Genesis 36:43 kjv

Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites.

Genesis 36:43 nkjv

Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession. Esau was the father of the Edomites.

Genesis 36:43 niv

Magdiel and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they occupied. This is the family line of Esau, the father of the Edomites.

Genesis 36:43 esv

Magdiel, and Iram; these are the chiefs of Edom (that is, Esau, the father of Edom), according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession.

Genesis 36:43 nlt

Magdiel, and Iram. These are the leaders of the clans of Edom, listed according to their settlements in the land they occupied. They all descended from Esau, the ancestor of the Edomites.

Genesis 36 verses

Genesis 36 43 Meaning

Genesis 36:43 concludes the genealogical record of Esau and the nation of Edom by specifically reiterating the "chiefs" or "dukes" who presided over their respective territories and possessions. This verse solidifies the identification of these leaders and their organized dominion with Esau, underscoring his pivotal role as the patriarch and foundational source of the nation of Edom, an entity established with its own distinct geographical and administrative structure.

Genesis 36 43 Context

Genesis chapter 36 serves as a comprehensive account of Esau's descendants, marking a genealogical and geographical divergence from the narrative of Jacob. This chapter meticulously details Esau's wives, children, and the emergence of the Edomite nation with its distinct leaders and territory in Mount Seir. Verse 43 acts as the concluding statement for this detailed Edomite record, particularly concerning their leadership structure. It appears after a listing of Edomite kings (Gen 36:31-39) and then the "chiefs" (alluphim) identified by their clans or dwelling places (Gen 36:40-42). This structure establishes Edom as an organized political entity with its own land and established system of governance, providing context for future interactions with Israel as two distinct, related nations.

Genesis 36 43 Word analysis

• These (אֵלֶּה, ʾelleh): A demonstrative pronoun, emphasizing the listed individuals and their collective identity as the established leaders being summarized. It conveys a sense of completeness and finality for this section.

• are the chiefs (אַלּוּפֵי, alluphê): Plural of אַלּוּף (alluph). This term signifies a leader, duke, or chieftain. Unlike "kings" (מֶלֶךְ, melech), alluph often denotes leaders of clan-based or regional tribal units. Its usage here emphasizes an organized, yet perhaps decentralized, form of governance rooted in family lines and territorial divisions, possibly representing a system co-existing with or preceding a unified monarchy.

• of Edom (אֱדוֹם, ʾĔdōm): The name means "red," likely associated with Esau's complexion at birth (Gen 25:25) and the red sandstone landscapes of Seir. It designates both the individual descendant of Esau and the national entity formed from his lineage, identifying their origin.

• according to their dwelling places (לְמוֹשְׁבֹתָם, lĕmoshvotam): From מוֹשָׁב (moshab), meaning dwelling, settlement, or habitation. This indicates that these chiefs ruled over specific, settled territories rather than just nomadic groups. It highlights the settled and organized nature of Edomite society.

• in the land of their possession (בְּאֶרֶץ אֲחֻזָּתָם, bĕʾerets ʾachuzzatam): ʾErets (אֶרֶץ) means land; ʾachuzzah (אֲחֻזָּה) refers to an inherited or permanent possession, specifically land. This phrase strongly emphasizes that the Edomites had a defined, permanent, and rightful claim to their territory, highlighting their established status as a nation rooted in a particular land, as providentially appointed by God.

• This is Esau (הוּא עֵשָׂו, hu ʿEsaw): A powerful and direct affirmation. The repetition of Esau's name, especially in such a conclusive statement, firmly links all the previously listed chiefs, their settlements, and their territories back to Esau, leaving no ambiguity about the nation's progenitor.

• the father of Edom (אֲבִי אֱדוֹם, ʾavî ʾĔdōm): ʾavî (from ʾav, "father") emphasizes Esau's role not just as a biological progenitor but as the founding patriarch and conceptual source of the entire Edomite nation. This title solidifies his historical and national significance for Edom, similar to how Abraham is the father of a multitude of nations.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "These are the chiefs of Edom": Serves as a definitive summary, explicitly connecting the listed leaders to the national identity of Edom and underscoring the completeness of this accounting.
  • "according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession": Specifies the territorial basis of the Edomite leadership. It confirms a settled, organized society with recognized dominion over particular lands, contrasting with an unrooted nomadic existence.
  • "This is Esau, the father of Edom": Acts as a climactic concluding statement for the entire genealogy. The strong, reaffirming repetition of "Esau, the father of Edom" establishes his foundational role and definitive paternity for the nation, emphasizing that the complete organized structure and established territorial identity of Edom ultimately traces back to him.

Genesis 36 43 Bonus section

The arrangement of chapter 36, featuring a list of "kings" (Gen 36:31-39) followed by "chiefs" or "dukes" (alluphim in Gen 36:40-43), has prompted varied interpretations. Some scholars suggest that the "kings" might refer to earlier, more unified rulers or an anachronistic insert, while the "chiefs" represent a clan-based or territorial form of leadership prevalent during the period of tribal settlement, possibly reflecting a post-monarchical or decentralized system. Alternatively, they might describe different aspects or types of leadership within the evolving Edomite society. Regardless, the comprehensive list culminating in verse 43 emphasizes the completeness of the Edomite record, ensuring that all facets of their national formation – their leaders, their territories, and their lineage – are clearly and unequivocally established. This foundational account sets the stage for understanding later biblical narratives that portray Edom as a powerful and distinct, often antagonistic, entity against Israel.

Genesis 36 43 Commentary

Genesis 36:43 provides the definitive conclusion to the detailed record of Esau's descendants, effectively sealing the chapter dedicated to the formation of the Edomite nation. The phrase "These are the chiefs of Edom" summarizes the leadership structure of Edom, comprising various "dukes" or "chieftains" who ruled specific territorial units or clans. This administrative organization, explicitly tied to their "dwelling places in the land of their possession," highlights the established and legitimate sovereignty of Edom over its territory in Mount Seir, distinct from and pre-dating Israel's own statehood in Canaan. The concluding affirmation, "This is Esau, the father of Edom," powerfully reaffirms that the entire developed nation, with its recognized leaders and territories, traces its origins and identity directly to Esau. This underscores God's providential ordering of nations, even those outside the covenant line of Abraham's direct promise, establishing their boundaries and the scope of their inheritance, while setting the stage for the distinct yet intertwined destinies of the brother nations of Israel and Edom.