4199. Mizzah

Lexical Summary

Mizzah: Mizzah

Original Word: מִזָּה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Mizzah
Pronunciation: miz-zaw'
Phonetic Spelling: (miz-zaw')
KJV: Mizzah
NASB: Mizzah
Word Origin: [probably from an unused root meaning to faint with fear]

1. terror
2. Mizzah, an Edomite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Mizzah

Probably from an unused root meaning to faint with fear; terror; Mizzah, an Edomite -- Mizzah.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as mazeh
Definition
grandson of Esau
NASB Translation
Mizzah (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מִזָּה proper name, masculine grandson of Esau Genesis 36:13,17 (ᵐ5 Μοζε); 1 Chronicles 1:37 (ᵐ5 Ομοζε, ᵐ5^L Μαζε).

[מָ֫זוּ], מְזָוֵינוּ see זוה. מְזוּזָה see זוז.

מָזוֺן see זון. I. מָזוֺר see III. זוּר

II. מָזוֺר see II.מזר infra. below

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Occurrences

Genesis 36:13; Genesis 36:17; 1 Chronicles 1:37. “The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.” (Genesis 36:13).

Genealogical Context

Mizzah appears among the grandsons of Esau, son of Isaac and twin brother of Jacob. Reuel, his father, was born to Esau through Basemath (also called Adah), daughter of Ishmael. The list of chiefs in Genesis 36 identifies Mizzah as an Edomite tribal leader. These chiefs (Hebrew ʾallûp̄îm) represent the transition from individual descendants to organized clans, marking the early formation of Edom as a nation.

Historical and Geographical Background

Edom settled in the rugged hill country of Seir, south-southeast of the Dead Sea. Archaeological surveys confirm pastoral and trade activity in the region during the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages, consistent with the Bible’s timetable. As chief, Mizzah would have held authority in local governance, defense, and caravan trade that moved through the Arabah and along the King’s Highway. The Edomite confederation retained tribal titles for centuries, evidenced later in pre-exilic prophetic oracles against Edom (for example, Obadiah 1:1–14).

Theological Implications

1. Covenant Scope. The genealogies of Edom trace back to Abraham through Isaac and Esau, underscoring that God tracks every branch of the patriarchal family, even those outside the messianic line (see Deuteronomy 2:4–5).
2. Divine Sovereignty over Nations. Although Israel and Edom often clashed (Numbers 20:18–21; Malachi 1:2–4), Scripture portrays both peoples as under the same Creator’s rule. Listing Mizzah among the chiefs reminds readers that “the Most High gave the nations their inheritance” (Deuteronomy 32:8).
3. Prophetic Foreshadowing. Later judgments against Edom (Isaiah 34:5–10; Obadiah 1:18) highlight how far Esau’s line would drift from covenant ethics. Yet the meticulous record of chiefs like Mizzah affirms that divine justice rests on full knowledge of every person and clan.

Ministry Applications

• Genealogies Validate Scripture. Naming minor figures such as Mizzah demonstrates the Bible’s rootedness in real history, strengthening confidence in its reliability.
• God Values Every Generation. Even a single-line mention shows that no individual or tribe escapes the Lord’s notice. This truth comforts believers ministering in overlooked contexts.
• Warning against Pride. Edomite chiefs rose to prominence, yet Edom ultimately fell. Leaders today can heed this cautionary tale (Proverbs 16:18).

Key Insights for Preaching and Teaching

1. Use genealogical texts to illustrate God’s unbroken purposes from Genesis to Revelation. Mizzah’s name links patriarchal narratives to later prophetic books that anticipate the consummation of God’s kingdom.
2. Contrast Esau’s earthly chiefs with the spiritual priorities commended to believers: “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33).
3. Highlight reconciliation. Though Edom opposed Israel, Paul proclaims Christ has “broken down the middle wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14), inviting descendants of every lineage—including those of Esau—to unity in the gospel.

Connections within the Canon

• Genesis genealogies anticipate Israel’s royal line (Genesis 49:10) and, ultimately, Jesus Christ (Luke 3:23–38).
• Edom’s turbulent future is foretold in Numbers 24:18–19 and fulfilled in part through David’s conquests (2 Samuel 8:13–14). Naming chiefs like Mizzah documents the early stage of a nation that will figure prominently in later redemptive history.

Mizzah, though briefly mentioned, stands as one more thread in Scripture’s tapestry, testifying to God’s faithful record-keeping, the rise and fall of nations, and the encompassing reach of divine grace.

Forms and Transliterations

וּמִזָּ֑ה וּמִזָּֽה׃ ומזה ומזה׃ מִזָּ֑ה מזה miz·zāh mizZah mizzāh ū·miz·zāh umizZah ūmizzāh

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 36:13
HEB: וָזֶ֖רַח שַׁמָּ֣ה וּמִזָּ֑ה אֵ֣לֶּ֣ה הָי֔וּ
NAS: Shammah and Mizzah. These
KJV: Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons
INT: and Zerah Shammah and Mizzah These become

Genesis 36:17
HEB: שַׁמָּ֖ה אַלּ֣וּף מִזָּ֑ה אֵ֣לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֤י
NAS: chief Mizzah. These
KJV: duke Mizzah: these [are] the dukes
INT: Shammah chief Mizzah These are the chiefs

1 Chronicles 1:37
HEB: זֶ֖רַח שַׁמָּ֥ה וּמִזָּֽה׃ ס
NAS: Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah.
KJV: Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
INT: Zerah Shammah and Mizzah

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4199
3 Occurrences

miz·zāh — 1 Occ.
ū·miz·zāh — 2 Occ.