Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version These were the chiefs descended from Esau, by name, according to their clans and regions: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, New Living Translation These are the names of the leaders of the clans descended from Esau, who lived in the places named for them: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, English Standard Version These are the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their clans and their dwelling places, by their names: the chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, Berean Standard Bible These are the names of Esau’s chiefs, according to their families and regions, by their names: Chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, King James Bible And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth, New King James Version And these were the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families and their places, by their names: Chief Timnah, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth, New American Standard Bible Now these are the names of the chiefs descended from Esau, according to their families and their localities, by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, NASB 1995 Now these are the names of the chiefs descended from Esau, according to their families and their localities, by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, NASB 1977 Now these are the names of the chiefs descended from Esau, according to their families and their localities, by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, Legacy Standard Bible Now these are the names of the chiefs descended from Esau, according to their families and their places, by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, Amplified Bible And these are the names of the tribal chiefs of Esau, according to their families and places of residence, by their names: Chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, Christian Standard Bible These are the names of Esau’s chiefs, according to their families and their localities, by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, Holman Christian Standard Bible These are the names of Esau’s chiefs, according to their families and their localities, by their names: Chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, American Standard Version And these are the names of the chiefs that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, Contemporary English Version The clans that descended from Esau took their names from their families and the places where they lived. They are Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, English Revised Version And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timna, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth; GOD'S WORD® Translation These were the names of the tribal leaders descended from Esau, by family, place, and name: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, International Standard Version These were the names of the chiefs who descended from Esau according to their clans, territories, and names: tribal leaders Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, NET Bible These were the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families, according to their places, by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, New Heart English Bible These are the names of the chiefs who came from Esau, according to their families, according to their places, and by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, Webster's Bible Translation And these are the names of the dukes, descendants of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThese are the names of Esau’s chiefs, according to their families and regions, by their names: Chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, World English Bible These 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, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd these [are] the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families, according to their places, by their names: Chief Timnah, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth, Young's Literal Translation And these are the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families, according to their places, by their names: chief Timnah, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, Smith's Literal Translation And these the names of the chiefs of Esau according to their tribes, according to their places, in their names: chief Timnah, chief Alvah, chief Jeheth, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd these are the names of the dukes of Esau in their kindreds, and places, and callings: duke Thamna, duke Alva, duke Jetheth, Catholic Public Domain Version Therefore, these were the names of the leaders of Esau, by their families, and places, and in their vocabulary: leader Timna, leader Alvah, leader Jetheth, New American Bible These are the names of the clans of Esau identified according to their families and localities: the clans of Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, New Revised Standard Version These are the names of the clans of Esau, according to their families and their localities by their names: the clans Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd these are the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families, and according to their generations, by their names: chief Timnah, chief Anvah, chief Jetheth, Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And these are the names of the Princes of Esau by their families, by their generations, by their names: Prince Tamna, Prince Anwa, and Prince Yathith. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And these are the names of the chiefs that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names: the chief of Timna, the chief of Alvah, the chief of Jetheth; Brenton Septuagint Translation These are the names of the chiefs of Esau, in their tribes, according to their place, in their countries, and in their nations; chief Thamna, chief Gola, chief Jether, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Kings of Edom…39When Baal-hanan son of Achbor died, Hadad reigned in his place. His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab. 40These are the names of Esau’s chiefs, according to their families and regions, by their names: Chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 41Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,… Cross References 1 Chronicles 1:51-54 Then Hadad died. Now the chiefs of Edom were Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, / Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, / Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, ... Deuteronomy 2:12 The Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out. They destroyed the Horites from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did in the land that the LORD gave them as their possession.) Deuteronomy 2:22 just as He had done for the descendants of Esau who lived in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them. They drove them out and have lived in their place to this day. Numbers 20:14-21 From 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, / how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, / and when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. ... Obadiah 1:6-9 But how Esau will be pillaged, his hidden treasures sought out! / All the men allied with you will drive you to the border; the men at peace with you will deceive and overpower you. Those who eat your bread will set a trap for you without your awareness of it. / In that day, declares the LORD, will I not destroy the wise men of Edom and the men of understanding in the mountains of Esau? ... Jeremiah 49:7-22 Concerning Edom, this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed? / Turn and run! Lie low, O dwellers of Dedan, for I will bring disaster on Esau at the time I punish him. / If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings? Were thieves to come in the night, would they not steal only what they wanted? ... Ezekiel 25:12-14 This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt, / therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off from it both man and beast. I will make it a wasteland, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword. / I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.’ Amos 1:11-12 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Edom, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and stifled all compassion; his anger raged continually, and his fury flamed incessantly. / So I will send fire upon Teman to consume the citadels of Bozrah.” Malachi 1:2-4 “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved, / but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.” / Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever. Romans 9:10-13 Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac. / Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand, / not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” ... Hebrews 12:16-17 See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright. / For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears. Isaiah 34:5-6 When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, then it will come down upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction. / The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat—with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom. Isaiah 63:1-6 Who 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.” / Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress? / “I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained. ... Psalm 137:7 Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell: “Destroy it,” they said, “tear it down to its foundations!” Lamentations 4:21-22 So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. Yet the cup will pass to you as well; you will get drunk and expose yourself. / O Daughter of Zion, your punishment is complete; He will not prolong your exile. But He will punish your iniquity, O Daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins. Treasury of Scripture And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth, Second aristocracy of dukes, from A. Genesis 36:31 And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel. 1 Chronicles 1:51-54 Hadad died also. And the dukes of Edom were; duke Timnah, duke Aliah, duke Jetheth, … dukes. Genesis 36:15,16 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, … Exodus 15:15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. 1 Chronicles 1:51-54 Hadad died also. And the dukes of Edom were; duke Timnah, duke Aliah, duke Jetheth, … Alvah. 1 Chronicles 1:51 Hadad died also. And the dukes of Edom were; duke Timnah, duke Aliah, duke Jetheth, Jump to Previous Alvah Chief Chiefs Clans Descendants Descended Duke Dukes Dwelling Esau Families Jetheth Names Places Regions Timna TimnahJump to Next Alvah Chief Chiefs Clans Descendants Descended Duke Dukes Dwelling Esau Families Jetheth Names Places Regions Timna TimnahGenesis 36 1. Esau's three wives.6. His removal to mount Seir. 9. His sons. 15. The dukes which descended of his sons. 20. The sons and dukes of Seir the Horite. 24. Anah finds mules. 31. The kings of Edom. 40. The dukes that descended of Esau. These are the names of Esau’s chiefs, This phrase introduces a list of leaders descended from Esau, also known as Edom. The mention of "chiefs" indicates a structured tribal leadership, reflecting the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4). Esau's descendants, the Edomites, were a significant nation in the region. according to their families and regions, by their names: Chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, Persons / Places / Events 1. EsauThe brother of Jacob, also known as Edom. He is the ancestor of the Edomites, and this passage lists the chiefs descended from him. 2. Chief Timna A leader among the Edomites. The name Timna is also associated with a concubine of Eliphaz, Esau's son, indicating a possible connection or lineage. 3. Chief Alvah Another leader among the Edomites. The name Alvah is less frequently mentioned, but it signifies a position of authority within the Edomite tribes. 4. Chief Jetheth A leader among the Edomites. Like Alvah, Jetheth's name is not widely referenced elsewhere, but it denotes a tribal chief. 5. Edom The region associated with Esau and his descendants. It is located southeast of Israel and is often mentioned in the context of Israel's history and interactions with neighboring nations. Teaching Points Understanding Lineage and LegacyThe listing of Esau's chiefs highlights the importance of understanding one's heritage and the impact of family legacy. Reflect on how your own family history shapes your identity and faith journey. Leadership and Influence The role of chiefs in Edom underscores the significance of leadership within a community. Consider how you can be a positive influence and leader in your own circles, whether in family, church, or community. God's Sovereignty in History The detailed genealogies in the Bible remind us of God's sovereignty over history and His plan for nations and peoples. Trust in God's overarching plan, even when individual events seem disconnected. Reconciliation and Relationships The account of Esau and Jacob, and their descendants, serves as a reminder of the importance of reconciliation and maintaining healthy relationships. Seek to resolve conflicts and build bridges with others. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 36:40?2. How do the chiefs of Esau's descendants reflect God's promise to Abraham? 3. What can we learn about God's faithfulness from Genesis 36:40? 4. How does Genesis 36:40 connect to the broader narrative of Genesis? 5. How can understanding Esau's lineage impact our view of God's sovereignty? 6. What lessons from Esau's chiefs can we apply to our spiritual leadership today? 7. What is the significance of the chiefs listed in Genesis 36:40 for biblical genealogy? 8. How does Genesis 36:40 contribute to understanding the Edomite lineage? 9. Why are the chiefs of Esau's descendants important in Genesis 36:40? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 36? 11. Do the dream accounts and their outcomes in Genesis 40 conflict with any other dream narratives in the Bible regarding divine intervention? 12. How could Esau’s family, in Genesis 36:6–8, have grown so rapidly despite known demographic constraints? 13. Exodus 37:1-9: How could ancient desert nomads craft such detailed cherubim from pure gold with the tools and resources supposedly available? 14. Deuteronomy 2:12 claims the Horites were displaced by the Edomites; is there historical or archaeological proof supporting this takeover? What Does Genesis 36:40 Mean These are the names of Esau’s chiefs- Scripture pauses the flow of Genesis to spotlight leadership that rose from Esau’s line, showing that the Lord kept His word that “two nations are in your womb” (Genesis 25:23). - Earlier in the chapter we already met several chiefs (Genesis 36:15-19), and here the list continues, reinforcing that Esau’s descendants quickly organized into recognized tribal heads—fulfilling Isaac’s blessing that Esau would live “away from the riches of the earth” yet still wield authority (Genesis 27:39-40). - 1 Chronicles 1:35-51 later repeats the same roster, confirming that this was a stable historical record, not a passing footnote. according to their families and regions - Each chief is tied to a clan and a specific territory in Seir. Much like Israel’s later tribal allotments (Joshua 19), Edom’s structure reflects order and permanence. - Deuteronomy 2:5 reminds Israel that God had already “given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession,” explaining why these regions belonged to defined Edomite families. - This arrangement satisfies God’s earlier promise to Abraham that “nations and kings will come from you” (Genesis 17:6). Even outside the covenant line, Abraham’s grandson enjoys real estate, governance, and growth. by their names - The text emphasizes personal names because leadership in the ancient Near East was inseparable from identity. Naming each chief stamps authenticity on the record, much as Exodus 1:1 names Jacob’s sons to anchor Israel’s story. - Names also preserve memory. Centuries later prophets could indict Edom for its hostility (Obadiah 1:8-9) by appealing to these same ancestral lines—proof that God holds nations accountable through time. Chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth - Timna, Alvah, and Jetheth represent distinct clans that settled south of the Dead Sea. Archaeology locates copper-rich Timna Valley within Edomite territory, hinting at why this chief may have held influence (Genesis 36:40; 1 Chronicles 1:51). - Alvah (called Aliah in 1 Chronicles 1:51) and Jetheth are otherwise unknown to us, yet Scripture records them to show that no part of God’s plan is incidental. - Their presence testifies that Esau’s house flourished into strong, named leaders long before Israel crowned Saul (Genesis 36:31), underscoring that divine timing, not human achievement, controls history. summary Genesis 36:40 is more than a genealogy footnote; it is a snapshot of God’s faithfulness to Esau, validating promises made generations earlier. By cataloging specific chiefs, linked to families and lands, Scripture affirms that Edom became an organized, settled nation. Every name declares that the Lord governs the rise of peoples, keeps precise records, and weaves even non-covenant lines into His unfolding redemptive story. (40) According to their families, after their places.--The final list of the dukes is said, both here and in Genesis 36:43, to be territorial, by which is meant, not that the persons mentioned were not real men, but that Edom finally settled down into eleven "thousands" named after these chieftains. So in Canaan the names of the sons of Jacob became those also of territorial divisions, two of which, however, were given to Joseph and his sons, while no district was called after Levi. What is remarkable here is the vast amount of change. No Horite duke gives his name to any of these divisions of the land of Edom. Omitting Korah from Genesis 36:16, there were originally thirteen of these tribal princes, each with his own territory, but with no central government; just as the children of Israel dwelt for centuries in Canaan, each tribe independently in its own district, and with nothing to bind them together except their religion. In Genesis 36:40-43 we find eleven tribes, of which only two, those of Teman and Kenaz, retain the names of the sons of Esau, while of the rest we know nothing. We may, however, safely conclude that these nine persons, who gave their names to districts of Edom, were all men who rose to power during the troubled times when king after king seized the crown only to be displaced by some one else. Probably many such men arose, but these were all who consolidated their power sufficiently to leave their names behind them. Amidst this anarchy, the two districts of Teman and Kenaz alone remained unbroken, and continued to be ruled by princes of the same family. This word "family" has in Hebrew a meaning different from that which it has with us; for it signifies one of the larger divisions of a tribe, of which the subdivisions are called "fathers' houses," which again are subdivided into households (Numbers 1:2, &c.). In Genesis 36:43 "habitations" would be better rendered settlements. . . . Verses 40-43. - And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names. It is now generally agreed that this and the ensuing verses contain not a second list of dukes who rose to power on the overthrow of the preceding monarchical institutions (Bertheau, Ainsworth, Patrick), or a continuation of the preceding list of dukes, which had simply been interrupted by a parenthesis about the kings (Bush); but either an enumeration of the hereditary phylarchs who were contemporaneous with Hadar, and in all probability formed, his council (Murphy), or a territorial catalogue of the districts in which the original alluphim who sprang from Esau (vers. 15-19) exercised their sovereignty (Keil, Kalisch, Lange, 'Speaker's Commentary'). Duke Timnah, - according to the explanation just given this should perhaps be read duke of Timnah = Amalek, whose mother was Timna (Lange), but this is conjectural - duke Alvah, - or of Alvah, or Allah, closely allied to Alvan (ver. 23) - duke (of) Jetheth, - "Nail" (Gesenius), "Subjugation" (Furst) - duke (of) Aholiba-mah, - vide ver. 2; perhaps Esau's wife as well as Eliphaz's concubine gave her name to the district over which her son ruled - duke Elah, - "Strength" (Furst), "Tere-binth" (Murphy) - duke Pinon, - probably equal to Pimon, dark (Gesenius) - duke Kenaz (vide ver. 11), duke Teman (ver. 15), duke Mibzar, - "Fortress," "Strong City" (Gesenius) - duke Magdiel, - "Prince of God" (Gesenius) - duke Iram: - "Citizen" (Gesenius) - these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations (i.e. their capitals, or districts) in the land of their possessions. The word seems to indicate an independent sovereignty within their respective provinces or principalities. He is Esau the father of the Edomites. The clause is equivalent to saying, This Esau (already referred to) was the ancestor of these Edomites. |
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