Genesis 36:27 — Word Study
WLCאֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵי־ אֵ֑צֶר בִּלְהָ֥ן וְזַעֲוָ֖ן וַעֲקָֽן׃
BSATheseʼêl-leh [specific, particular ones] are the sonsbên [descendants, children] of EzerʼEtser [treasure, a chief of the Horites] BilhanBilhân [a son of Ezer the Horite] ZaavanZaʻăvân [an Idumaean, son of Ezer] and AkanʻÂqân△ [an Idumaean, brother of Bilhan and Zaavan]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֵ֖לֶּה | these | Particle |
| בְּנֵי־ | [were] [the] sons of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| אֵ֑צֶר | Ezer | Noun proper masculine |
| בִּלְהָ֥ן | Bilhan | Noun proper masculine |
| וְזַעֲוָ֖ן | and Zaavan | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| וַעֲקָֽן׃ | and Akan | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. |
| KJV | The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan. |
| ASV | These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan and Zaavan and Akan. |
| YLT | These [are] sons of Ezer: Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan. |
| WEB | These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. |
| BBE | These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. |
Where they part company is in the spelling of זַעֲוָן — see How Translations Differ.
The structure consists of a main clause followed by a list of names, clearly identifying the sons of Ezer.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 6 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 36:27
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Descendants of Ezergenerated
Genesis 36:27 lists the sons of Ezer, who is a chief of the Horites, connecting this genealogy to the broader narrative of Esau's descendants. This verse follows a similar structure as the preceding and following verses, which also detail the lineage of other figures in the same context, such as Dishon and Dishan. Understanding these names helps to trace the history and relationships among the tribes of Edom.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 36:21 | Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. They are the chiefs of the Horites, the descendants of Seir in the land of Edom. |
| 2 | 1 Chronicles 1:38 | The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 1:42 | The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אֵ֖לֶּה, 'E.lehgenerated
The word אֵ֖לֶּה ('E.leh) is a demonstrative particle meaning 'these' and is used to specify particular people or things. It indicates a direct reference to the sons of Ezer, making them the focus of the statement.
This word appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing its role in identifying and distinguishing specific individuals or items. Its use here serves to highlight the importance of the lineage being described.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses these for אֵ֖לֶּה.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb is implicit in the structure, as this is a declarative statement identifying the sons of Ezer. The sentence is straightforward, presenting a noun phrase as the subject followed by a predicate that lists the names.
The word order places emphasis on the subject אֵ֖לֶּה, which directly identifies the individuals being named, making them the focal point of the sentence.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אֵ֖לֶּה as οὗτοι, meaning 'these'. This choice reflects a direct equivalence in specifying the individuals named, similar to the Hebrew usage.
The Greek translation maintains the focus on the specific descendants, aligning with the Hebrew intent to identify and clarify the lineage.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 36:27 tells us that the sons of Ezer are Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. This verse is part of a genealogy that traces the descendants of Esau, providing important links to the tribes of Edom.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The sons of Ezer are Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan, who are identified as descendants of Ezer, a chief of the Horites.
Ezer means 'treasure' and refers to a chief among the Horites, highlighting his significance in the genealogical record.
Genealogy is important in the Bible as it establishes lineage, inheritance, and the fulfillment of God's promises through specific families.
This verse connects to the broader narrative of Genesis by detailing the descendants of Esau, linking to the history of the Edomites and their relationship with Israel.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What significance do you find in the genealogies presented in the Bible?
- How can understanding the lineage of biblical figures enhance your reading of the text?
- In what ways do you see the importance of names and identities in your own life?
- How does the concept of family lineage affect your understanding of community and relationships?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 36:27 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe children of Ezer are these,.... Another son of Seir, who had the following sons: Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Achan; the two last are called Zavan and Jakan, in 1 Chronicles 1:42.
Read John Gill on Genesis 36 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThese are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, These are the sons of Seir the Horite.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 36 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges20–30. The Horites—the aboriginal inhabitants of the country—“the sons of Seir, the Horite,” were possibly so called from the word ḥ ?or, “a hole”; cf. 1 Samuel 13:6; 1 Samuel 14:11. This derivation has long been maintained, and is possibly correct, the Horites being regarded as troglodytes, or cave-dwellers. In Obadiah 1:3 Edom is apostrophized, “O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock.” On the other hand another derivation has recently commended itself, Hor being identified with the Egyptian Haru which is found in Egyptian inscriptions for “Syria.” But there is good support from the rocks of Petra and the excavations at Gezer for the “cave-dweller” explanation of the word.
Read Cambridge on Genesis 36 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleSONS OF SEIR THE HORITE, Genesis 36:20-30. The Horites were the original occupants of Mount Seir, (Genesis 14:6,) but it appears from Deuteronomy 2:12; Deuteronomy 2:22, that they were subdued by the
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 36 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
These were the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
Tyndale line
The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.
These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan and Zaavan and Akan.
These are the children of Ezer; Bilhan and Zaavan and Akan.
The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Achan.
The sonnes of Ezer are these: Bilhan, and Zaauan, and Akan.
Strictly literal
— These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.
These [are] sons of Ezer: Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.
These [are] sons of Ezer: Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.
These are the children of Etzer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
These were the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
From the Latin
These also were the sons of Eser: Balaan, and Zavan, and Acan.
Simplified
These were the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with all six words matched. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs by using זוען instead of זַעֲוָן, while the Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration but agree on the main names listed.
אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵי־ אֵ֑צֶר בִּלְהָ֥ן וְזַעֲוָ֖ן וַעֲקָֽן׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ואלה בני אצר בלהן וזוען ועקן
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: זוען (Zaavan)
אלה בני [אצר] [בלהן] [וזעון] [ועקן]
1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 36:27
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אֵ֫לֶּה (el-leh) means 'these' and is used in various grammatical contexts, often in apposition to a noun with a pronoun suffix. It can appear with or without the definite article and is sometimes paired with other terms like וְאֵלֶּה (and these). The word conveys a sense of proximity or specification, referring to particular items or people.
אֵ֫לֶּה pr.pl.m. & f. these
in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)
repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those
with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)
with preps.
base
H428 אֵ֫לֶּה these . in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)
. repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those
. with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)
. with preps.
428 'el-leh ale'-leh
prolonged from 411; these or those:--an- (the) other; one
sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those,
thus, which, who(-m).
see HEBREW for 0411
אֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) — these.
1) these
1a) used before antecedent
1b) used following antecedent
Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)
Pron — ParticleHTm
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
See SON, SONS.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
אֵ֫צֶר (Etser) means 'treasure' and refers to a chief of the Horites, specifically mentioned in Genesis 36:21. It is derived from a related word meaning 'treasure.' The entries consistently identify it as a personal name, linking it to Ezer, an Idumaean, and provide details about his familial connections.
אֵ֫צֶר n.pr.m. (treasure; or covenant) a chief of the Horites
base
H687 אֵ֫צֶר (treasure; or covenant) a chief of the Horites
687 'Etser ay'-tser
from 686; treasure; Etser, an Idumaean:--Ezer.
see HEBREW for 0686
אֵ֫צֶר (e.tser) — Ezer.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.21;
son of: Seir (H8165B);
brother of: Lotan (H3877), Shobal (H7732), Zibeon (H6649H), Anah (H6034H), Dishon (H1787), Dishan (H1789) and Timna (H8555H);
father of: Bilhan (H1092), Zaavan (H2190), Akan (H3292)
§ Ezer = "treasure"
a chief of the Horites
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Ezer
Treasure. (1.) One of the sons of Seir, the native princes, “dukes,” of Mount Hor (Gen. 36:21, 27). (2.) 1 Chr. 7:21; (3.) 4:4. (4.) One of the Gadite champions who repaired to David at Ziklag (12:9). (5.) A Levite (Neh. 3:19). (6.) A priest (12:42).
(treasure). A son of Ephraim, who was slain by the aboriginal inhabitants of Gath while engaged in a foray on their cattle. (1 Chronicles 7:21) (B.C. before 1491.) A priest who assisted in the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem under Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 12:42) (B.C. 446.) Father of Hushah of the sons of Hur. (1 Chronicles 4:4) One of the Gadite chiefs who fought with David. (1 Chronicles 12:8,9) (B.C. 1054.) One who aided in repairing the wall at Jerusalem; a Levite. (Nehemiah 3:19)
a help
בִּלְהָן (Bilhan) refers to a name associated with two figures in the Old Testament: one is a descendant of Esau, and the other is a Benjamite. The name is derived from a root meaning 'timid' and is linked to the concept of 'decrepitude.' The Edomite Bilhan is first mentioned in Genesis 36:27, while the Benjamite is noted in 1 Chronicles 7:10.
בִּלְהָן n.pr.m.
descendant of Esau
a Benjamite
base
H1092 בִּלְהָן . descendant of Esau
. a Benjamite
1092 Bilhan bil-hawn'
from 1089; timid; Bilhan, the name of an Edomite and of an
Israelite:--Bilhan.
see HEBREW for 01089
בִּלְהָן (bil.han) — Bilhan.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.27;
son of: Ezer (H0687);
brother of: Zaavan (H2190) and Akan (H3292)
§ Bilhan = "their decrepitude"
1) a descendant of Esau
2) a Benjamite
בִּלְהָן (bil.han) — Bilhan.
A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.7.10;
son of: Jediael (H3043);
father of: Jeush (H3266H), Benjamin (H1144H), Ehud (H0164H), Chenaanah (H3668H), Zethan (H2133), Tarshish (H8659I) and Ahishahar (H0300)
§ Bilhan = "their decrepitude"
1) a descendant of Esau
2) a Benjamite
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
(modest). A Horite chief dwelling in Mount Seir. (Genesis 36:27; 1 Chronicles 1:42) A Benjamite, son of Jediael. (1 Chronicles 7:10)
זַעֲוָן (za'avan) refers to a descendant of Seir, specifically a man mentioned in Genesis 36:27. He is identified as a Horite chief, the son of Ezer and brother of Bilhan and Akan. The name is associated with the meaning "troubled" and is derived from a root that conveys disquiet.
זַעֲוָן n.pr.m. a descendant (branch or tribe) of Seir
base
H2190 זַעֲוָן a descendant (branch or tribe) of Seir
2190 Za`avan zah-av-awn'
from 2111; disquiet; Zaavan, an Idumaean:--Zaavan.
see HEBREW for 02111
זַעֲוָן (za.a.van) — Zaavan.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.27;
son of: Ezer (H0687);
brother of: Bilhan (H1092) and Akan (H3292)
§ Zaavan = "troubled"
a Horite chief, son of Ezer the son of Seir
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
Zaavan
Terror, one of the “dukes of Edom” (Gen. 36:27); called also Zavan (1 Chr. 1:42).
trembling
עֲקָן (Aqan) refers to a man from Edom, specifically a descendant of Ezer and a chief among the Horites. The name is linked to the unused root meaning 'to twist' and is noted as an alternate spelling of יַעֲקָן (ya.a.qan). It is first mentioned in Genesis 36:27.
עֲקָן n.pr.m. in Edom; = יַעֲקָן
base
H6130 עֲקָן in Edom
6130 `Aqan aw-kawn'
from an unused root meaning to twist; tortuous; Akan, an
Idummaean:--Akan. Compare 3292.
see HEBREW for 03292
עֲקָן (a.qan) — Akan.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.27;
son of: Ezer (H0687);
brother of: Bilhan (H1092) and Zaavan (H2190)
Another spelling of ya.a.qan (יַעֲקָן "Akan" H3292)
§ Akan = "sharp-sighted"
son of Ezer, descendant of Seir, and one of the chiefs of the Horites of Edom
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineHC/Npm
(sharp sighted), son of Ezer, one of the "dukes" or chieftains of the Horites, and descendant of Seir. (Genesis 36:27) He is called JAKAN in (1 Chronicles 1:42)