Lexical Summary Oholibamah: Oholibamah Original Word: אָהֱלִיבָמָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Aholibamah From 'ohel and bamah; tent of (the) height; Oholibamah, a wife of Esau -- Aholibamah. see HEBREW 'ohel see HEBREW bamah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ohel and bamah Definition "tent of the high place," wife of Esau, also an Edomite leader NASB Translation Oholibamah (8). Brown-Driver-Briggs אָהֳלִיבָמָה proper name Oholibama (tent of the high place) 1. feminine wife of Esau Genesis 36:2,5,14,18,25. 2. masculine an Edomite chief Genesis 36:41; 1 Chronicles 1:52. Topical Lexicon Scriptural OccurrencesOholibamah appears eight times in the Hebrew Scriptures (Genesis 36:2, 5, 14, 18 [twice by Hebrew verse division], 25, 41; 1 Chronicles 1:52). The first reference sets her within the Canaanite milieu: “Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite” (Genesis 36:2). Family and Lineage • Granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite—an indigenous Canaanite people (Genesis 36:2). The text preserves a dual identity: she is both an individual woman and, later, the eponym of an Edomite clan (Genesis 36:41; 1 Chronicles 1:52). Marital Alliance with Esau Esau’s marriages outside the covenant line introduced spiritual tension into Isaac’s household (compare Genesis 26:34-35). Oholibamah embodies that union: her Hivite origin underscores Esau’s disregard for Abrahamic marital parameters. The alliance foreshadows the long-standing friction between Israel and Edom while illustrating that divine election proceeds sovereignly despite human choices (Malachi 1:2-3; Romans 9:10-13). Children and Descending Chiefs Oholibamah bore three sons—Jeush, Jalam, and Korah (Genesis 36:5, 14). All three become “chiefs” (Hebrew, אלוף, aluph) in Edom (Genesis 36:18). Her name is thus carried forward in tribal government, culminating in a clan directly called “Oholibamah” (Genesis 36:41; 1 Chronicles 1:52). This genealogical progression demonstrates how one household decision can shape national history. Historical Setting Genesis situates Oholibamah during the patriarchal era (second millennium BC). By the time of Moses, the Edomites inhabited the mountainous region southeast of the Dead Sea (Numbers 20:14-21). The clan of Oholibamah would have occupied part of that territory, contributing to Edom’s confederated structure of chiefs who answered to a central monarch only later (Genesis 36:31-39). Theological Emphasis 1. Covenant Distinctiveness Oholibamah’s inclusion in Genesis 36 contrasts sharply with the covenant line traced through Jacob in Genesis 35-37. Her presence reinforces God’s pattern of distinguishing spiritual promise from natural lineage. 2. God’s Providence Over Nations The Edomite chiefs listed in Genesis 36 and 1 Chronicles 1 demonstrate that the Lord “fixed the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel” (Deuteronomy 32:8). Oholibamah’s clan, though outside the covenant, still unfolds under divine oversight. 3. Warning Against Spiritual Compromise Esau’s marriages, including that to Oholibamah, “made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah” (Genesis 26:35). Their example stands as a caution regarding alliances that disregard God’s revealed will. Prophetic and Messianic Connections While Oholibamah herself is not cited in later prophecy, Edom becomes a frequent prophetic target (for example, Obadiah 1:1-18). The survival of her clan into the monarchy period (1 Chronicles 1:52) demonstrates continuity of Edomite identity, setting the stage for those oracles and ultimately for fulfillment in the Messiah who reconciles divided peoples (Ephesians 2:14-16). Ministry Reflections • Family choices reverberate through generations; spiritual compatibility in marriage guards legacy. Summary Oholibamah is simultaneously a Canaanite woman, a matriarch of three Edomite chiefs, and the namesake of an enduring clan. Her account underscores covenant distinctiveness, the sovereignty of God over nations, and the far-reaching impact of personal choices upon future generations. Forms and Transliterations אָֽהֳלִיבָמָ֛ה אָהֳלִֽיבָמָה֙ אָהֳלִיבָמָ֛ה אָהֳלִיבָמָ֧ה אהליבמה וְאָהֳלִֽיבָמָה֙ וְאָהֳלִיבָמָ֖ה ואהליבמה ’ā·ho·lî·ḇā·māh ’āholîḇāmāh oholivaMah veoholivaMah wə’āholîḇāmāh wə·’ā·ho·lî·ḇā·māhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 36:2 HEB: הַֽחִתִּ֔י וְאֶת־ אָהֳלִֽיבָמָה֙ בַּת־ עֲנָ֔ה NAS: the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter KJV: the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter INT: of Elon the Hittite and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah Genesis 36:5 Genesis 36:14 Genesis 36:18 Genesis 36:18 Genesis 36:25 Genesis 36:41 1 Chronicles 1:52 8 Occurrences |
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