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This is the account of Esau (that is, Edom).
Genesis 36:1 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Now this is the history of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom).
  • KJV Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
  • NKJV Now this is the genealogy of Esau, who is Edom.
  • NASB Now these are the records of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom).
  • NLT This is the account of the descendants of Esau (also known as Edom).

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

The chapter introduces the genealogy of Esau, also called Edom.

Overview

This heading begins the account of Esau's descendants, the Edomites, fulfilling God's word that nations would come from Isaac's sons. Though not the covenant line, Esau's line is recorded to show God's faithfulness even to those outside the chosen seed. The chapter sets Esau's history apart before the narrative returns to Jacob and the line of promise.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 9

  • Gen 22:17I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.
  • 1 Chr 1:35The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
  • Num 20:14–21From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us,
  • Isa 63:1Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.”
  • Gen 25:24–34When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb.
  • Deut 23:7Do not despise an Edomite, for he is your brother. Do not despise an Egyptian, because you lived as a foreigner in his land.
  • Gen 32:3–7Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
  • Gen 27:35–41But Isaac replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”
  • Ezek 25:12This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt,

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Genesis videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Genesis 36:1YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on GenesisMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 36:1 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.