Genesis 36 4

Genesis 36:4 kjv

And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;

Genesis 36:4 nkjv

Now Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel.

Genesis 36:4 niv

Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath bore Reuel,

Genesis 36:4 esv

And Adah bore to Esau, Eliphaz; Basemath bore Reuel;

Genesis 36:4 nlt

Adah gave birth to a son named Eliphaz for Esau. Basemath gave birth to a son named Reuel.

Genesis 36 verses

Genesis 36 4 meaning

This verse succinctly records the names of two of Esau's sons, Eliphaz and Reuel, specifying their mothers, Adah and Basemath, respectively. It serves to establish foundational lines of Esau's progeny, which later formed significant clans and ultimately the nation of Edom.

Genesis 36 4 Context

Genesis 36:4 is an integral part of a comprehensive genealogy known as "the generations of Esau, who is Edom," found in Genesis chapter 36. This chapter functions as a meticulous record of Esau's family, documenting his wives, sons, grandsons, and ultimately the chieftains and kings who descended from him, thereby establishing the nation of Edom. The verse directly follows the mention of Esau's wives in Gen 36:2-3, serving as a transitional point to introduce his immediate offspring, which forms the basis for the more extensive family tree that follows. Its placement within the Pentateuch comes after the narrative detailing Jacob's own extensive family and spiritual encounters (Genesis 35), thus providing a complete account of Isaac's two sons and their respective lineages. This meticulous documentation underscores the ancient world's emphasis on genealogies for tribal identity, inheritance, and demonstrating the fulfillment of divine promises regarding national growth, even for those not in the direct covenant line of Israel.

Genesis 36 4 Word analysis

• And Adah (וְעָדָה - ve-'Adah): "And" (וְ - ve, a connective particle) links this information to the preceding verses, specifying one of Esau's wives mentioned. Adah (עָדָה) means "ornament" or "dawn." She is specifically identified in Gen 36:2 as "the daughter of Elon the Hittite," signifying Esau's integration with the local Canaanite populations through marriage, a contrast to Jacob's choice to marry within his extended family from Paddan Aram.

• bare (יָלְדָה - yaldah): "She gave birth." This verb emphasizes the act of procreation, highlighting the continuation and growth of the family line, which is foundational for the development of tribes and nations. It subtly indicates a divine blessing of fruitfulness, extending beyond the direct covenant line to Isaac's firstborn.

• to Esau (לְעֵשָׂו - le-Esaw): "To Esau" (עֵשָׂו - Esaw, meaning "hairy" or "completed/made") clearly identifies the patriarch of this particular lineage. This designation points to him as the head of an expanding family unit that will eventually form a significant nation.

• Eliphaz (אֱלִיפָז - 'Eliyphaz): Meaning "My God is fine gold" or "My God is strength." This is the first son of Esau listed. Eliphaz holds significant genealogical importance, as he becomes the progenitor of many of the later Edomite chieftains (Gen 36:11, 15-16). He is notably recognized as "Eliphaz the Temanite," one of Job's friends (Job 2:11), implying a well-developed Edomite society known for its wisdom figures.

• and Basemath (וּבָשְׂמַת - u-Basemath): "And" (וּ - u) continues the listing of Esau's wives and their children. Basemath (בָּשְׂמַת) means "fragrance" or "spice." In Gen 36:3, she is specifically identified as "Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebaioth," distinguishing her from another Esau's wife named Basemath mentioned in Gen 26:34 (who was "daughter of Elon the Hittite"). This Basemath highlights Esau's marital connections not only with local Canaanites but also with Abraham's broader lineage through Ishmael.

• bare Reuel (יָלְדָה רְעוּאֵל - yaldah Re'uw'el): "She gave birth to Reuel." Reuel (רְעוּאֵל) means "friend of God" or "shepherd of God." He is the second son named in this verse, born to Basemath. Like Eliphaz, Reuel becomes a significant progenitor of several Edomite chieftains (Gen 36:13, 17), further expanding the Edomite national lines. It's important to distinguish this Reuel from Moses' father-in-law, who bears the same name (Exod 2:18) but lived in Midian much later.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Basemath bare Reuel.": This sentence provides specific mother-son pairings within Esau's growing family. The clear articulation of "Adah bare... Eliphaz" and "Basemath bare... Reuel" demonstrates the meticulous nature of the genealogical record. The repeated verb "bare" underscores the importance of procreation and the subsequent expansion of lineage, illustrating the structured and deliberate enumeration of key ancestral figures for the Edomite nation. This structure highlights the contribution of each specific mother to the family's growth while centrally locating Esau as the common patriarchal head.

Genesis 36 4 Bonus section

The biblical text carefully differentiates between the various wives of Esau who share common names with other figures, ensuring clarity regarding their specific maternal contributions to the Edomite lineage. The extensive and detailed genealogical records for both Jacob and Esau within Genesis serve a dual purpose: they underscore the fulfillment of God's promise of numerous descendants to Abraham, while simultaneously emphasizing the separate and distinct national trajectories of Israel and Edom. This highlights the particularity of God's covenant with Jacob, without diminishing the growth and significance of the "other" nation descending from Isaac. The presence of this complete Edomite genealogy immediately after Jacob's story signifies that while Jacob carries the covenant seed, the text provides a holistic picture of the offspring of Abraham and Isaac, placing God's sovereignty over all nations within their respective spheres.

Genesis 36 4 Commentary

Genesis 36:4 offers a concise, yet crucial, entry in the meticulous genealogical record of Esau, detailing the birth of two fundamental figures in the nascent Edomite nation: Eliphaz, born to Adah, and Reuel, born to Basemath. This verse is not merely a list of names; it serves to precisely document the initial stages of the rapid growth and diversification of Esau's lineage. It demonstrates how, even for the son who did not inherit the primary covenant promises leading to Israel (which passed to Jacob), God's broader blessings of fruitfulness and the rise of nations were still evident in his descendants (Gen 17:6, 25:23). The specific mention of mothers, from distinct ethnic backgrounds (Adah, a Hittite; Basemath, an Ishmaelite), reflects the ancient societal emphasis on both paternal and maternal lines for tribal identity and the intricate interconnections forming larger national groups. This foundational naming lays the critical groundwork for the subsequent detailed lists of chieftains and kings of Edom, illustrating how Esau's "generations" matured into a distinct and powerful nation, which would become a perennial neighbor and often an adversary to Israel.