Genesis 36:41 — Word Study
WLCאַלּ֧וּף אָהֳלִיבָמָ֛ה אַלּ֥וּף אֵלָ֖ה אַלּ֥וּף פִּינֹֽן׃
BSAOholibamahʼOhŏlîybâmâh [wife of Esau, tent of the high place] ElahʼÊlâh [a chief, oak valley] Pinonpîynôn [a chief of Edom, darkness]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אַלּ֧וּף | chief | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| אָהֳלִיבָמָ֛ה | Oholibamah | Noun proper feminine |
| אַלּ֥וּף | chief | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| אֵלָ֖ה | Elah | Noun proper masculine |
| אַלּ֥וּף | chief | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| פִּינֹֽן׃ | Pinon | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, |
| KJV | Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon, |
| ASV | chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, |
| YLT | chief Aholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, |
| WEB | chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, |
| BBE | Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, |
Where they part company is אֵלָה — see How Translations Differ.
The structure consists of a simple list of names, emphasizing their importance as leaders.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Cambridge, 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 36:41
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 Chiefs of Edomgenerated
Genesis 36:41 lists the names of chiefs from the lineage of Esau, highlighting the leadership structure within the Edomite community. This verse is part of a broader genealogical account that emphasizes the descendants of Esau and their roles in the region, connecting to the larger narrative of the Israelites and their neighbors.
Cross References
The Key Word — אַלּוּף, 'a.Lufgenerated
The word אַלּוּף ('a.Luf) is a noun meaning 'chief' or 'leader'. It is a masculine singular noun that appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in contexts relating to authority and leadership. The root of the word suggests notions of tameness and familiarity, indicating a leader who is both respected and approachable.
In this verse, אַלּוּף refers to the chiefs of Edom, underscoring their status as leaders within their families and regions. The repetition of the term emphasizes the importance of leadership in Edomite society.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb is absent in this verse, as it primarily lists names without a governing action. The structure is straightforward, presenting a series of noun phrases: the names of the chiefs.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the names themselves, indicating their significance in the context of Edomite leadership.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אַלּוּף as ἡγεμὼν, meaning 'leader' or 'chief'. This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the authority of these figures within Edom.
The translation of אָהֳלִיבָמָה as ελιβεμας shows a phonetic rendering rather than a semantic one, which is common in the Septuagint's approach to proper names.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 36:41 lists the names of three chiefs from the family of Esau: Oholibamah, Elah, and Pinon. These names represent leaders in Edom, showing the structure of authority in Esau's lineage.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Oholibamah is mentioned as a wife of Esau, and her name means 'tent of the high place'.
Elah can refer to an oak valley, and it is also the name of several figures in the Bible, including a chief.
Pinon, meaning 'darkness', is noted as a chief of Edom and a descendant of Esau.
These names illustrate the leadership and lineage of Esau's descendants, establishing their role in the history of Edom.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn about leadership from the names listed in this verse?
- How does understanding the lineage of Esau help us grasp the broader narrative of the Israelites?
- In what ways do names carry significance in our own families or cultures?
- How can we apply the concept of leadership from this verse to our own lives?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 36:41 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDuke Aholibamah, Duke Elah, Duke Pinon. The former is the name of a woman, Genesis 36:2; here the name of a man, and also of the place of which he was duke; for Jerom observes (q), that Oolibama is a
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 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges41. duke Elah] Probably the chief of the tribe that resided on the coast of Elath. The name appears in the kinship of Caleb (1 Chronicles 4:15). Pinon] Possibly the same as Punon (cf. Numbers 33:42) between Petra and Zoar.
Read Cambridge 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
Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,
chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,
Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,
chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,
Tyndale line
Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,
duke Oholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon;
Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
Duke Aholibamah, Duke Elah, Duke Pinon,
Strictly literal
chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,
chief Aholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,
Chief Aholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon,
Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon.
Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,
From the Latin
Duke Oolibama, duke Ela, duke Phinon,
Simplified
Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,
Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,
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 Samaritan Pentateuch agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word, confirming the accuracy of the names listed in this verse.
אַלּ֧וּף אָהֳלִיבָמָ֛ה אַלּ֥וּף אֵלָ֖ה אַלּ֥וּף פִּינֹֽן׃
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 אהליבמה אלוף אלה אלוף פינן
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 36:41
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;
אָהֳלִיבָמָה (Oholiybamah) means "tent of high place" and refers to a woman from the time of the Patriarchs, specifically a wife of Esau. She is mentioned in Genesis and is noted as an Edomite chieftain, with familial connections to Anah and Dishon.
אָהֳלִיבָמָה n.pr. Ohŏlibama (tent of high place)
f. wife of Esau
m. as Edomite chief
base
H173 אָהֳלִיבָמָה Ohŏlibama (tent of high place)
173 'Oholiybamah o''-hol-ee-baw-maw'
from 168 and 1116; tent of (the) height; Oholibamah, a wife
of Esau:--Aholibamah.
see HEBREW for 0168
see HEBREW for 01116
אׇהֳלִיבָמָה (o.ho.li.va.mah) — Oholibamah.
A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.2; her mother was Anah (H6034); married to Esau (H6215);
mother of: Jeush (H3266), Jalam (H3281) and Korah (H7141)
§ Aholibamah = "tent of the high place"
1) wife of Esau
2) an Edomite chieftain
אׇהֳלִיבָמָה (o.ho.li.va.mah) — Oholibamah.
A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.25;
daughter of: Anah (H6034H);
sister of: Dishon (H1787H)
§ Aholibamah = "tent of the high place"
1) wife of Esau
2) an Edomite chieftain
אׇהֳלִיבָמָה (o.ho.li.va.mah) — Oholibamah.
A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.41
§ Aholibamah = "tent of the high place"
1) wife of Esau
2) an Edomite chieftain
N-proper — Noun proper feminineHNpf
o-hol-i-ba'-ma, o-hol-i-ba'-ma ('oholibhamah, "tent of the high place"):
(1) One of Esau's wives, and a daughter of Anah the Hivite (Ge 36:2,5). It is strange that she is not named along with Esau's other wives in either Ge 28:9 or 26:30. Various explanations have been given, but none of them is satisfactory. There is probably some error in the text.
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;
אֵלָה (Elah) refers to a terebinth tree and is associated with several figures in the Old Testament, including an Edomite chief, a king of Israel, and individuals from the tribe of Judah. The name means 'oak' and is also linked to the Valley of Elah. The entries consistently identify Elah as a personal name and a geographical location.
אֵלָה n.pr.m. (terebinth)
a chief of Edom
son of Baasha
father of Hoshea who was last king of Isr.
a son of Caleb
a son of Uzzi
base
H425 אֵלָה (terebinth)
425 'Elah ay-law'
the same as 424; Elah, the name of an Edomite, of four
Israelites, and also of a place in Palestine:--Elah.
see HEBREW for 0424
אֵלָה (e.lah) — Elah.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.41
§ Elah = "An oak"
an Edomite chief
אֵלָה (e.lah) — Elah.
A king living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.16.6;
son of: Baasha (H1201)
§ Elah = "An oak"
a king of Israel for two years, son of Baasha
אֵלָה (e.lah) — Elah.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.15.30;
father of: Hoshea (H1954)
§ Elah = "An oak"
the father of king Hoshea of Israel
אֵלָה (e.lah) — Elah.
A man of the tribe of Judah living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.4.15;
son of: Caleb (H3612);
brother of: Achsah (H5915), Iru (H5900) and Naam (H5277);
father of: Kenaz (H7073J)
§ Elah = "An oak"
אֵלָה (e.lah) — Elah.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at 1Ch.9.8;
son of: Uzzi (H5813J)
§ Elah = "An oak"
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Elah
Terebinth or oak. (1.) Valley of, where the Israelites were encamped when David killed Goliath (1 Sam. 17:2, 19). It was near Shochoh of Judah and Azekah (17:1). It is the modern Wady es-Sunt, i.e., “valley of the acacia.” “The terebinths from which the valley of Elah takes its name still cling to their ancient soil. On the west side of the valley, near Shochoh, there is a very large and ancient tree of this kind known as the ’terebinth of Wady Sur,’ 55 feet in height, its trunk 17 feet in circumference, and the breadth of its shade no less than 75 feet. It marks the upper end of the Elah valley, and forms a noted object, being one of the largest terebinths in Palestine.” Geikie’s, The Holy Land, etc.
One of the dukes of Edom. (Genesis 36:41; 1 Chronicles 1:52) Shimei ben-Elah was Solomon’s commissariat officer in Benjamin. (1 Kings 4:18) (B.C. 1013.) A son of Caleb the son of Jephuneh. (1 Chronicles 4:15) (B.C. 1450.) Son of Uzzi, a Benjamite, (1 Chronicles 9:8) s, and one of the chiefs of the tribe at the settlement of the country. (B.C. 536.)
1. A valley in which David slew Goliath, 1Sa 17:2,3,19. It was probably about eleven miles southwest from Jerusalem.
2. Son and successor of Baasha, king of Israel, B. C. 926. After reigning two years, he was slain while intoxicated, by Zimri, one of his officers, who succeeded him as king. Zimri destroyed all the family of Baasha, according to the prediction of Jehu, 1Ki 16:6- 10.
an oak; a curse; perjury
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;
פִּינֹן (piynon) refers to an Edomite figure, specifically a chief of Edom mentioned in the context of the Patriarchs, notably in Genesis 36:41. The name is possibly linked to the meaning 'darkness' and is thought to be related to another Hebrew word, פָּנָה (panah), though the connection is not definitively established.
פִּינֹן n.pr.m. Edomite
base
H6373 פִּינֹן Edomite
6373 piynon pee-none'
probably the same as 6325; Pinon, an Idumaean:--Pinon.
see HEBREW for 06325
פִּינֹן (pi.non) — Pinon.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.41
§ Pinon = "darkness"
one of the chiefs of Edom
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
(darkness), one of the "dukes" of Edom, --that is, head or founder of a tribe of that nation. (Genesis 38:41; 1 Chronicles 1:52)
pearl; gem; that beholds