2‘Esav took his wives of the daughters of Kena’ani (merchant; trader; or that humbles and subdues); ‘Adah (an assembly) the daughter of Eilon (terebinth; mighty) the Hitti (terrorists), and Oholivamah (tent of the high place) the daughter of ‘Anah (one who answers; afflicted) the daughter of Tziv’on (multi-colored; robber; dyed) the Hivi (villagers);

3And Basmat (spice) Yishma’el’s (He Will Hear God; God hears [EL]) daughter, sister of N’vayot (heights; vision).

4And ‘Adah (an assembly) bore to ‘Esav (hairy) Elifaz [my god -or God- is (fine) gold]; and Basmat (spice) bore Re’u’el (friend of EL/God);

5And Oholivamah (tent of the high place) bore Ye’ush (assembler), and Ya’lam (concealed), and Korach (ice; hail; bald): these are the sons of ‘Esav (hairy), which were born unto him in the land of Kena’an (merchant; trader; or that humbles and subdues).

6And ‘Esav (hairy) took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Kena’an (merchant; trader; or that humbles and subdues); and went into the country from the face of his brother Ya’akov (he who holds onto the heel of).

7For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.

8In the following manner dwelt ‘Esav in mount Se’ir: ‘Esav [is] Edom.

9And these [are] the generations of ‘Esav (hairy) the father of the Edomim in mount Se’ir (hairy, shaggy; The Hairy Guys; riding the storm):

10These [are] the names of ‘Esav sons; Elifaz [my god -or God- is (fine) gold] the son of ‘Adah (an assembly) the wife of ‘Esav (hairy), Re’u’el (friend of EL/God) the son of Basmat (spice) the wife of ‘Esav (hairy).

11And the sons of Elifaz [my god -or God- is (fine) gold] were Teman [south] (right hand; south), Omar (Eloquent Speaker), Tzefo (Observant, watchtower), and Ga’Tam (a burnt valley; their lowing; their touch), and K’naz (hunter).

12And Timna (restrained) was concubine to Elifaz [my god -or God- is (fine) gold] ’Esav’s (hairy) son; and she bore to Elifaz [my god -or God- is (fine) gold] ’’Amalek [Dweller in a Valley] (People who are nipped in the Valley): these [were] the sons of ‘Adah (an assembly) ’Esav’s (hairy) wife.

13And these [are] the sons of Re’u’el (friend of EL/God); Nachat (rest), and Zerach (Rising; Dawning, Shining, Arising), Shammah [astonishment] (loss; desolation; astonishment), and Mizah [fear] (fear; a sudden disappearance or a copious discharge from the head; a falling out): these were the sons of Basmat (spice) ’Esav’s (hairy) wife.

14And these were the sons of Oholivamah (tent of the high place), the daughter of ‘Anah (one who answers; afflicted) the daughter of Tziv’on (multi-colored; robber; dyed), ‘Esav’s (hairy) wife: and she bore to ‘Esav, Ye’ush (assembler), and Ya’lam (concealed), and Korach (ice; hail; bald).

15These [were] chieftains of the sons of ‘Esav: the sons of Elifaz [my god -or God- is (fine) gold] the firstborn [son] of ‘Esav; chieftain Teman [south], chieftain Omar, chieftain Tzefo, chieftain K’naz,

16Chieftain Korach, chieftain Ga’Tam, [and] chieftain ‘‘Amalek [Dweller in a Valley]: these [are] the chieftains [that came] of Elifaz [my god -or God- is (fine) gold] in the land of Edom; these [were] the sons of ‘Adah.

17And these [are] the sons of Re’u’el ‘Esav’s son; chieftain Nachat, chieftain Zerach, chieftain Shammah [astonishment], chieftain Mizah [fear]: these [are] the chieftains [that came] of Re’u’el in the land of Edom; these [are] the sons of Basmat ‘Esav’s wife.

18And these [are] the sons of Oholivamah ‘Esav’s wife; chieftain Ye’ush, chieftain Ya’lam, chieftain Korach: these [were] the chieftains [that came] of Oholivamah the daughter of ‘Anah, ‘Esav’s wife.

19These [are] the sons of ‘Esav (hairy), who is Edom (red, ruddy (reddish hair or complexion)), and these [are] their chieftains.

20These [are] the sons of Se’ir (hairy, shaggy; The Hairy Guys; riding the storm) the Hori (cave dweller; freeborn prince), who inhabited the land; Lotan (covering), and Shoval (path; flowing; ear of corn), and Tziv’on (multi-colored; robber; dyed), and ‘Anah (one who answers; afflicted),

21And Dishon (fatness; ashes), and Etzer (helper; treasure), and Dishan (threshing; a thresher): these [are] the chieftains of the Hori (cave dwellers; freeborn prince), the children of Se’ir (hairy, shaggy; The Hairy Guys; riding the storm) in the land of Edom (red, ruddy (reddish hair or complexion)).

22And the children of Lotan (covering) were Hori (cave dweller; freeborn prince) and Hemam (exterminating); and Lotan’s (covering) sister was Timna (restrained).

23And the children of Shoval (path; flowing; ear of corn) [were] these; ‘Alvan (tall; high), and Manachat (rest), and ‘Eival (stone; ancient heaps), Se’fo (bold; desert), and Onam (vigorous).

24And these [are] the children of Tziv’on (multi-colored; robber; dyed); both Ayah (falcon), and ‘Anah (one who answers; afflicted): this was that ‘Anah (one who answers; afflicted) that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the donkeys of Tziv’on (multi-colored; robber; dyed) his father.

25And the children of ‘Anah (one who answers; afflicted) [were] these; Dishon (thresher; fatness; ashes), and Oholivamah (tent of the high place) the daughter of ‘Anah (one who answers; afflicted).

26And these [are] the children of Dishon (thresher; fatness; ashes); Hemdan (desire), and Eshban (fire of discernment), and Yitran (advantage), and K’ran (lyre, anger).

27The children of Etzer (helper; treasure) [are] these; Bilhan [their decrepitude] (foolish confusion), and Za’avan (troubled; trembling), and ‘Akan (sharp-sighted; twisted)

28The children of Dishan (threshing; a thresher) [are] these; ‘Utz (deep contemplation on reality and justice), and Aran (joyous; cursed).

29These [are] the chieftains [that came] of the Hori (cave dwellers; freeborn prince); chieftain Lotan (covering), chieftain Shoval (path; flowing; ear of corn), chieftain Tziv’on (multi-colored; robber; dyed), chieftain ‘Anah (one who answers; afflicted),

30Chieftain Dishon (thresher; fatness; ashes), chieftain Etzer (helper; treasure), chieftain Dishan (threshing; a thresher): these [are] the chieftains [that came] of Hori (cave dweller; freeborn prince), among their chieftains in the land of Se’ir (hairy, shaggy; The Hairy Guys; riding the storm).

31And these [are] the kings that reigned in the land of Edom (red, ruddy (reddish hair or complexion)), before there reigned any king over the children of Isra’el (he who holds onto God-The Creator).

32And Bela (destruction) the son of B’or reigned in Edom (red, ruddy (reddish hair or complexion)): and the name of his city was Dinhabah (he gives judgment).

33And Bela (destruction) died, and Yovav (To Call Shrilly) the son of Zerach (Rising; Dawning, Shining, Arising) of Botzrah (in tribulation or distress; fortress, sheepfold) reigned in his stead.

34And Yovav (To Call Shrilly) died, and Husham (haste) of the land of Temani (southward) reigned in his stead.

35And Husham (haste) died, and Hadad [mighty] (mighty; joy; noise; clamor) the son of B’dad (alone; solitary), who struck Midyan [Strife] (Strife; Place Of Judgment) in the field of Mo’av (of his father; Who’s Your Daddy!?), reigned in his stead: and the name of his city [was] ‘Avit (ruins).

36And Hadad [mighty] (mighty; joy; noise; clamor) died, and Samlah (his clothing; his left hand; his astonishment) of Masrekah (vineyard of noble vines) reigned in his stead.

37And Samlah (his clothing; his left hand; his astonishment) died, and Sha’ul (desired; asked for) of Rekhovot (wide open spaces, wild places/streets) by-the-river reigned in his stead.

38And Sha’ul (desired; asked for) died, and Ba’al-Chanan (lord of grace; gracious husband) the son of ‘Akhbor (a rat; a mouse; bruising) reigned in his stead.

39And Ba’al-Chanan (lord of grace; gracious husband) the son of ‘Akhbor (a rat; a mouse; bruising) died, and Hadad [mighty] (honour) reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pau (bleating; howling; sighing); and his wife’s name was M’heitav’el (how good is God, favoured of God [EL]), the daughter of Matred (pushing forward; wand of government; expulsion), the daughter of Mei-Zahav (waters of gold; gilded).

40And these [are] the names of the chieftains [that came] of ‘Esav (hairy), according to their families, after their places, by their names; chieftain Timnah [Portion] (restrained; forbidding), chieftain ‘Alvah (evil; his rising up; his highness), chieftain Y’tet (terror),

41Chieftain Oholivamah (tent of the high place), chieftain Elah [an oak] (an oak; a curse; perjury), chieftain Pinon (darkness; pearl; gem),

42Chieftain K’naz (hunter), chieftain Teman [south] (right hand; south), chieftain Mivtzar (fortress; defending; forbidding; taking away),

43Chieftain Magdi’el (declaring God; chosen fruit of God; prince of God [EL]), chieftain ‘Iram (belonging to a city; a high heap; “fluid escaping into a body cavity” to them): these [be] the chieftains of Edom (red, ruddy (reddish hair or complexion)), according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is ‘Esav (hairy) the father of the Edomim.

For more information about the NMV, details about why the names of God are notated and translated as they are, or to learn about the special markings and translations used in this text, click below.

Follow the instructions and you will receive the free e-book by email.

Learn More

Genesis 36

Esau’s Family

1This is the family history of Esau (also called Edom). 2Esau married women from the land of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite; and Oholibamah daughter of Anah, the son of Zibeon the Hivite; 3and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, the sister of Nebaioth.

4Adah gave birth to Eliphaz for Esau. Basemath gave him Reuel, 5and Oholibamah gave him Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These were Esau’s sons who were born in the land of Canaan.

6Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the people who lived with him, his herds and other animals, and all the belongings he had gotten in Canaan, and he went to a land away from his brother Jacob. 7Esau and Jacob’s belongings were becoming too many for them to live in the same land. The land where they had lived could not support both of them, because they had too many herds. 8So Esau lived in the mountains of Edom. (Esau is also named Edom.)

9This is the family history of Esau. He is the ancestor of the Edomites, who live in the mountains of Edom.

10Esau’s sons were Eliphaz, son of Adah and Esau, and Reuel, son of Basemath and Esau.

11Eliphaz had five sons: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. 12Eliphaz also had a slave woman named Timna, and Timna and Eliphaz gave birth to Amalek. These were Esau’s grandsons by his wife Adah.

13Reuel had four sons: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were Esau’s grandsons by his wife Basemath.

14Esau’s third wife was Oholibamah the daughter of Anah. (Anah was the son of Zibeon.) Esau and Oholibamah gave birth to Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

15These were the leaders that came from Esau: Esau’s first son was Eliphaz. From him came these leaders: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, 16Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These were the leaders that came from Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the grandsons of Adah.

17Esau’s son Reuel was the father of these leaders: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the leaders that came from Reuel in the land of Edom. They were the grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.

18Esau’s wife Oholibamah gave birth to these leaders: Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the leaders that came from Esau’s wife Oholibamah the daughter of Anah. 19These were the sons of Esau (also called Edom), and these were their leaders.

20These were the sons of Seir the Horite, who were living in the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These sons of Seir were the leaders of the Horites in Edom.

22The sons of Lotan were Hori and Homam. (Timna was Lotan’s sister.)

23The sons of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

24The sons of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah. Anah is the man who found the hot springs in the desert while he was caring for his father’s donkeys.

25The children of Anah were Dishon and Oholibamah daughter of Anah.

26The sons of Dishon were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Keran.

27The sons of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.

28The sons of Dishan were Uz and Aran.

29These were the names of the Horite leaders: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 30Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.

These men were the leaders of the Horite families who lived in the land of Edom.

31These are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before the Israelites ever had a king:

32Bela son of Beor was the king of Edom. He came from the city of Dinhabah.

33When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah became king. Jobab was from Bozrah.

34When Jobab died, Husham became king. He was from the land of the Temanites.

35When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who had defeated Midian in the country of Moab, became king. Hadad was from the city of Avith.

36When Hadad died, Samlah became king. He was from Masrekah.

37When Samlah died, Shaul became king. He was from Rehoboth on the Euphrates River.

38When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Acbor became king.

39When Baal-Hanan son of Acbor died, Hadad became king. He was from the city of Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, who was the daughter of Me-Zahab.

40These Edomite leaders, listed by their families and regions, came from Esau. Their names were Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 42Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43Magdiel, and Iram. They were the leaders of Edom. (Esau was the father of the Edomites.) The area where each of these families lived was named after that family.

Learn More

Choose your language

Genesis 36

Genesis 36