Read & explore together
Esau's Family and the Rulers of Edom
Genesis 36 is a reference chapter about Esau, also called Edom. It names his family, explains his move to Seir, lists chiefs from his line, includes Seir’s families, and records kings and chiefs connected with Edom.
Understanding the passage
Understanding this family record
The chapter begins by identifying Esau as Edom and naming his wives and sons born in Canaan. It says Esau moved away from Jacob because their possessions were too great for them to live together, and that he lived in the hill country of Seir. The rest of the chapter arranges names linked with Edom.
Genesis 36:1–43Main takeaway
Genesis 36 presents Edom through family records and named rulers, all set in relation to Esau.
Follow the family lines
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Esau is identified with EdomThe chapter opens by saying that Esau is Edom. It names his wives and the sons born to him in Canaan: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Korah.
Explanation
The chapter opens by saying that Esau is Edom. It names his wives and the sons born to him in Canaan: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Korah. It also explains why Esau separated from Jacob: their possessions and livestock were too great for them to remain together, so Esau lived in Seir.
02Esau’s family lines and chiefsThe next section again introduces Esau as the father of the Edomites in Seir. It lists descendants through Eliphaz, Reuel and Oholibamah.
Explanation
The next section again introduces Esau as the father of the Edomites in Seir. It lists descendants through Eliphaz, Reuel and Oholibamah. Timna is named as Eliphaz’s concubine and Amalek is named as her son. Then the passage turns from family lines to chiefs coming from Esau’s sons.
03Seir’s families are also recordedThe chapter also lists the sons of Seir the Horite, described as inhabitants of the land. Their children and chiefs are named in order.
Explanation
The chapter also lists the sons of Seir the Horite, described as inhabitants of the land. Their children and chiefs are named in order. One short note says that Anah found the hot springs in the wilderness. This shows the chapter includes more than Esau’s direct descendants alone.
04The chapter lists kings and then names chiefs of EdomThe final part names kings who reigned in the land of Edom, one after another, sometimes adding a city or family detail.
Explanation
The final part names kings who reigned in the land of Edom, one after another, sometimes adding a city or family detail. It says these kings reigned before any king reigned over the children of Israel. The chapter then gives another list of chiefs of Edom and closes by naming Esau as father of the Edomites.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What reason does the passage give for Esau living away from Jacob?
Look for the explanation about their possessions, livestock and the land not being able to support both households together.
02Where does the chapter move from naming sons and children to naming chiefs?
Notice the difference between the family lists first and the repeated title "chief" that follows.
03Which other groups are recorded besides Esau’s immediate sons?
Look for the families of Seir the Horite and for the separate lists of kings and chiefs in Edom.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Genesis 36:1–43
1Now this is the history of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom).
2Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon, the Hittite; and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, the Hivite;
3and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebaioth.
4Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz. Basemath bore Reuel.
5Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan.
6Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, with his livestock, all his animals, and all his possessions, which he had gathered in the land of Canaan, and went into a land away from his brother Jacob.
7For their substance was too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their travels couldn’t bear them because of their livestock.
8Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom.
9This is the history of the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir:
10these are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, the son of Adah, the wife of Esau; and Reuel, the son of Basemath, the wife of Esau.
11The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
12Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau’s son; and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek. These are the descendants of Adah, Esau’s wife.
13These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the descendants of Basemath, Esau’s wife.
14These were the sons of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
15These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz,
16chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief Amalek. These are the chiefs who came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Adah.
17These are the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah. These are the chiefs who came of Reuel in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife.
18These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, chief Korah. These are the chiefs who came of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife.
19These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs.
20These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,
21Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.
22The children of Lotan were Hori and Heman. Lotan’s sister was Timna.
23These are the children of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
24These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the donkeys of Zibeon his father.
25These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.
26These are the children of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.
27These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
28These are the children of Dishan: Uz and Aran.
29These are the chiefs who came of the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah,
30chief Dishon, chief Ezer, and chief Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.
31These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel.
32Bela, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom. The name of his city was Dinhabah.
33Bela died, and Jobab, the son of Zerah of Bozrah, reigned in his place.
34Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.
35Husham died, and Hadad, the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. The name of his city was Avith.
36Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.
37Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the river, reigned in his place.
38Shaul died, and Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.
39Baal Hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his place. The name of his city was Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
40These are the names of the chiefs who came from Esau, according to their families, after their places, and by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth,
41chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,
42chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,
43chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession. This is Esau, the father of the Edomites.