightness," like a sunrise.
• Shammah: שַׁמָּה (Šammah). Meaning "desolation" or "astonishment."
• Mizzah: מִזָּה (Mizzaḥ). Possibly meaning "fear" or "distillation."
  • Word-Group Significance: These four personal names represent the specific sons of Reuel who achieved the status of 'alluph. Their naming ensures precise record-keeping, essential for understanding the constituent tribal units that formed the Edomite nation. The repetition of "Duke" before each name confirms their authoritative position.
• These are the dukes that came of Reuel: Directly asserts that the previously named four individuals are indeed the established chiefs from Reuel's line. This reinforces the origin and authority of these particular leaders.
• in the land of Edom: בְּאֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם (bə'ereṣ 'Ěḏôwm). Geographically anchors their dominion and role. The "land of Edom" (אֱדוֹם, 'Ěḏôwm, meaning "red," likely referring to the color of the region or Esau's ruddy appearance) denotes the region of Mount Seir, Esau's territory, signifying that these leaders had real, territorial influence. This demonstrates the concretization of Esau's descendants into a settled and governed nation.
• These are the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife: A crucial ancestral clarification. Basemath (בָּשְׂמַת, Basmath, meaning "fragrance" or "spice") is named as the mother of Reuel, and thus the matriarchal line through which these dukes are connected back to Esau. This specifies the exact family branch being discussed, illustrating the meticulous nature of biblical genealogy which often records both paternal and maternal lines for completeness. This re-emphasizes that Esau's family was multiplying into distinct segments, each contributing to the broader nation of Edom.

Genesis 36 17 Bonus section

The genealogical record in Genesis 36, particularly the listing of 'alluphim (dukes/chiefs), highlights a pre-monarchical tribal confederation among the Edomites. This is contrasted with the later list of kings who reigned before any king reigned in Israel (Gen 36:31), implying a development from tribal chieftainship to centralized kingship within Edom, an evolution which parallels the eventual trajectory of Israel. The detailed naming of the four dukes from Reuel underscores that not only the firstborn lines (e.g., Eliphaz's) were significant, but also other sons of Esau contributed substantially to the tribal leadership and formation of the Edomite state, confirming the widespread prosperity promised to Esau. The very specificity of names and their connections to various wives of Esau demonstrate the complexity and diverse origins of the Edomite clans, collectively forming a single nation. This attention to detail in tracing the Edomite lineage speaks to the biblical account's interest in the wider history of nations as they relate to God's ultimate plan, acknowledging that even those outside the immediate covenant line (like Esau) are still under God's overarching governance and fulfill portions of His revealed plan.

Genesis 36 17 Commentary

Genesis 36:17 provides a meticulous snapshot into the early political and social organization of Edom, descendants of Esau. Far from being a mere list, it validates the historical emergence of a powerful nation alongside Jacob's descendants. The repetition of "duke" (Hebrew: 'alluph) emphasizes their tribal leadership structure, distinct from the kings mentioned later in the chapter, signifying a specific stage in their national development. By linking these dukes back to Reuel and explicitly to Basemath, Esau's wife, the verse underscores the precision of biblical genealogy in tracing both paternal and maternal lines, confirming the legitimate heritage and authority of these leaders within Edomite society. This level of detail confirms the fulfillment of God's earlier pronouncements regarding Esau's prosperity, demonstrating divine sovereignty not just over Israel, but also over the formation of other nations. The presence of these established chiefs in the "land of Edom" shows a settled, organized people who would eventually become a formidable presence on Israel's borders, setting the stage for their future complex interactions.