Genesis 36:42 — Word Study
WLCאַלּ֥וּף קְנַ֛ז אַלּ֥וּף תֵּימָ֖ן אַלּ֥וּף מִבְצָֽר׃
BSAKenazQᵉnaz [chief, leader, or governor] TemanTêymân [a region in Edom] MibzarMibtsâr [meaning fortress]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אַלּ֥וּף | chief | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| קְנַ֛ז | Kenaz | Noun proper masculine |
| אַלּ֥וּף | chief | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| תֵּימָ֖ן | Teman | Noun proper masculine |
| אַלּ֥וּף | chief | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| מִבְצָֽר׃ | Mibzar | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, |
| KJV | Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar, |
| ASV | chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, |
| YLT | chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, |
| WEB | chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, |
| BBE | Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, |
Where they part company is in the rendering of אַלּוּף — see How Translations Differ.
The verse is a simple list of names, each serving as a noun phrase without additional clauses.
3 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
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 36:42
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 Lineage of Esaugenerated
Genesis 36:42 lists the names of Edomite chiefs who descended from Esau, providing insight into the tribal structure and leadership in Edom. This verse is part of a broader genealogy that emphasizes the importance of lineage and heritage in the ancient Near Eastern context, similar to genealogical records found throughout the Old Testament.
Cross References
The Key Word — אַלּוּף, 'a.Lufgenerated
The word אַלּוּף ('a.Luf) is a masculine noun meaning 'chief' or 'leader'. It indicates someone in a position of authority, often associated with governance or leadership within a tribe or community. The root suggests familiarity and gentleness, but in this context, it emphasizes a commanding presence.
In this verse, אַלּוּף describes the chiefs of Edom, highlighting their roles as leaders within their respective families and regions. The repetition of the term underscores the hierarchical structure of Edomite society.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses chief for אַלּוּף.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse consists of a series of noun phrases, each identifying a chief: אַלּוּף קְנַ֛ז (chief Kenaz), אַלּוּף תֵּימָ֖ן (chief Teman), and אַלּוּף מִבְצָֽר (chief Mibzar). This arrangement emphasizes the equality and importance of each chief within the list.
The repetition of אַלּוּף before each name serves to reinforce their status as leaders, creating a rhythmic and formal presentation typical of genealogical lists.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אַלּוּף as ἡγεμὼν, meaning 'leader' or 'governor'. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning of authority and leadership, suggesting a consistent understanding of the term across both languages.
The Greek translation captures the essence of the Hebrew text while potentially broadening its implications to include a more formal sense of governance.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 36:42 lists three chiefs of Edom: Kenaz, Teman, and Mibzar. Each name is followed by the title 'chief', indicating their leadership roles within their tribes. This verse is part of a genealogy that highlights the descendants of Esau.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
In this context, 'chief' signifies a leader or governor, indicating a position of authority within the Edomite tribes.
Kenaz, Teman, and Mibzar were chiefs of Edom, representing important figures in the lineage of Esau.
Genealogy is important in the Old Testament as it establishes lineage, inheritance, and the fulfillment of God's promises through specific families.
This verse connects to the broader narrative by detailing the descendants of Esau, showing how his lineage developed into distinct tribes with their own leaders.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn about leadership from the roles of Kenaz, Teman, and Mibzar?
- How does understanding genealogy enhance our comprehension of biblical narratives?
- In what ways does this verse reflect the social structure of ancient Edom?
- What significance do names hold in the context of identity and heritage in the Old Testament?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 36:42 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDuke Kenaz, Duke Teman, Duke Mibzar. There was a Kenaz the son of Eliphaz, and so a Teman a son of his, who were both dukes; but these seem to be different from them, though the latter might be duke
Read John Gill on Genesis 36 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth, These are the names of the dukes ...
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 36 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleThe Generations of Jacob, Genesis 36:37-43. This is the last section of the Book of Genesis headed by the special designation, úìãåú, generations. See Introduction, p. 49.
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
Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,
chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,
Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,
chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,
Tyndale line
Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,
chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,
duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar;
Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar.
Duke Kenaz, Duke Teman, Duke Mibzar,
Strictly literal
chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,
chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,
Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar,
Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,
Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,
From the Latin
Duke Cenez, duke Theman, duke Mabsar,
Simplified
Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,
Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,
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 is supported by the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agrees word for word with the Hebrew text. The Septuagint also matches the Hebrew in this verse, indicating a strong consistency across these ancient witnesses.
אַלּ֥וּף קְנַ֛ז אַלּ֥וּף תֵּימָ֖ן אַלּ֥וּף מִבְצָֽר׃
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.
אלוף קנז אלוף תימן אלוף מבצר
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
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 36:42
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.
אַלּוּף (al-luph) has meanings related to both tameness and leadership. It can refer to something that is tame or docile, as well as to a friend or chief. The word is built from the root associated with familiarity and gentleness, and it can denote a captain or governor in a leadership context.
אַלּוּף adj. tame
tame, docile
n.m. friend, intimate
i.q.
base
אַלּוּף n.m. chief, chiliarch
base
H441a אַלּוּף tame H441b אַלּוּף chief, chiliarch
441 'alluwph al-loof'
or (shortened) talluph {al-loof'}; from 502; familiar; a
friend, also gentle; hence, a bullock (as being tame; applied,
although masculine, to a cow); and so, a chieftain (as
notable, like neat cattle):--captain, duke, (chief) friend,
governor, guide, ox.
see HEBREW for 0502
אַלּוּף (al.luph) — tame.
1) tame, docile
2) friend, intimate
אַלּוּף (al.luph) — chief.
chief
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
chef: The English word is in the King James Version of Old Testament the translation of some 17 different Hebrew words, most frequently of ro'sh, "head," sar, "prince," and re'shith, "beginning." The principal changes made by the Revised Version (British and American) are:
(1) Hebrew beth'abh, "house of a father," being recognized as a technical term denoting a subdivision of a tribe, ro'sh is rendered literally "head," when it occurs in connection with this phrase, so that "chief fathers" (Num 31:26) and "chief of the fathers" (Ezr 1:5) become "heads of fathers' houses";
(2) Hebrew naghidh and nasi' are more accurately translated "prince" in such passages as 1Ch 5:2; Nu 3:32;
קְנַז (Qnaz) refers to a name meaning 'hunter.' It denotes a man from Edom, specifically the son of Eliphaz and father of Othniel, as well as a brother of Caleb. The entries indicate that Kenaz appears in various contexts, including genealogies in Genesis and Numbers, and is associated with the Edomite dukes.
קְנַז n.pr.m. in Edom: son of Eliphaz, and father of Othniel
base
H7073 קְנַז in Edom: son of Eliphaz, and father of Othniel
7073 Qnaz ken-az'
probably from an unused root meaning to hunt; hunter; Kenaz,
the name of an Edomite and of two Israelites:--Kenaz.
קְנַז (qe.naz) — Kenaz.
A man of the Edomites living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.11;
son of: Eliphaz (H0464);
brother of: Teman (H8487), Omar (H0201), Zepho (H6825), Gatam (H1609), Amalek (H6002H) and Korah (H7141H)
§ Kenaz = "hunter"
1) son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau; one of the dukes of Edom
2) a brother of Caleb and father of Othniel
קְנַז (qe.naz) — Kenaz.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.42
§ Kenaz = "hunter"
1) son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau; one of the dukes of Edom
2) a brother of Caleb and father of Othniel
קְנַז (qe.naz) — Kenaz.
A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.32.12;
son of: Jephunneh (H3312);
brother of: Caleb (H3612);
father of: Othniel (H6274) and Seraiah (H8304J); also called Kenizzite at Num.32.12; 1x,14;
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Kenaz
Hunter. (1.) One of the sons of Eliphaz, the son of Esau. He became the chief of an Edomitish tribe (Gen. 36:11, 15, 42).
(2.) Caleb’s younger brother, and father of Othniel (Josh. 15:17), whose family was of importance in Israel down to the time of David (1 Chr. 27:15). Some think that Othniel (Judg. 1:13), and not Kenaz, was Caleb’s brother.
(3.) Caleb’s grandson (1 Chr. 4:15).
(hunting). Son of Eliphaz the son of Esau. He was one of the dukes of Edom. (Genesis 36:15,42; 1 Chronicles 1:53) One of the same family, a grandson of Caleb, according to (1 Chronicles 4:15) (where see margin).
this purchase; this lamentation
אַלּוּף (al-luph) has meanings related to both tameness and leadership. It can refer to something that is tame or docile, as well as to a friend or chief. The word is built from the root associated with familiarity and gentleness, and it can denote a captain or governor in a leadership context.
אַלּוּף adj. tame
tame, docile
n.m. friend, intimate
i.q.
base
אַלּוּף n.m. chief, chiliarch
base
H441a אַלּוּף tame H441b אַלּוּף chief, chiliarch
441 'alluwph al-loof'
or (shortened) talluph {al-loof'}; from 502; familiar; a
friend, also gentle; hence, a bullock (as being tame; applied,
although masculine, to a cow); and so, a chieftain (as
notable, like neat cattle):--captain, duke, (chief) friend,
governor, guide, ox.
see HEBREW for 0502
אַלּוּף (al.luph) — tame.
1) tame, docile
2) friend, intimate
אַלּוּף (al.luph) — chief.
chief
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
chef: The English word is in the King James Version of Old Testament the translation of some 17 different Hebrew words, most frequently of ro'sh, "head," sar, "prince," and re'shith, "beginning." The principal changes made by the Revised Version (British and American) are:
(1) Hebrew beth'abh, "house of a father," being recognized as a technical term denoting a subdivision of a tribe, ro'sh is rendered literally "head," when it occurs in connection with this phrase, so that "chief fathers" (Num 31:26) and "chief of the fathers" (Ezr 1:5) become "heads of fathers' houses";
(2) Hebrew naghidh and nasi' are more accurately translated "prince" in such passages as 1Ch 5:2; Nu 3:32;
תֵּימָן (teyman) refers to a district in Edom and is associated with an Edomite chief. It is linked to a man named Teman, a descendant of Esau's grandson Eliphaz. The name means 'south' and is noted for the wisdom of its people. The term also denotes the region occupied by Teman's descendants, located east of Idumea.
תֵּימָן n.pr. (m. et) loc. a N. district of Edom, poet. often = Edom; as name of an Edomite chief
base
H8487 תֵּימָן a N. district of Edom, poet. often = Edom; as name of an Edomite chief
8487 Teyman tay-mawn'
or Teman {tay-mawn'}; the same as 8486; Teman, the name of
two Edomites, and of the region and descendant of one of
them:--south, Teman.
see HEBREW for 08486
תֵּימָן (te.man) — Teman.
A man of the Edomites living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.11;
son of: Eliphaz (H0464);
brother of: Omar (H0201), Zepho (H6825), Gatam (H1609), Kenaz (H7073), Amalek (H6002H) and Korah (H7141H)
§ Teman = "south"
1) son of Eliphaz, grandson of Esau, and one of the dukes of Edom
2) the tribe descended from 1 noted for the wisdom of its people
3) the region occupied by the descendants of 1, located east of Idumea
תֵּימָן (te.man) — Teman.
Teman = "south"
the region occupied by the descendants of Teman, located east of Idumea
Also named: te.ma.ni (תֵּימָנִי "Temanite" H8489)
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
te'-man (teman, "on the right," i.e. "south"; Thaiman): The name of a district and town in the land of Edom, named after Teman the grandson of Esau, the son of his firstborn, Eliphaz (Ge 36:11; 1Ch 1:36). A duke Teman is named among the chiefs or clans of Edom (Ge 36:42; 1Ch 1:53). He does not however appear first, in the place of the firstborn. Husham of the land of the Temanites was one of the ancient kings of Edom (Ge 36:34; 1Ch 1:45). From Obad 1:9 we gather that Teman was in the land of Esau (Edom). In
Teman
Id. (1.) A grandson of Esau, one of the “dukes of Edom” (Gen. 36:11, 15, 42).
(2.) A place in Southern Idumea, the land of “the sons of the east,” frequently mentioned in the Old Testament. It was noted for the wisdom of its inhabitants (Amos 1:12; Obad. 1:8; Jer. 49:7; Ezek. 25:13). It was divided from the hills of Paran by the low plain of Arabah (Hab. 3:3).
(the south). A son of Eliphaz, son of Esau by Adah. (Genesis 36:11,15,41; 1 Chronicles 1:36,53) (B.C. about 1792.) A country, and probably a city, named after the Edomite phylarch, or from which the phylarch took his name. The Hebrew signifies "south," etc., see (Job 9:9; Isaiah 43:6) and it is probable that the land of Teman was a southern portion of the land of Edom, or, in a wider sense, that of the sons of the east. Teman is mentioned in five places by the prophets, in four of which it is connected with Edom and in two with Dedan. (Jeremiah 49:7,8; Ezekiel 25:13) Eusebius and Jerome mention Teman as a town in their…
אַלּוּף (al-luph) has meanings related to both tameness and leadership. It can refer to something that is tame or docile, as well as to a friend or chief. The word is built from the root associated with familiarity and gentleness, and it can denote a captain or governor in a leadership context.
אַלּוּף adj. tame
tame, docile
n.m. friend, intimate
i.q.
base
אַלּוּף n.m. chief, chiliarch
base
H441a אַלּוּף tame H441b אַלּוּף chief, chiliarch
441 'alluwph al-loof'
or (shortened) talluph {al-loof'}; from 502; familiar; a
friend, also gentle; hence, a bullock (as being tame; applied,
although masculine, to a cow); and so, a chieftain (as
notable, like neat cattle):--captain, duke, (chief) friend,
governor, guide, ox.
see HEBREW for 0502
אַלּוּף (al.luph) — tame.
1) tame, docile
2) friend, intimate
אַלּוּף (al.luph) — chief.
chief
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
chef: The English word is in the King James Version of Old Testament the translation of some 17 different Hebrew words, most frequently of ro'sh, "head," sar, "prince," and re'shith, "beginning." The principal changes made by the Revised Version (British and American) are:
(1) Hebrew beth'abh, "house of a father," being recognized as a technical term denoting a subdivision of a tribe, ro'sh is rendered literally "head," when it occurs in connection with this phrase, so that "chief fathers" (Num 31:26) and "chief of the fathers" (Ezr 1:5) become "heads of fathers' houses";
(2) Hebrew naghidh and nasi' are more accurately translated "prince" in such passages as 1Ch 5:2; Nu 3:32;
מִבְצָר (Mibtsar) refers to an Edomite chief, specifically a man mentioned in the context of the Patriarchs, found in Genesis 36:42. The name is linked to the meaning of 'fortress' and is derived from a related term. The entries consistently identify Mibtsar as an important figure in Edom.
מִבְצָר n.pr.m. Edomite chief
base
H4014 מִבְצָר Edomite chief
4014 Mibtsar mib-tsawr'
the same as 4013; Mibtsar, an Idumaean:--Mibzar.
see HEBREW for 04013
מִבְצָר (miv.tsar) — Mibzar.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.42
§ Mibzar = "fortress"
one of the chiefs of Edom
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
mib'-zar (mibhtsar, "a fortress"): An Edomite chief, the King James Version "duke" (Ge 36:42; 1Ch 1:53). According to Eusebius, Mibzar is connected with Mibsara, a considerable village subject to Petra and still existing in his time. Compare Holzinger and Skinner in respective commentaries on Genesis.
Mibzar
Fortress, one of the Edomitish “dukes” descended from Esau (Gen. 36:42; 1 Chr. 1:53).
(fortress), one of the "dukes" of Edom. (Genesis 36:42; 1 Chronicles 1:53)
defending; forbidding; taking away