Genesis 36 22

Genesis 36:22 kjv

And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's sister was Timna.

Genesis 36:22 nkjv

And the sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Lotan's sister was Timna.

Genesis 36:22 niv

The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan's sister.

Genesis 36:22 esv

The sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's sister was Timna.

Genesis 36:22 nlt

The descendants of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Lotan's sister was named Timna.

Genesis 36 verses

Genesis 36 22 meaning

This verse records the genealogy of Lotan, a chieftain of the Horites, identifying his two sons, Hori and Hemam. Crucially, it then states that Lotan's sister was Timna, establishing a direct familial link for Timna to the Horite leadership, which becomes significant for the lineage of Amalek, a notable adversary of Israel, as she later becomes the concubine of Esau's son, Eliphaz.

Genesis 36 22 Context

Genesis chapter 36 details the genealogy and chiefdoms of Esau and his descendants, the Edomites. This chapter serves to document the fulfillment of God's blessing to Abraham, extending through Isaac, in establishing a distinct nation through Esau, just as He did with Jacob. The chapter meticulously lists Esau's wives, his sons, and their children, culminating in a detailed account of the chieftains of Edom. Within this broader narrative of the rise of the Edomite nation, verse 22 is part of a section specifically describing the Horites, the indigenous inhabitants of Seir (the land that Esau's descendants came to inhabit), and their chieftains. The verse's key contribution is to connect Timna, who is significant for being the mother of Amalek (Gen 36:12), directly to the Horite leadership, thus highlighting the intermingling of the Edomite and Horite peoples, which contributed to the diverse lineage of the nascent Edomite nation. Historically, the Horites, meaning "cave-dwellers," were an established group in Seir before Esau's descendants dispossessed them (Deut 2:12). This intermarriage was not uncommon, showing how various peoples absorbed or integrated indigenous populations into their societies, particularly through strategic familial ties.

Genesis 36 22 Word analysis

• The children (בְּנֵ֣י, b'nei): Literally "sons of" but often encompassing broader offspring, indicating the direct male descendants. Here, it refers to Lotan's immediate progeny.
• of Lotan (לוֹטָ֖ן, Lōṭān): A chieftain of the Horites (Gen 36:20, 29). His inclusion ties this specific branch of the Edomite family tree into the pre-existing inhabitants of Seir, emphasizing the interweaving of peoples that formed the nation of Edom.
• were Hori (חוֹרִ֖י, Ḥōrî): One of Lotan's sons. The name Hori is also the root for "Horite," suggesting a direct tribal or ancestral connection. The Horites were the original inhabitants of Mount Seir, noted as skilled in working with various materials.
• and Hemam (וְהֵימָֽם, v'Hēmām): Another son of Lotan. Some textual variations exist (e.g., "Homam" in some translations), but the identity remains consistent as Lotan's second recorded son.
• Lotan’s (וַאֲח֥וֹת לוֹטָ֖ן, va'ăḥōt Lōṭān): Emphasizing Lotan's direct familial relationship with Timna. This connection is not merely incidental but marks Timna's high standing within the Horite clan as a chieftain's sister.
• sister (וַאֲח֥וֹת, va'ăḥōt): "Sister." The Bible’s careful notation of familial relationships, even a sister within a patrilineal genealogy, signifies importance. Here, it is crucial for establishing Timna’s lineage as Horite nobility, distinguishing her and her offspring within Esau’s progeny. This familial detail directly impacts future biblical narratives concerning the Amalekites.
• was Timna (תִּמְנָֽע, Timnaʿ): The critical figure mentioned. While a "sister" might seem minor in a list of male descendants, Timna's role is pivotal. She became the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau's firstborn son, and bore him Amalek (Gen 36:12). Her identification as Lotan's sister ties the formidable future adversary of Israel, Amalek, directly to the Horite chieftaincy, explaining some of the complex interactions and claims in the region. This highlights divine sovereignty in allowing hostile nations to arise, yet also revealing their detailed origins.

• "The children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam": This phrase sets the immediate paternal lineage for Lotan's male descendants. It provides a simple factual statement necessary for tracing the family lines within the Horite tribal structure. Such lists establish the social and political structure of the inhabitants of Seir before the Edomites became dominant, indicating an ordered society.
• "Lotan's sister was Timna": This phrase, despite its brevity, is perhaps the most significant part of the verse. It links the main narrative of the Esau/Edomite line (through Timna's relationship with Eliphaz) to the specific Horite line (through Lotan). The specificity of "sister of Lotan," rather than just "a Horite woman," confers a level of status or importance to Timna within her native tribal structure, which she brought into her relationship with Eliphaz. This seemingly minor detail is profoundly significant as it genealogically grounds Amalek, a perpetual enemy of Israel, within both the Edomite and Horite nations. The recording of such details by God reveals that seemingly obscure genealogical notes often bear immense significance for understanding the grand narrative of God's covenant people and their interactions with other nations, highlighting the precision of divine providence.

Genesis 36 22 Bonus section

The careful distinction of Timna as Lotan's sister underscores the Bible's precision in detailing crucial family ties that shape future historical developments. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a sister from a prominent family (like a chieftain's family) would bring status or influence to any marital alliance. This might imply that her becoming Eliphaz's concubine, while possibly implying a lower social status than a formal wife, nevertheless connected the emerging Edomite dynasty directly to the indigenous power structures of the Horites in Seir, thus consolidating influence. The mention highlights how God chose to weave the history of nations, including Israel's future enemies, into the tapestry of biblical history through detailed genealogies, reinforcing the historical reality of the biblical narrative.

Genesis 36 22 Commentary

Genesis 36:22, nestled within Esau’s detailed genealogy, might appear as a simple list, but it provides a critical genealogical link within the complex lineage of the Edomites and the Horites. By naming Lotan's sons and then singling out his sister, Timna, the verse strategically positions her as a noble Horite woman. This is vital because Timna subsequently became the mother of Amalek through her relationship with Eliphaz, Esau's son. This verse, therefore, is not merely a record of names; it establishes the maternal connection of the formidable Amalekites to the indigenous chieftains of Seir. The inclusion of such a detail demonstrates God's meticulous oversight of the lineages of all nations, even those destined for conflict with His covenant people, Israel. It underscores that God has ordered all things, even the rise of adversaries, and these detailed accounts confirm His sovereign plan working through the interactions of human history.