Genesis 36:38 kjv

And Saul died, and Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.

Genesis 36:38 nkjv

When Saul died, Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.

Genesis 36:38 niv

When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Akbor succeeded him as king.

Genesis 36:38 esv

Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.

Genesis 36:38 nlt

When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Acbor became king in his place.

Genesis 36 verses

Genesis 36 38 Meaning

Genesis 36:38 details the succession within the line of Edomite kings. It records that Hadar became king after the death of Baal-hanan, the son of Achbor. This verse is part of a comprehensive genealogy of Esau's descendants, showcasing the establishment and orderly succession of leadership within the nation of Edom before the time of the Israelite monarchy.

Genesis 36 38 Context

Genesis chapter 36 provides an extensive list of the descendants of Esau, establishing their tribal structures and early monarchical line in the land of Seir, known as Edom. This chapter stands in contrast to the patriarchal narratives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, highlighting Esau's secular, worldly success in establishing a prominent nation with a king before Israel would have one (Gen 36:31). Verse 38 specifically concludes a sequence of named Edomite kings, documenting their orderly succession and reflecting ancient Near Eastern king-list formats used to establish historical legitimacy and national identity. The historical context shows Edom as a distinct, organized nation neighboring Israel, destined for ongoing interaction, often characterized by conflict, as seen in later biblical history.

Genesis 36 38 Word analysis

• When (כִּי, kī): A conjunction that marks the completion of the previous king's reign and sets the temporal stage for the subsequent event of succession. It implies a sequential historical record.
• Baal-hanan (בַּעַל חָנָן, Ba’al ḥanan): A significant proper name meaning "Baal has been gracious" or "Lord of grace." "Baal" was a prominent Canaanite storm and fertility deity widely worshipped in the ancient Near East, frequently denounced in the Bible as a false god. The inclusion of this name, especially for a king of Edom, is descriptive of the contemporary cultural and religious landscape outside of Israel, indicating the common adoption of names with pagan deity elements. It underscores that this genealogy is a historical record of a non-Israelite people whose naming conventions reflected their polytheistic beliefs, without endorsement by the biblical narrator.
• the son of Achbor (בֶּן־עַכְבּוֹר, ben-ʿAkhbôr): Standard Hebrew construct meaning "son of Achbor." Achbor (עַכְבּוֹר, ʿAkhbôr) means "mouse" or "jerboa," possibly a family or clan name. This patronymic identifies Baal-hanan's lineage, a typical element in ancient Near Eastern genealogies for specificity.
• died (מֵת, mēt): A simple verb indicating the cessation of life. In the context of a king list, it implies a natural end to a reign, as opposed to deposition or violent overthrow, thereby ensuring a legitimate and peaceful succession.
• Hadar (הֲדַר, Haḏar): A proper name, meaning "majesty" or "honor." This name of the successor king denotes an element of his royal identity or perhaps hopes associated with his reign. In 1 Chronicles 1:50, this king is called Hadad (הֲדַד, Hadad), likely a scribal variant or a regional difference in spelling, with Hadad also being a Semitic storm god, indicating continued cultural influence.
• reigned (וַיִּמְלֹךְ, wayyimlōkְ): From the root מָלַךְ (mālakh), meaning "to reign" or "to be king." The preterite form signifies a completed action, confirming his formal inauguration as the new sovereign ruler. This term formally marks the transition of power.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "When Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, Hadar reigned in his place.": This complete phrase forms a standard ancient Near Eastern king-list formula. It precisely records a royal succession by naming the outgoing king, his immediate family connection, the event ending his reign (death), and the name of the incoming king. This structured reporting reflects the administrative meticulousness of ancient record-keepers. The pattern highlights the stability and established order of the Edomite kingdom, a stark historical fact that pre-dates and contrasts with Israel's later, divinely ordained path to monarchy. The consistent use of this formula throughout Genesis 36 reinforces the historical integrity of these Edomite records as presented in the biblical text.

Genesis 36 38 Bonus section

• The careful recording of Esau's lineage and kingdom (Ch. 36) alongside Jacob's (rest of Genesis) serves a narrative purpose: it illustrates the fulfillment of God's prophecy to Rebekah that two nations would come from her (Gen 25:23). Both lines grow mighty, yet the narrative prioritizes Jacob's spiritual journey, despite Esau's initial worldly prominence in establishing kingship earlier.
• The repetitive "so-and-so died, and so-and-so reigned in his place" formula throughout this list of Edomite kings establishes a strong sense of historical reliability and official record-keeping, mirroring the structure found in ancient non-biblical king lists, further validating the accuracy of the biblical narrative concerning surrounding nations.

Genesis 36 38 Commentary

Genesis 36:38, though seemingly a dry genealogical note, is significant for several reasons. It confirms the orderly succession within the Edomite kingdom, providing a factual snapshot of its established political structure before Israel even had its first king. This pre-dates Saul's reign, as explicitly stated in Genesis 36:31, drawing a crucial historical distinction between Esau’s immediate rise to national kingship and Jacob's lineage, which would later undergo a prolonged period as tribal families and then a judgeship before kingship. The mention of "Baal-hanan" is a simple historical reporting of a name reflecting the dominant pagan influences prevalent among non-Israelite nations of that era, rather than an endorsement. This detail implicitly reminds the reader of the distinct spiritual path and covenant relationship that God was establishing with Abraham's descendants, setting them apart from surrounding cultures. The precise record underscores the meticulous nature of biblical genealogies, affirming the historical reality of the nations detailed within the Pentateuch.