Genesis 36:8 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 36:8 kjv
Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.
Genesis 36:8 nkjv
So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.
Genesis 36:8 niv
So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the hill country of Seir.
Genesis 36:8 esv
So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir. (Esau is Edom.)
Genesis 36:8 nlt
So Esau (also known as Edom) settled in the hill country of Seir.
Genesis 36 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 25:23 | The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb... | Prophecy of two nations from Rebekah's twins. |
| Gen 25:25 | The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak; so they called his name Esau. | Esau's birth, hairy appearance, name. |
| Gen 25:30 | ...let me gulp down some of that red, red stew, for I am famished!" ...he was called Edom. | Origin of the name Edom (red). |
| Gen 32:3 | Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. | Esau already in Seir. |
| Gen 33:14 | "...until I come to my lord in Seir." | Jacob intends to visit Esau in Seir. |
| Gen 36:1 | These are the generations of Esau (that is, Edom). | Identifies Esau as Edom. |
| Gen 36:6-7 | Esau took his wives...and departed from Jacob his brother... | Esau's separation from Jacob. |
| Deut 2:4-5 | You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir...I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession. | God's granting of Seir to Esau. |
| Deut 23:7-8 | You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. | Command regarding kinship with Edom. |
| Num 20:14-21 | Israel's request to pass through Edom and their refusal. | Early conflict with the nation of Edom. |
| 1 Chr 1:35-37 | The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, Korah. | Genealogy of Esau/Edom. |
| Ps 83:5-6 | For they conspire with one accord...the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites... | Edom as an enemy of Israel. |
| Isa 34:5-6 | For My sword is sated in heaven; behold, it descends for judgment on Edom... | Prophecy of God's judgment against Edom. |
| Jer 49:7 | Concerning Edom. Thus says the LORD of hosts: Is wisdom no more in Teman? | Prophecy against Edom. |
| Ezek 35:2-3 | Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it... | Prophecy against Mount Seir/Edom. |
| Obad 1:1 | The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom... | Major prophecy against Edom. |
| Obad 1:3-4 | The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock... | Edom's dwelling in rocky Seir and their pride. |
| Obad 1:8 | Will I not on that day, declares the LORD, destroy the wise men from Edom... | Judgment on Edom. |
| Amos 1:11 | Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment... | Edom's relentless hostility towards Israel. |
| Mal 1:2-3 | "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 brothers/nations. |
| Rom 9:10-13 | ...Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our ancestor Isaac...Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. | Echoes Malachi's declaration on God's choice in salvation history. |
Genesis 36 verses
Genesis 36 8 meaning
This verse states the definitive establishment of Esau, identified as Edom, in Mount Seir. It marks a clear geographical and ancestral distinction between Esau's lineage and that of his brother Jacob, solidifying Esau’s inheritance and nationhood as Edom in the land specifically allotted to them by God. It also reiterates the close identity between the person Esau and the nation of Edom.
Genesis 36 8 Context
Genesis chapter 36 serves primarily as a genealogical record, presenting "the generations of Esau (that is, Edom)." It provides a comprehensive account of Esau's family, his wives, his sons, the chiefs and kings who descended from him, and their dwelling place. This chapter contrasts with the immediate following narrative of Jacob's generations in chapter 37, highlighting the distinct paths and destinies of the two brothers, though born of the same parents. Historically, the mention of Esau settling in Mount Seir establishes the historical homeland of the Edomites, a people who would play a significant, often adversarial, role in Israel's history. It fulfills, in part, the prophecy given to Rebekah in Genesis 25:23, where two nations would come from her womb, separating one from the other.
Genesis 36 8 Word analysis
- So (וַיֵּשֶׁב - `vayyeshev`): This connective word implies a logical conclusion or result. It points to Esau's settling in Seir as the established state of affairs, following previous events like his separation from Jacob (Gen 36:6-7) due to their immense possessions.
- Esau (עֵשָׂו - `'Esaw`): The firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob's twin brother. His name likely means "hairy" or "fully formed" at birth (Gen 25:25). In this verse, "Esau" refers both to the individual patriarch and, by extension, to his lineage and future nation.
- dwelt (וַיֵּשֶׁב - `vayyeshev`): From the Hebrew root יָשַׁב (`yashab`), meaning "to sit, dwell, inhabit, remain." It signifies a permanent, established residence, not just a temporary stay. It emphasizes the foundational act of establishing their territorial claim.
- in Mount Seir (בְּהַר שֵׂעִיר - `behar Se'ir`): "Mount Seir" is a mountainous region southeast of the Dead Sea. The name "Seir" (`Se'ir`) likely means "hairy" or "shaggy," possibly describing the rugged, forested nature of the terrain. This geographic detail is crucial, identifying the specific, distinct homeland God allotted to Esau's descendants (Deut 2:5), separating them from the land promised to Jacob's descendants.
- Esau (עֵשָׂו - `'Esaw`): Repeated for emphatic identification. This repetition reinforces the direct link between the person and the subsequent national identity.
- is (הוּא - `hu'`): This Hebrew pronoun functions here as a strong identifying link, meaning "he is" or "he himself is." It formally equates the personal name Esau with the national name Edom.
- Edom (אֱדוֹם - `'Edom`): The national name for the descendants of Esau. It is derived from the Hebrew word for "red" (`'adom`), linked to Esau's reddish appearance at birth and his sale of his birthright for red lentil stew (Gen 25:25, 30). This name, emphasizing "red," signifies a key aspect of their identity and foreshadows their frequent conflict with Israel.
- So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir: This phrase signifies the geographical and spiritual separation of Esau from the Abrahamic covenant line that continued through Jacob. Esau's dwelling in Seir fulfilled God’s plan for two distinct nations. This action solidifies Esau’s unique heritage separate from the inheritance of Canaan, which was promised to Jacob and his descendants.
- Esau is Edom: This definitive declaration formally identifies the patriarch Esau with the national identity of Edom. It means that the people known as "Edom" are precisely the descendants of "Esau." This equivalence underscores that their history, characteristics, and destiny are intrinsically tied to their founder, highlighting both divine sovereignty in their establishment and human choices in their naming and actions. This phrasing sets the stage for the narrative where "Edom" (the nation) acts upon the foundation laid by "Esau" (the person).
Genesis 36 8 Bonus section
The verse functions as a concluding summary statement for Esau's initial settlement before the detailed enumeration of his descendants begins in earnest within the chapter. It highlights the completeness and permanence of his move, setting up the genealogical record that follows as an account of the nation that descended from him. The identity statement "Esau is Edom" serves as a narrative marker, signaling to the reader that the lineage presented here pertains to the nation of Edom known throughout biblical history. This firm identification foreshadows the long-standing (often adversarial) relationship between the Edomites and the Israelites, both peoples rooted in the progeny of Isaac.
Genesis 36 8 Commentary
Genesis 36:8 is a pivotal statement in the historical unfolding of the Abrahamic narrative. It encapsulates the outcome of Esau's path, distinct from Jacob's, establishing his dwelling place and national identity. The repetition of "Esau is Edom" underscores the foundational truth that the future nation of Edom stems directly and completely from Esau, rooting their destiny in his personal story and choices. His settled presence in Mount Seir signals the divine provision of territory, marking Esau as a recipient of blessings separate from but alongside Jacob. This geographical and genealogical distinction serves to delineate the two "nations" foretold at their birth, setting the stage for subsequent interactions between Edom and Israel, which often reflected the initial sibling rivalry between their patriarchs. The verse emphasizes divine sovereignty in allocating territories and establishing distinct peoples within the broader stream of human history, fulfilling prophecies of nations arising from Noah and Abraham.