Genesis 36:18 kjv
And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau's wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife.
Genesis 36:18 nkjv
And these were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau's wife: Chief Jeush, Chief Jaalam, and Chief Korah. These were the chiefs who descended from Aholibamah, Esau's wife, the daughter of Anah.
Genesis 36:18 niv
The sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah: Chiefs Jeush, Jalam and Korah. These were the chiefs descended from Esau's wife Oholibamah daughter of Anah.
Genesis 36:18 esv
These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau's wife: the chiefs Jeush, Jalam, and Korah; these are the chiefs born of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife.
Genesis 36:18 nlt
The descendants of Esau and his wife Oholibamah became the leaders of the clans of Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the clan leaders who descended from Esau's wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.
Genesis 36 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 25:30 | And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me gulp down some of that red stuff, for I am faint!” ... so his name was called Edom. | Establishes Esau's alternative name, Edom. |
| Gen 27:39 | Then Isaac his father answered and said to him, “Behold, away from the richness of the earth shall your dwelling be, and away from the dew of heaven on high..." | Prophetic blessing on Esau's lineage, separate from Jacob. |
| Gen 36:1 | These are the generations of Esau (that is, Edom). | Introduces the entire chapter as Esau/Edom's genealogy. |
| Gen 36:2 | Esau took his wives from the Canaanites: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite, and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, the sister of Nebaioth. | Lists Oholibamah among Esau's wives. |
| Gen 36:9 | These are the generations of Esau, the father of Edom, in the hill country of Seir. | Reintroduces Edomite genealogy with location focus. |
| Gen 36:15 | These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz, chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief Amalek; these are the chiefs of Eliphaz... | Lists other chiefs from different Esau's sons, including another Korah. |
| Gen 36:43 | chief Magdiel, chief Iram; these are the chiefs of Edom, that is, Esau, the father of the Edomites... | Concludes the list of Edomite chiefs/clans. |
| Deut 2:4-5 | ...“Pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. But be very careful; do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as a footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.” | Defines Edom as Israel's "brother" nation, possessing their own land by divine grant. |
| Num 16:1 | Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. | Distinguishes this Korah from the Israelite Korah who rebelled. |
| Judg 5:14 | From Ephraim their root went down into the valley, after you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen; from Machir came down commanders, and from Zebulun those who handle the marshal's staff. | Mentions different types of leaders ('alluph in other contexts meaning commander/leader). |
| 1 Sam 10:27 | But worthless fellows said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace. | The Hebrew word 'alluph can also mean "worthless fellow" in a derisive sense. |
| 1 Chr 1:35 | The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, Korah. | Genealogical recapitulation of Esau's sons. |
| Isa 34:5 | For My sword is bathed in heaven; Behold, it shall descend upon Edom, and upon the people of My curse, for judgment. | Prophetic judgment against Edom. |
| Jer 49:7 | Concerning Edom. Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?" | Another prophetic pronouncement against Edom. |
| Ezek 35:2 | “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it, and say to it, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O Mount Seir, I am against you; I will stretch out My hand against you, and make you utterly desolate." | Edom's enmity toward Israel results in judgment. |
| Obad 1:10 | “Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever.” | Direct indictment of Edom for their sin against Israel. |
| Mal 1:2-3 | “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have You loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated." | God's sovereign choice between the two nations, Edom and Israel. |
| Rom 9:13 | As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” | New Testament interpretation of God's election concerning the two nations. |
| Acts 17:26 | And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place. | Highlights God's sovereignty over the formation and placement of all nations, including Edom. |
| Zech 9:7 | I will take away the blood from his mouth and the detestable things from between his teeth; and he too will be a remnant for our God, and become a clan leader in Judah, and Ekron will be like a Jebusite. | Uses the term 'allûph for a "clan leader" in a different context, indicating its broader usage for chieftainship. |
Genesis 36 verses
Genesis 36 18 Meaning
Genesis 36:18 states: "These were the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife: Duke Jeush, Duke Jalam, Duke Korah. These were the chiefs of Edom, the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah." This verse specifies three particular clan leaders within the Edomite nation, namely Jeush, Jalam, and Korah, identifying them as sons of Oholibamah, one of Esau's wives, and confirming their status as prominent chiefs within the territory of Edom. It emphasizes the structured and diverse leadership of the burgeoning Edomite nation, founded by Esau, highlighting the distinct tribal or clan-based political divisions present among them.
Genesis 36 18 Context
Genesis chapter 36 serves as a detailed genealogical account of Esau, establishing his descendants and the nation of Edom. This chapter provides a complete list of Esau’s wives, sons, grandsons, and ultimately the clan leaders (dukes/chiefs) and kings who arose from his lineage. It sets the stage for future interactions between Israel and Edom by meticulously tracing Esau’s progeny and highlighting their independent national formation and distinct political structures. Verse 18 is part of a list of these "dukes" or chiefs, specifically focusing on those who descended from Esau through his wife Oholibamah. This systematic recording underlines the biblical narrative's precision in tracking not just the line of blessing (Jacob/Israel) but also the development of related nations. The chapter's placement before the intensified narrative of Jacob's family (Gen 37 onwards) shows that Edom was a developed, sovereign entity even as Israel was still forming its identity within Egypt.
Genesis 36 18 Word analysis
- These were the sons of Oholibamah:
- These: Refers specifically to the list of names that follow, clearly linking them to Oholibamah.
- were the sons of: Indicates a direct lineal relationship, confirming their biological parentage and thus their place within the clan structure.
- Oholibamah (אׇהֳלִיבָמָה, Oholîbāmāh): One of Esau's wives, mentioned also in Gen 36:2 and 36:5. She is explicitly noted as "the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite," highlighting her Canaanite origin, distinct from Esau's wives who were daughters of Ishmael. Her name, meaning "my tent is a high place," possibly alludes to a family connected with prominent sacred sites or tribal importance in their native land, signifying status.
- Esau’s wife:
- Reinforces the connection to Esau, the patriarch of the Edomites, ensuring these chiefs are definitively placed within his direct lineage and thus within the Edomite national identity.
- Duke (אַלּוּף, ʾallûph):
- This is a crucial term in Genesis 36. While often translated as "duke" or "chief," the Hebrew word ʾallûph means "leader" or "captain," often associated with "a thousand" (family unit or military division).
- It is specifically used in Genesis 36 for the Edomite leaders, distinguishing them from kings mentioned later in the chapter (e.g., Gen 36:31) and differentiating their leadership structure from Israel's tribal system.
- This term suggests a clan-based or nomadic confederation structure, where leaders governed large family groups or "thousands," rather than a centralized monarchy in the early stages.
- Its use here may subtly indicate a different form of socio-political organization compared to the future kingship God would establish for Israel (Gen 17:6, 17:16).
- Jeush (יְעוּשׁ, Ye‘ûš): A son of Oholibamah and a "duke" of Edom.
- Jalam (יַעְלָם, Ya‘lām): Another son of Oholibamah and a "duke" of Edom.
- Korah (קֹרַח, Qoraḥ): A third son of Oholibamah and a "duke" of Edom. It is crucial not to confuse this Edomite Korah with the Israelite Korah from the tribe of Levi who rebelled against Moses in the wilderness (Num 16). The name simply existed in both genealogies independently, demonstrating its relative commonality across different people groups of that era.
- These were the chiefs of Edom:
- This phrase reiterates and emphasizes the status of Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
- Chiefs of Edom: Directly labels them as prominent leaders within the emerging nation of Edom. This is key for defining their territorial and national affiliation, preparing the reader for subsequent encounters between Israel and Edom.
- the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah:
- This repetition of the introductory phrase serves for emphatic clarity and precision, confirming their specific lineage within Esau's family and ensuring no ambiguity about their maternal connection and thus their distinct sub-clan within Edomite society. This structural redundancy is typical in biblical genealogies for emphasis or full detail.
Genesis 36 18 Bonus section
The methodical presentation of the Edomite genealogies, including the specific details of wives and their children becoming chiefs, implicitly establishes the reality and the legitimate, divinely ordained existence of Esau's lineage as a separate people before Jacob's descendants become a recognized nation. This prevents any misconception that Edom sprang up suddenly. This structured recounting in Genesis is part of a broader biblical pattern of historical foundation-laying, emphasizing order and lineage in God's sovereign plan for humanity and specific nations, even those destined to be adversaries to His chosen people.
Genesis 36 18 Commentary
Genesis 36:18, nestled within the genealogy of Esau (Edom), meticulously catalogues the formation of a distinct nation apart from Israel. This seemingly straightforward listing is far from incidental. It details the administrative subdivisions of Edom under various "dukes" ('allûphîm), thereby presenting a snapshot of their emerging political structure. The naming of Oholibamah’s sons as chiefs highlights that the Edomite leadership arose from distinct matriarchal lines, underscoring the influence of Esau's diverse wives and their associated clans. The recurrence of names, such as Korah, which also appears in the Israelite genealogy, serves as a natural artifact of shared cultural naming practices rather than implying a direct link or confusion. This verse, along with the entire chapter, fulfills prophetic statements about Esau becoming a "great nation" (Gen 27:40), affirming God's sovereignty over the destinies of all peoples. It pre-emptively informs the reader of the strong and established nation Israel would encounter, thus underscoring the later accounts of conflict and resolution with Edom.