These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz,
Parallel translations
- KJV These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,
- BSB These are the chiefs among the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,
- NKJV These were the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn son of Esau, were Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz,
- NASB These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau, are chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz,
- NLT These are the descendants of Esau who became the leaders of various clans: The descendants of Esau’s oldest son, Eliphaz, became the leaders of the clans of Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
This begins the list of Esau's descendants who became 'chiefs,' or tribal leaders. It shows Edom organized into ruling clans.
Overview
The text now reframes Esau's grandsons as 'chiefs,' heads of organized clans in Edom. The repetition signals that Esau's offspring achieved political structure and dominion early. This fulfills Isaac's blessing that Esau would live by his sword and gain earthly power (Genesis 27:39-40), even while the spiritual inheritance passed to Jacob.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Obad 1:9Your mighty men, Teman, will be dismayed, to the end that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter.
- Gen 36:11–12The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
- Job 2:11Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, they each came from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort him.
- Amos 1:12but I will send a fire on Teman, and it will devour the palaces of Bozrah.”
- Jer 49:7Of Edom. Yahweh of Armies says: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?
- 1 Chr 1:45Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.
- Gen 36:18These 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.
- Jer 49:20Therefore hear the counsel of Yahweh, that he has taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely they will drag them away, the little ones of the flock. Surely he will make their habitation desolate over them.
- Ezek 25:13therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, I will stretch out my hand on Edom, and will cut off man and animal from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; even to Dedan shall they fall by the sword.
- Ps 37:35I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.
- Job 4:1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
- Job 21:8Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
- Gen 36:4Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz. Basemath bore Reuel.
- Hab 3:3God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and his praise filled the earth.
- 1 Chr 1:51–54Then Hadad died. The chiefs of Edom were: chief Timna, chief Aliah, chief Jetheth,
- Exod 15:15Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed. Trembling takes hold of the mighty men of Moab. All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.
- 1 Chr 1:35–36The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 36:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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