Lexical Summary Alvah or Alyah: Alvah or Alyah Original Word: עַלְוָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Aliah, Alvah Or Alyah {al-yaw'}; the same as alvah; Alvah or Aljah, an Idumaean -- Aliah, Alvah. see HEBREW alvah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alah Definition an Edomite NASB Translation Aliah (1), Alvah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. עַלְוָה proper name, masculine in Edom Genesis 36:40 (P) = 1 Chronicles 1:51 Qr (Kt עליה), ᵐ5 Γωλα; ᵐ5LChronicles Αλουα. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrences Genesis 36:40 places Alvah among the clan-chiefs (ḥori, “chieftains”) of Esau: “These were the chiefs of the descendants of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz … Chief Timna, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth”. 1 Chronicles 1:51 repeats the same historical notice for post-exilic readers, preserving Esau’s line alongside Israel’s own. Together the two texts anchor Alvah in the patriarchal period, roughly the late second millennium BC. Historical Setting 1. Genealogical Function: Genesis 36 forms a literary bridge between the Jacob narratives and the Joseph cycle. By listing Esau’s chiefs, Moses shows how the promise that “two nations are in your womb” (Genesis 25:23) rapidly materialized; Edom produced organized leadership even “before any king reigned over the Israelites” (Genesis 36:31). Alvah, therefore, stands as evidence of Edom’s early statehood. Theological and Ministry Significance 1. Fulfillment of Prophecy: Alvah’s inclusion demonstrates God’s faithfulness to His word regarding Esau. The rapid rise of Edomite chiefs fulfills Genesis 27:40 (“you will live by the sword”) and anticipates later hostilities, yet it also reaffirms divine control over all nations. Applications for Contemporary Believers • God’s Sovereignty over History: The record of a single Edomite chief reinforces that no corner of history lies outside divine oversight. Believers can trust God’s hand in both celebrated and obscure events. Related Scriptures and Themes Genesis 25:23; Genesis 27:40; Genesis 36:31-43; Numbers 20:14-21; Deuteronomy 2:4-5; Obadiah 8-10; Isaiah 40:15; Hebrews 12:16. Forms and Transliterations עַֽלְוָ֖ה עלוהLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 36:40 HEB: תִּמְנָ֛ע אַלּ֥וּף עַֽלְוָ֖ה אַלּ֥וּף יְתֵֽת׃ NAS: Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, KJV: Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth, INT: Timna chief Alvah chief Jetheth 1 Chronicles 1:51 2 Occurrences |