King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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;
Complete Jewish Bible:
'Esav chose Kena'ani women as his wives: 'Adah the daughter of Eilon the Hitti; Oholivamah the daughter of 'Anah the daughter of Tziv'on the Hivi;
Berean Standard Bible:
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,
American Standard Version:
Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite,
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Esau{H6215} took{H3947} his wives{H802} of the daughters{H1323} of Canaan{H3667}; Adah{H5711} the daughter{H1323} of Elon{H356} the Hittite{H2850}, and Aholibamah{H173} the daughter{H1323} of Anah{H6034} the daughter{H1323} of Zibeon{H6649} the Hivite{H2340};
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 36:25
- And the children of Anah [were] these; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.
Genesis 28:9
- Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.
Genesis 27:46
- And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these [which are] of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?
Genesis 9:25
- And he said, Cursed [be] Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
Genesis 26:34
- ¶ And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:
Genesis 26:35
- Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 36:2
Genesis 36:2 is part of a chapter that details the genealogy of Esau, the older twin brother of Jacob, also known as Israel. This verse specifically highlights Esau's marriage to Canaanite women, which was a source of concern for his parents, Isaac and Rebekah, as it signified a union with the local peoples rather than maintaining the familial lineage and religious distinction that God had promised to Abraham and his descendants.
**Themes:**
1. **Intermarriage with Canaanites:** The theme of intermarriage with the Canaanites is significant because it was a recurring issue for the Israelites, often leading to idolatry and away from the worship of Yahweh.
2. **Genealogy:** The detailed account of Esau's descendants serves to document the lineage of the Edomites, who are significant in the broader narrative of the Bible.
3. **Divine Promises:** The marriages of Esau outside the chosen lineage contrast with the marriages of his brother Jacob, who was careful to marry within the family as per the cultural norms of the time, thus keeping the line of promise "pure."
**Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** The events described in Genesis, including Esau's marriages, occurred during the patriarchal age, which is roughly estimated to be around the early 2nd millennium BCE.
- **Cultural Practices:** It was common at the time for marriages to be arranged within families or tribes to maintain inheritance, social status, and religious identity.
- **Esau's Relationship with His Parents:** Esau's choices of wives were troubling to Isaac and Rebekah, as they were concerned about the influence of foreign wives on their family's spiritual heritage and the fulfillment of God's promises.
- **Edomite Lineage:** Esau's line, the Edomites, became a neighboring nation to Israel with a complex relationship—sometimes at peace, other times at war—with the Israelites throughout their history.
In summary, Genesis 36:2 reflects the theme of maintaining religious and cultural identity amidst the pressures and attractions of surrounding peoples, a challenge that would persist for Israel throughout its history. It also establishes the foundation for the future nation of Edom and its interactions with Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6215
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵשָׂו
Transliteration: ʻÊsâv
Pronunciation: ay-sawv'
Description: apparently a form of the passive participle of עָשָׂה in the original sense of handling; rough (i.e. sensibly felt); Esav, a son of Isaac, including his posterity; Esau. - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. - Strong's Number: H1323
There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּת
Transliteration: bath
Pronunciation: bath
Description: from בָּנָה (as feminine of בֵּן); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively); apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. - Strong's Number: H3667
There are 91 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כְּנַעַן
Transliteration: Kᵉnaʻan
Pronunciation: ken-ah'-an
Description: from כָּנַע; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him; Canaan, merchant, traffick. - Strong's Number: H5711
There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָדָה
Transliteration: ʻÂdâh
Pronunciation: aw-daw'
Description: from עָדָה; ornament; Adah, the name of two women; Adah. - Strong's Number: H356
There are 120 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵילוֹן
Transliteration: ʼÊylôwn
Pronunciation: ay-lone'
Description: or (shortened) אֵלוֹן ; or אֵילֹן ; from אַיִל; oak-grove; Elon, the name of a place in Palestine, and also of one Hittite, two Israelites; Elon. - Strong's Number: H2850
There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חִתִּי
Transliteration: Chittîy
Pronunciation: khit-tee'
Description: patronymically from חֵת; a Chittite, or descendant of Cheth; Hittite, Hittities. - Strong's Number: H173
There are 994 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אׇהֳלִיבָמָה
Transliteration: ʼOhŏlîybâmâh
Pronunciation: o''-hol-ee-baw-maw'
Description: from אֹהֶל and בָּמָה; tent of (the) height; Oholibamah, a wife of Esau; Aholibamah. - Strong's Number: H6034
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֲנָה
Transliteration: ʻĂnâh
Pronunciation: an-aw'
Description: probably from עָנָה; an answer; Anah, the name of two Edomites and one Edomitess; Anah. - Strong's Number: H6649
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צִבְעוֹן
Transliteration: Tsibʻôwn
Pronunciation: tsib-one'
Description: from the same as צֶבַע; variegated; Tsibon, an Idumaean; Zibeon. - Strong's Number: H2340
There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חִוִּי
Transliteration: Chivvîy
Pronunciation: khiv-vee'
Description: perhaps from חַוָּה; a villager; a Chivvite, one of the aboriginal tribes of Palestine; Hivite.