Genesis 36:15
in Genesis 36These are the chiefs among the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the first-born of Esau: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz,
KJV
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,
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This verse in Genesis 36
Commentary
5 notes on this verseDukes of the sons of Esau - The word duke comes from the Latin dux, a captain or leader.
This site's exposition
These are the chiefs among the sons of Esau
on Genesis 36:15-19
The Berean gives chief where the King James gives duke, and Clarke traces that English to the Latin dux, a leader. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown count fourteen chiefs alive at once, out of Eliphaz, Reuel and Oholibamah, and Korah stands among the chiefs of Eliphaz in verse 16 though verse 14 makes him a son of Oholibamah. A grandson carrying the same name accounts for it.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
These were dukes of the sons of Esau,....
Esau's sons were dukes when Jacob's sons were but plain shepherds, ch. xlvii. This is not a reason why such titles should not be used among Christians; but it is a reason why men should not overvalue themselves, or others, for the sake of them. There is an honour that comes from God, and a name in his house that is infinitely more valuable.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The head of each tribe was called by a term which in our version is rendered "duke"--not of the high rank and wealth of a British peer, but like the sheiks or emirs of the modern East, or the chieftains of highland clans. Fourteen are mentioned who flourished contemporaneously.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
All the Alufim mentioned in this chapter are heads of cities of clans.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
אלוף קרח. Korach had not been mentioned earlier as a son of Eliphaz, but merely as a son of Oholovimah. Perhaps this Korach was another son of Eliphaz who had become an Aluf, and has now been mentioned with the other Aluphim who were sons of Eliphaz.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
16 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֵ֖לֶּה | ʾeleh | these | H428 → | 746 times |
| אַלּוּפֵ֣י | ʾalufei | [were] [the] chiefs of | H441 → | 69 times |
| בְנֵֽי־ | venei- | [the] sons of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| עֵשָׂ֑ו | ʾesav | Esau | H6215 → | 97 times |
| בְּנֵ֤י | benei | [the] sons of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| אֱלִיפַז֙ | ʾelifaz | Eliphaz | H464 → | 15 times |
| בְּכ֣וֹר | bekhor | [the] firstborn of | H1060 → | 122 times |
| עֵשָׂ֔ו | ʾesav | Esau | H6215 → | 97 times |
| אַלּ֤וּף | ʾaluf | chief | H441 → | 69 times |
| תֵּימָן֙ | teiman | Teman | H8487 → | 11 times |
| אַלּ֣וּף | ʾaluf | chief | H441 → | 69 times |
| אוֹמָ֔ר | ʾomar | Omar | H201 → | |
| אַלּ֥וּף | ʾaluf | chief | H441 → | 69 times |
| צְפ֖וֹ | tzefo | Zepho | H6825 → | |
| אַלּ֥וּף | ʾaluf | chief | H441 → | 69 times |
| קְנַֽז׃ | kenaz | Kenaz | H7073 → | 11 times |
אֵ֖לֶּהthese
ʾelehH428 →746 times
אַלּוּפֵ֣י[were] [the] chiefs of
ʾalufeiH441 →69 times
בְנֵֽי־[the] sons of
venei-H1121 →4930 times
עֵשָׂ֑וEsau
ʾesavH6215 →97 times
בְּנֵ֤י[the] sons of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
אֱלִיפַז֙Eliphaz
ʾelifazH464 →15 times
בְּכ֣וֹר[the] firstborn of
bekhorH1060 →122 times
עֵשָׂ֔וEsau
ʾesavH6215 →97 times
אַלּ֤וּףchief
ʾalufH441 →69 times
תֵּימָן֙Teman
teimanH8487 →11 times
אַלּ֣וּףchief
ʾalufH441 →69 times
אוֹמָ֔רOmar
ʾomarH201 →
אַלּ֥וּףchief
ʾalufH441 →69 times
צְפ֖וֹZepho
tzefoH6825 →
אַלּ֥וּףchief
ʾalufH441 →69 times
קְנַֽז׃Kenaz
kenazH7073 →11 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Job 2:11Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together…
it leads to
- Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
- Jeremiah 49:7
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?
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Job 42:11
All his brothers and sisters and prior acquaintances came and dined with him in his house. They consoled him and comforted him over all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. And…
- Romans 12:15
Through
Obadiah 1:9Then your mighty men, O Teman, will be terrified, so that everyone in the mountains of Esau will be cut down in the slaughter.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 49:22
Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down, spreading its wings over Bozrah. In that day the hearts of Edom’s mighty men will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ezekiel 25:13
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…
- Isaiah 63:1–3
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.”
- Amos 1:12
So I will send fire upon Teman to consume the citadels of Bozrah.”
- Isaiah 34:5–8
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.
- Jeremiah 49:22
About Genesis
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.