Genesis 36 · Verse 1

Genesis 36:1

Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
Genesis 36:1, King James Version

Genesis 36:1 in other translations

BSBThis is the account of Esau (that is, Edom).
WEBNow this is the history of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom).
ASVNow these are the generations of Esau (the same is Edom).
YLTAnd these are births of Esau, who is Edom.
DARBYAnd these are the generations of Esau, that is Edom.
BBENow these are the generations of Esau, that is to say, Edom.
WebsterNow these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.

What does Genesis 36:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Ge 36:1-43. Posterity of Esau.

1. these are the generations--history of the leading men and events (compare Ge 2:4). Esau who is Edom--A name applied to him in reference to the peculiar color of his skin at birth [Ge 25:25], rendered more significant by his inordinate craving for the red pottage [Ge 25:30], and also by the fierce sanguinary character of his descendants (compare Eze 25:12; Ob 10).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The genealogy of Esau, i.e., his sons, by his Canaanitish wives Adah, Aholibamah, and Bashemath, Gen 36:1-3. The children of Adah and Bashemath, Gen 36:4. Of Aholibamah, Gen 36:5. Esau departs from Canaan and goes to Mount Seir, Gen 36:6-8. The generations of Esau, i.e., his grandchildren, while in Seir, Gen 36:7-19. Anah finds mules (Yemim) in the wilderness, Gen 36:24. The generations of Seir, the Horite, Gen 36:29-30. The kings which reigned in Edom, Gen 36:31-39. The dukes that succeeded them, Gen 36:40-43. Verse 1 These are the generations of Esau - We have here the genealogy of Esau in his sons and grandsons, and also the genealogy of Seir the Horite. The genealogy of the sons of Esau, born in Canaan, is related Gen 36:1-8; those of his grandchildren born in Seir, Gen 36:9-19; those of Seir the Horite, Gen 36:20-30. The generations of Esau are particularly marked, to show how exactly God fulfilled the promises he made to him, Genesis 25 and 27; and those of Seir the Horite are added, because his family became in some measure blended with that of Esau.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Esau and his descendants. --The registers in this chapter show the faithfulness of God to his promise to Abraham. Esau is here called Edom, that name which kept up the remembrance of his selling his birth-right for a mess of pottage. Esau continued the same profane despiser of heavenly things. In outward prosperity and honour, the children of the covenant are often behind, and those that are out of the covenant get the start. We may suppose it a trial to the faith of God's Israel, to hear of the pomp and power of the kings of Edom, while they were bond-slaves in Egypt; but those that look for great things from God, must be content to wait for them; God's time is the best time. Mount Seir is called the land of their possession. Canaan was at this time only the land of promise. Seir was in the possession of the Edomites. The children of this world have their all in hand, and nothing in hope, Lu 16:25; while the children of God have their all in hope, and next to nothing in hand. But, all things considered, it is beyond compare better to have Canaan in promise, than mount Seir in possession.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Genesis 36:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְאֵ֛לֶּהve.'E.lehand theseH428
תֹּלְד֥וֹתto.le.Dot[are] [the] accounts ofH8435
עֵשָׂ֖ו'e.SavEsauH6215
ה֥וּאhu'thatH1931
אֱדֽוֹם\׃'e.Dom[is] EdomH123

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 36:1

  • Genesis 22:17

    That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

  • 1 Chronicles 1:35

    The sons of Esau; Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.

  • Numbers 20:14-21

    And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us: How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers: And when we cried unto the Lord, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border: Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders. …

  • Deuteronomy 23:7

    Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.

  • Isaiah 63:1

    Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

  • Genesis 25:24-34

    And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. …

  • Genesis 32:3-7

    And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now: And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight. And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. …

  • Genesis 27:35-41

    And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. …

  • Ezekiel 25:12

    Thus saith the Lord God; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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.

A.M. 2208. B.C. 1796.
22:17; 25:24-34; 27:35-41; 32:3-7; Nu 20:14-21; De 23:7; 1Ch 1:35
Isa 63:1; Eze 25:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 36:1

    Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.

  • Genesis 36:2

    Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;

Read all of Genesis 36

Genesis 36:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y ESTAS son las generaciones de Esaú, el cual es Edom.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Et ce sont ici les générations d’Ésaü, qui est Édom.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und dies sind die Geschlechter Esaus, das ist Edom.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hæ sunt autem generationes Esau, ipse est Edom.