Genesis 36:7

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.

Complete Jewish Bible:

For their possessions had become too great for them to live together, and the countryside through which they were traveling couldn't support so much livestock.

Berean Standard Bible:

For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together; the land where they stayed could not support them because of their livestock.

American Standard Version:

For their substance was too great for them to dwell together; and the land of their sojournings could not bear them because of their cattle.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

For their riches^{H7399} were more^{H7227} than that they might dwell^{H3427} together^{H3162}; and the land^{H776} wherein they were strangers^{H4033} could^{H3201} not bear^{H5375} them because^{H6440} of their cattle^{H4735}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 36:7

Genesis 36:7 is part of a genealogical passage in the Bible that outlines the descendants of Esau, who is also known as Edom. Esau was the twin brother of Jacob (later named Israel) and the son of Isaac and Rebekah. The verse reflects the theme of family division and territorial expansion.

**Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** This verse is set in the early 2nd millennium BCE, during the patriarchal age described in the Book of Genesis.
- **Esau's Lineage:** Esau, the progenitor of the Edomites, had settled in the land of Canaan, but due to population growth and wealth accumulation, particularly in livestock, the land could not sustain both Esau's descendants and the local inhabitants.
- **Territorial Expansion:** The verse indicates that Esau's descendants became wealthy and their herds increased to the point where they needed more land than what was available in Canaan. This led to a migration and expansion into the region southeast of Canaan, known as Edom (modern-day southern Jordan).
- **Strife and Division:** The theme of strife between brothers is a recurring motif in Genesis, and this verse reflects the eventual geographical and political separation between the descendants of Jacob and Esau. This division is emblematic of the broader familial conflicts that arise throughout the book.

**Themes:**
- **Prosperity and its Consequences:** The verse highlights how economic prosperity, particularly the accumulation of wealth in the form of livestock, can lead to the need for expansion and can cause social tension.
- **Land and Sustainability:** It underscores the importance of land and its capacity to sustain a growing population, a common concern in nomadic and agrarian societies.
- **Migration and Settlement:** The narrative reflects the ancient Near Eastern reality of migration due to economic factors, population pressures, and the search for new pastures.
- **Family Dynamics:** The broader context of Esau and Jacob's relationship provides a backdrop of family tension and eventual reconciliation, which is a theme that resonates throughout the Genesis narrative.

In summary, Genesis 36:7 is situated within a larger genealogical section that describes the growth and expansion of Esau's descendants, the Edomites, due to their increasing wealth. It reflects the historical reality of migration and settlement due to economic pressures and highlights themes of prosperity, land sustainability, and family dynamics.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7399
   There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רְכוּשׁ
   Transliteration: rᵉkûwsh
   Pronunciation: rek-oosh'
   Description: or רְכֻשׁ; from passive participle of רָכַשׁ; property (as gathered); good, riches, substance.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7227
   There are 439 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רַב
   Transliteration: rab
   Pronunciation: rab
   Description: by contracted from רָבַב; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality); (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).
   
3. Strong's Number: H3427
   There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָשַׁב
   Transliteration: yâshab
   Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3162
   There are 139 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יַחַד
   Transliteration: yachad
   Pronunciation: yakh'-ad
   Description: from יָחַד; properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly; alike, at all (once), both, likewise, only, (al-) together, withal.
   
5. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
6. Strong's Number: H4033
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָגוּר
   Transliteration: mâgûwr
   Pronunciation: maw-goor'
   Description: or מָגֻר; from גּוּר in the sense of lodging; a temporary abode; by extension, a permanent residence; dwelling, pilgrimage, where sojourn, be a stranger. Compare מָגוֹר.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3201
   There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָכֹל
   Transliteration: yâkôl
   Pronunciation: yaw-kole'
   Description: or (fuller) יָכוֹל; a primitive root; to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might); be able, any at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure, might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer.
   
8. Strong's Number: H5375
   There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָשָׂא
   Transliteration: nâsâʼ
   Pronunciation: naw-saw'
   Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield.
   
9. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
10. Strong's Number: H4735
    There are 64 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִקְנֶה
    Transliteration: miqneh
    Pronunciation: mik-neh'
    Description: from קָנָה; something bought, i.e. property, but only livestock; abstractly, acquisition; cattle, flock, herd, possession, purchase, substance.