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Genesis 36:8 — Word Study

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WLCוַיֵּ֤שֶׁב עֵשָׂו֙ בְּהַ֣ר שֵׂעִ֔יר עֵשָׂ֖ו ה֥וּא אֱדֽוֹם׃

BSASo EsauʻÊsâv [the hairy one, Edom's founder] (that ishûwʼ EdomʼĔdôm [the region of his descendants] settledyâshab [dwelt, lived, remained] in [the area of] Mounthar [hill country, mountainous region] SeirSêʻîyr [a mountain in Idumaea, named for its shaggy appearance]

Word
Listen & take awayGenesis 36
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 8 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration ('e.Dom) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Genesis 36:8quick helps
In a sentenceEsau settled in the mountainous region of Seir, which is also known as Edom.
Who is speakingThe narrator describes Esau, the hairy one and founder of Edom.
Where we areThis verse is part of the account detailing the descendants of Esau.
The hard wordיָשַׁב
Take awayEsau established his home in a significant geographical region.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Ellicott & more — read them › clause subjectעֵשָׂו verbיָשַׁב The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

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 36:8

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 Esaugenerated

7For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together; the land where they stayed could not support them because of their livestock.
8So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the area of Mount Seir.
9This is the account of Esau, the father of the Edomites, in the area of Mount Seir.
10These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel son of Esau’s wife Basemath.

Genesis 36:8 describes how Esau settled in the region of Mount Seir, which is identified with Edom. This verse follows a discussion about the land's inability to support both Esau and Jacob's families due to their large possessions, indicating a pivotal moment in the history of their descendants. The narrative continues to outline Esau's lineage and the significance of Edom in the biblical story.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Genesis 36:20These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who were living in the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,
2Genesis 14:6and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert.
3Genesis 32:3Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
4Deuteronomy 2:5Do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even a footprint, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his possession.
5Joshua 24:4and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau Mount Seir to possess, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יָשַׁב, vai.Ye.shevgenerated

The verb יָשַׁב (yashab) means to dwell or sit, indicating a sense of permanence. It is used here in the sequential imperfect tense, suggesting that Esau's settling was an ongoing action rather than a one-time event.

This verb encompasses a range of meanings, from simply sitting down to establishing a home. In this context, it emphasizes Esau's choice to inhabit a particular region, which would have implications for his descendants.


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 main verb יָשַׁב governs the sentence, indicating Esau's action of settling. The structure is straightforward, with a subject followed by a prepositional phrase that describes where he settled.

The sentence is built around the action of dwelling, with the geographical context of Mount Seir emphasized through the prepositional phrase.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יָשַׁב as ᾤκησεν (oikēsen), which means 'he inhabited'. This choice reflects a broader interpretation of the act of settling, suggesting not just a physical presence but also the establishment of a home.

This translation indicates a continuity in the concept of dwelling, aligning with the Hebrew meaning while also adapting it for a Greek-speaking audience.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Genesis 36:8 tells us that Esau, also known as Edom, settled in the mountainous region of Seir. This verse highlights the establishment of Esau's home and the significance of the land for his descendants.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Who was Esau?

Esau was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, the twin brother of Jacob, and is known as the founder of the Edomites.

What does it mean that Esau settled in Seir?

It indicates that Esau established a permanent residence in the mountainous region of Seir, which would become significant for his descendants.

Why is Seir important?

Seir is important as it represents the land associated with Esau and his descendants, the Edomites, and is mentioned in various biblical contexts.

What does Edom signify?

Edom signifies both Esau himself and the region where he settled, and it is derived from the Hebrew word for 'red', relating to Esau's appearance.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does settling in a place mean for a family or community?
  2. How can we understand the significance of geographical locations in the Bible?
  3. In what ways do the stories of Esau and Jacob reflect themes of family and inheritance?
  4. What can we learn from Esau's choice to settle in Seir?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Genesis 36:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Thus dwelt Esau in Mount Seir,.... Before he is said to be in the land of Seir, Genesis 32:3; now to dwell in a mount of that name; from which driving the Horites, he seized upon and dwelt in it; it

Read John Gill on Genesis 36 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom. Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir. This was divinely assigned as his possession (Joshua 24:4; Deuteronomy 2:5).

Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 36 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

This seems to be mentioned by the Holy Ghost by way of contempt or reproach; this is he who sold his birthright for a mess of red pottage, and therefore was called Edom or red.

Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 36 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) Mount Seir.—The land of Idumea extends from the southern extremity of the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Elath, and consists of a chain of mountains running parallel to the Akaba, or continuation of the deep depression through which the Jordan flows till it loses itself in the Dead Sea. The hills are of limestone, with masses here and there of basalt; and though large portions are so covered with stones as to be barren, the rest is moderately fertile, not indeed in corn, but in figs, pomegranates, and other fruits. The climate is pleasant, the heat in summer being moderated by cool winds, but the winters are cold. The border of it was distant only some fifty or sixty miles from Hebron, so that…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 36 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8. mount Seir] The mountain country of Seir, a region, not a mountain, lying to the east of the Arabah.

Read Cambridge on Genesis 36 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

ESAU’S WIVES AND , AND THEIR REMOVAL TO MOUNT SEIR, Genesis 36:1-8. A comparison of the names of Esau’s wives, as given here and in Genesis 26:34; Genesis 28:9, will show noticeable differences. Here we have:1.

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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the area of Mount Seir.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the area of Mount Seir.

NETBNew English Translation2006

So Esau (also known as Edom) lived in the hill country of Seir.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And Esau dwelt in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And Esau dwelt in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Therefore dwelt Esau in mount Seir: this Esau is Edom.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Thus Esau dwelt in mount Seir; Esau is Edom.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and Esau dwelleth in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and Esau dwells in Mount Seir: Esau is Edom.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

So Esau, also known as Edom, settled in the hill country of Seir.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And Esau dwelt in mount Seir: he is Edom.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Esau settled down in the hill country of Seir.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

So Esau made his living-place in the hill-country of Seir (Esau is Edom).

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.

וַandclauseverbיֵּ֤שֶׁבhe.dweltsubjectעֵשָׂו֙Esauprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseהַ֣רthe.hill.countryשֵׂעִ֔ירof.Seirclauseclauseעֵשָׂ֖וEsauclausesubjectה֥וּאthatpredicateאֱדֽוֹם[is].Edom

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, and the Samaritan Pentateuch all agree on the wording of this verse. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration but align with the Masoretic Text's content.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב עֵשָׂו֙ בְּהַ֣ר שֵׂעִ֔יר עֵשָׂ֖ו ה֥וּא אֱדֽוֹם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֵּ֤שֶׁבᾤκησενעֵשָׂו֙ησαυבְּהַ֣רὄρειשֵׂעִ֔ירσηιρעֵשָׂ֖וησαυה֥וּאαὐτόςאֱדֽוֹם׃εδωμ

7 of the 7 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.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

וישׁב עשׂו בהר שׂעיר עשׂו הוא אדום

Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q1a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[וישב] [עשו] [בהר] [שעיר] עשו הוא אדום

nothing on the leather here — 3 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.

Dead Sea Scrolls — Sdeir1a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

וישב [עשו] [בהר] שעיר עשו הוא אדום

4 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 2 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.

Genesis 36:8יָשַׁבand he dweland he dweltיָשַׁבעֵשָׂוEsauEsauעֵשָׂוהַרin [the] hiin [the] hill cהַרשֵׂעִירSeirSeirשֵׂעִירעֵשָׂוEsauEsauעֵשָׂוהוּאthatthatהוּאאֱדוֹם[is] Edom[is] Edomאֱדוֹםעָשָׂהto maketo makeעָשָׂהאָדֹםredredאָדֹםהַרmountainmountainהַרשָׂעִרhairyhairyשָׂעִרשֵׂעִיר(Mount) Se(Mount) Seirשֵׂעִיראַלּוּףtametameאַלּוּףבֶּ֫טַחsecuritysecurityבֶּ֫טַחכְּנַעֲנִיCanaanitesCanaanitessכְּנַעֲנִיגִּבְעָהGibeatGibeatגִּבְעָהאֶפְרַ֫יִםEphraimEphraimאֶפְרַ֫יִםחֹרִיHoriteHoriteחֹרִיעֵשָׂו(Mount) Es(Mount) Esauעֵשָׂוטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאעֵתtimetimeעֵתנְצִיבgarrisongarrisonנְצִיב
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Genesis 36:8

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.

and he dwelt Esau in [the] hill country of Seir Esau that [is] Edom
וַיֵּ֤שֶׁבvai.Ye.shev and he dwelt H3427 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
1,079× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Amplified meaning
dwelt, lived, remained
Tyndale gloss
to dwell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָשַׁב (yashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sit, remain, or dwell. It encompasses a range of actions from simply sitting down to more complex ideas like establishing a home or causing a place to be inhabited. The entries indicate various forms, including Qal (to sit), Niphal (to be inhabited), and Hiphil (to cause to dwell). There is an Aramaic equivalent, יְתִב (ye.tiv), meaning 'to dwell'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָשַׁב 1090 vb. sit, remain, dwell

Qal

sit

sit, sit down

sit down

sit = be set (as a jewel)

remain, stay, tarry

with special emphasis of qualifying phr.

dwell, have one’s abode

of a land or city, sit, abide, seated in its place, fig. for be inhabited

Niph. be inhabited, of land

Pi. and they shall set their encampments in thee

Hiph.

cause to sit

cause to abide

cause to dwell

cause cities to be inhabited

marry (prop. give a dwelling to)

Hoph. and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3427 yashab yaw-shab'

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, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to)

inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing),

(bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle),

(down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate),

take, tarry.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָשַׁב (ya.shav) — to dwell.

1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to sit, sit down

1a2) to be set

1a3) to remain, stay

1a4) to dwell, have one's abode

1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited

1c) (Piel) to set, place

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to sit

1d2) to cause to abide, set

1d3) to cause to dwell

1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited

1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to)

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be inhabited

1e2) to make to dwell

Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he dwelt Esau in [the] hill country of Seir Esau that [is] Edom
עֵשָׂו֙'e.Sav Esau H6215 Noun proper masculine
97× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Esau was the son of Isaac and twin brother of Jacob, and his name means 'hairy'. He sold his birthright to Jacob and lost the divine blessing, as told in Genesis 25:29-34, and became the ancestor of the Arab peoples.
Amplified meaning
the hairy one, Edom's founder
Tyndale gloss
(Mount) Esau
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵשָׂו (Esav) refers to Esau, the hairy eldest son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the twin brother of Jacob. He is noted for selling his birthright for food and is considered the progenitor of the Arab peoples. The name is also associated with Edom, and the entries indicate that it derives from a root meaning 'rough' or 'sensibly felt.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵשָׂו 97 n.pr.m. Esau

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6215 עֵשָׂו Esau

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6215 `Esav ay-sawv'

apparently a form of the passive participle of 6213 in the

original sense of handling; rough (i.e. sensibly felt); Esav,

a son of Isaac, including his posterity:--Esau.

see HEBREW for 06213

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵשָׂו (e.sav) — Esau.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.25;

son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);

brother of: Israel (H3478); married to Oholibamah (H0173), Judith (H3067), Adah (H5711H) and Mahalath (H4258);

father of: Eliphaz (H0464), Reuel (H7467), Jeush (H3266), Jalam (H3281) and Korah (H7141); also called Edom at Gen.25.30; 36.1,8,19,21; 1x,54;

Also named: e.dom (אֱדוֹם "Edom" H0123H)

§ Esau = "hairy"

eldest son of Isaac and Rebecca and twin brother of Jacob; sold the birthright for food when he was hungry and the divine blessing went to Jacob; progenitor of the Arab peoples

עֵשָׂו (e.sav) — Esau.

People descended from Esau = "hairy"

eldest son of Isaac and Rebecca and twin brother of Jacob; sold the birthright for food when he was hungry and the divine blessing went to Jacob; progenitor of the Arab peoples

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

e'-so (`esaw, "hairy"; Esau):

Son of Isaac, twin brother of Jacob. The name was given on account of the hairy covering on his body at birth: "all over like a hairy garment" (Ge 25:25). There was a prenatal foreshadowing of the relation his descendants were to sustain to those of his younger brother, Jacob (Ge 25:23). The moment of his birth also was signalized by a circumstance that betokened the same destiny (Ge 25:26).

The young Esau was fond of the strenuous, daring life of the chase--he became a skillful hunter, "a man of the field" ('ish sadheh). His father warmed toward him rather than toward Jacob, because Esau's hunting expeditions resulted in meats that appealed to the old man's taste (

Esau

Hairy, Rebekah’s first-born twin son (Gen. 25:25). The name of Edom, “red”, was also given to him from his conduct in connection with the red lentil “pottage” for which he sold his birthright (30, 31). The circumstances connected with his birth foreshadowed the enmity which afterwards subsisted between the twin brothers and the nations they founded (25:22, 23, 26). In process of time Jacob, following his natural bent, became a shepherd; while Esau, a “son of the desert,” devoted himself to the perilous and toilsome life of a huntsman. On a certain occasion, on returning from the chase, urged by the cravings of hunger, Esau sold his birthright to his brother, Jacob, who thereby obtained the covenant blessing (Gen. 27:28, 29, 36;

(hairy), the eldest son of Isaac, and twin-brother of Jacob. The singular appearance of the child at his birth originated the name. (Genesis 25:25) Esau’s robust frame and "rough" aspect were the types of a wild and daring nature. He was a thorough Bedouin, a "son of the desert." He was much loved by his father, and was of course his heir, but was induced to sell his birthright to Jacob. Mention of his unhappy marriages may be found in (Genesis 26:34) The next episode in the life of Esau is the loss of his father’s covenant blessing, which Jacob secured through the craft of his mother, and the anger of Esau, who vows vengeance. (Genesis 27:1) ... Later he marries a daughter of Ishmael, (

The son of Isaac, and twin brother of Jacob, Ge 25:1-34. He was the elder of the two, and was therefore legally the heir, but sold his birthright to Jacob. We have an account of his ill-advised marriages, Ge 26:34; of his loss of his father’s chief blessing, and his consequent anger against Jacob, Ge 27:1-46; of their subsequent reconciliation, Ge 32:1-33:20; and of his posterity, Ge 36:1-43. He is also called Edom; and settled in the mountains south of the Dead Sea, extending to the gulf of Akaba, where he became very powerful. This country was called from him the land of Edom, and afterwards IDUMAEA, which see.

and he dwelt Esau in [the] hill country of Seir Esau that [is] Edom
בְּהַ֣רbe.Har in [the] hill country of H2022 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
546× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A mountain or hill, sometimes used to describe a spiritual high point. In the Bible, it can refer to a real mountain or a figurative one. The word is often translated as hill or mount.
Amplified meaning
hill country, mountainous region
Tyndale gloss
mountain: mount
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הַר (har) means 'mountain' or 'hill,' and can refer to a range of hills or hill-country. It is derived from a root that suggests elevation and can be used figuratively. The entries consistently highlight its geographical connotations without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הַר 568 n.m. mountain, hill, hill-country

mountain, hill

hill-country, mountain-region

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2022 הַר mountain, hill, hill-country

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2022 har har

a shortened form of 2042; a mountain or range of hills

(sometimes used figuratively):--hill (country), mount(-ain), X

promotion.

see HEBREW for 02042

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הַר (har) — mountain: mount.

: mount/hill

hill, mountain, hill country, mount

הַר (har) — mountain: hill country.

: hill_country

hill, mountain, hill country, mount

A sub-meaning of har (הַר ": mount" H2022)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

and he dwelt Esau in [the] hill country of Seir Esau that [is] Edom
שֵׂעִ֔ירse.'Ir Seir H8165 Noun proper
39× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Seir refers to a mountain in Idumaea and its original inhabitants, with the name meaning hairy or shaggy, as seen in Genesis 32:3 and Deuteronomy 2:1.
Amplified meaning
a mountain in Idumaea, named for its shaggy appearance
Tyndale gloss
(Mount) Seir
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׂעִיר (Se`iyr) refers to a mountainous region in Edom, south of the Dead Sea, and is associated with its early inhabitants, the Horites. The term can mean 'hairy' or 'shaggy' and also denotes a patriarch of the Horites mentioned in Genesis 36:20. The entries collectively emphasize its geographical and genealogical significance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׂעִיר n.pr. Sē‛ir

terr. land of Edom, S. of Dead Sea

specif. mont. E. of Arabah

gent. = Edom

personif. as m.

mont. in Judah

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8165a שֵׂעִיר Sēir H8165b שֵׂעִיר Sēir

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8165 Se`iyr say-eer'

formed like 8163; rough; Seir, a mountain of Idumaea and its

aboriginal occupants, also one in Palestine:--Seir.

see HEBREW for 08163

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׂעִיר (se.ir) — Seir.

§ Seir = "hairy" or "shaggy"

n pr terr

2) the land of Edom, south of the Dead Sea n pr mont

3) a mountain range in Edom extending from the Dead Sea to the Elanitic Gulf

3a) apparently also called 'Mount Seir' and extending most of the distance of the mountain range itself

4) a mountain in northern Judah lying westward from Kirjath-jearim

שֵׂעִיר (se.ir) — Seir.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.20;

father of: Lotan (H3877), Shobal (H7732), Zibeon (H6649H), Anah (H6034H), Dishon (H1787), Ezer (H0687), Dishan (H1789), Timna (H8555H)

§ Seir = "hairy" or "shaggy"

patriarch of the Horites, the inhabitants of Edom before the descendants of Esau, the Edomites

שֵׂעִיר (se.ir) — (Mount) Seir.

§ Seir = "hairy" or "shaggy"

patriarch of the Horites, the inhabitants of Edom before the descendants of Esau, the Edomites

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

se'-ir:

(1) (har se'-ir, "Mt. Seir" (Ge 14:6, etc.), 'erets se`-ir (Ge 32:3, etc.); to oros Seeir, ge Seeir): In Ge 32:3 "the land of Seir" is equated with "the field of Edom." The Mount and the Land of Seir are alternative appellations of the mountainous tract which runs along the eastern side of the Arabah, occupied by the descendants of Esau, who succeeded the ancient Horites (Ge 14:6; 36:20), "cave-dwellers," in possession. For a description of the land see EDOM.

(2) (har se`ir; Codex Vaticanus Assar; Codex Alexandrinus Seeir): A landmark on the boundary of Judah (Jos 15:10), not far from Kiriath-jearim and Chesalon.…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Seir

Rough; hairy. (1.) A Horite; one of the “dukes” of Edom (Gen. 36:20-30).

(2.) The name of a mountainous region occupied by the Edomites, extending along the eastern side of the Arabah from the south-eastern extremity of the Dead Sea to near the Akabah, or the eastern branch of the Red Sea. It was originally occupied by the Horites (Gen. 14:6), who were afterwards driven out by the Edomites (Gen. 32:3; 33:14, 16). It was allotted to the descendants of Esau (Deut. 2:4, 22; Josh. 24:4; 2 Chr. 20:10; Isa.…

(hairy, Shaggy), We have both "land of Seir," (Genesis 32:3; 36:50) and "Mount Seir." (Genesis 14:6) It is the original name of the mountain range extending along the east side of the valley of Arabah, from the Dead Sea to the Elanitic, Golf. The Horites appear to have been the chief of the aboriginal inhabitants, (Genesis 36:20) but it was ever afterward the possession of the Edomites, the descendants of Esau. The Mount Seir of the: Bible extended much farther south than the modern province, as is shown by the words of (2:1-8) It had the Arabah on the west, vs. 1 and 8; it extended as far south as the head of the Gulf of Akabah, ver. 8; its eastern border ran along the base of the mountain range where the plateau of Arabia…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. A mountain of Judah, near Kirjath-jearim, Jos 15:10.

2. A Horite, one of the primitive rulers of the country south and southeast of the Dead Sea, Ge 36:20 De 2:12.

3. A mountainous tract lying between the southern extremity of the Dead Sea and the eastern gulf of the Red Sea. Mount Hor formed part of Seir, and is the only part that retains its original name. See IDUMEA.

and he dwelt Esau in [the] hill country of Seir Esau that [is] Edom
עֵשָׂ֖ו'e.Sav Esau H6215 Noun proper masculine
97× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Esau was the son of Isaac and twin brother of Jacob, and his name means 'hairy'. He sold his birthright to Jacob and lost the divine blessing, as told in Genesis 25:29-34, and became the ancestor of the Arab peoples.
Tyndale gloss
(Mount) Esau
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵשָׂו (Esav) refers to Esau, the hairy eldest son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the twin brother of Jacob. He is noted for selling his birthright for food and is considered the progenitor of the Arab peoples. The name is also associated with Edom, and the entries indicate that it derives from a root meaning 'rough' or 'sensibly felt.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵשָׂו 97 n.pr.m. Esau

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6215 עֵשָׂו Esau

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6215 `Esav ay-sawv'

apparently a form of the passive participle of 6213 in the

original sense of handling; rough (i.e. sensibly felt); Esav,

a son of Isaac, including his posterity:--Esau.

see HEBREW for 06213

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵשָׂו (e.sav) — Esau.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.25;

son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);

brother of: Israel (H3478); married to Oholibamah (H0173), Judith (H3067), Adah (H5711H) and Mahalath (H4258);

father of: Eliphaz (H0464), Reuel (H7467), Jeush (H3266), Jalam (H3281) and Korah (H7141); also called Edom at Gen.25.30; 36.1,8,19,21; 1x,54;

Also named: e.dom (אֱדוֹם "Edom" H0123H)

§ Esau = "hairy"

eldest son of Isaac and Rebecca and twin brother of Jacob; sold the birthright for food when he was hungry and the divine blessing went to Jacob; progenitor of the Arab peoples

עֵשָׂו (e.sav) — Esau.

People descended from Esau = "hairy"

eldest son of Isaac and Rebecca and twin brother of Jacob; sold the birthright for food when he was hungry and the divine blessing went to Jacob; progenitor of the Arab peoples

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpm — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

e'-so (`esaw, "hairy"; Esau):

Son of Isaac, twin brother of Jacob. The name was given on account of the hairy covering on his body at birth: "all over like a hairy garment" (Ge 25:25). There was a prenatal foreshadowing of the relation his descendants were to sustain to those of his younger brother, Jacob (Ge 25:23). The moment of his birth also was signalized by a circumstance that betokened the same destiny (Ge 25:26).

The young Esau was fond of the strenuous, daring life of the chase--he became a skillful hunter, "a man of the field" ('ish sadheh). His father warmed toward him rather than toward Jacob, because Esau's hunting expeditions resulted in meats that appealed to the old man's taste (

Esau

Hairy, Rebekah’s first-born twin son (Gen. 25:25). The name of Edom, “red”, was also given to him from his conduct in connection with the red lentil “pottage” for which he sold his birthright (30, 31). The circumstances connected with his birth foreshadowed the enmity which afterwards subsisted between the twin brothers and the nations they founded (25:22, 23, 26). In process of time Jacob, following his natural bent, became a shepherd; while Esau, a “son of the desert,” devoted himself to the perilous and toilsome life of a huntsman. On a certain occasion, on returning from the chase, urged by the cravings of hunger, Esau sold his birthright to his brother, Jacob, who thereby obtained the covenant blessing (Gen. 27:28, 29, 36;

(hairy), the eldest son of Isaac, and twin-brother of Jacob. The singular appearance of the child at his birth originated the name. (Genesis 25:25) Esau’s robust frame and "rough" aspect were the types of a wild and daring nature. He was a thorough Bedouin, a "son of the desert." He was much loved by his father, and was of course his heir, but was induced to sell his birthright to Jacob. Mention of his unhappy marriages may be found in (Genesis 26:34) The next episode in the life of Esau is the loss of his father’s covenant blessing, which Jacob secured through the craft of his mother, and the anger of Esau, who vows vengeance. (Genesis 27:1) ... Later he marries a daughter of Ishmael, (

The son of Isaac, and twin brother of Jacob, Ge 25:1-34. He was the elder of the two, and was therefore legally the heir, but sold his birthright to Jacob. We have an account of his ill-advised marriages, Ge 26:34; of his loss of his father’s chief blessing, and his consequent anger against Jacob, Ge 27:1-46; of their subsequent reconciliation, Ge 32:1-33:20; and of his posterity, Ge 36:1-43. He is also called Edom; and settled in the mountains south of the Dead Sea, extending to the gulf of Akaba, where he became very powerful. This country was called from him the land of Edom, and afterwards IDUMAEA, which see.

and he dwelt Esau in [the] hill country of Seir Esau that [is] Edom
ה֥וּאhu' that H1931 Pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he dwelt Esau in [the] hill country of Seir Esau that [is] Edom
אֱדֽוֹם׃'e.Dom [is] Edom H123 Noun proper masculine
100× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Edom was the twin brother of Jacob and the region where he lived. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and his story is told in Genesis 25. Edom is also another name for Esau.
Amplified meaning
the region of his descendants
Tyndale gloss
Edom
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֱדוֹם (Edom) refers to both a person and a region. It is derived from the Hebrew word for 'red' and is associated with Esau, Jacob's brother. The term encompasses the Edomites, descendants of Esau, and the land of Edom, located southeast of Palestine. It is first mentioned in Genesis 25:25.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱדוֹם († אֱדֹם Ez 25:11) n.pr.m.

Edom

coll. Edomites, Idumeans as descend. of Esau

land of Edom, Idumaea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H123 אֱדוֹם . Edom

. coll. Edomites, Idumeans as descend. of Esau

. land of Edom, Idumaea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

123 'Edom ed-ome'

or (fully) oEdowm {ed-ome'}; from 122; red (see Gen. 25:25);

Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region

(Idumaea) occupied by him:--Edom, Edomites, Idumea.

see HEBREW for 0122

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱדוֹם (e.dom) — Edom.

Edom = "red"

land of Edom, Idumea-land south and south east of Palestine

אֱדוֹם (e.dom) — Edom.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.25;

son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);

brother of: Israel (H3478); married to Oholibamah (H0173), Judith (H3067), Adah (H5711H) and Mahalath (H4258);

father of: Eliphaz (H0464), Reuel (H7467), Jeush (H3266), Jalam (H3281) and Korah (H7141); also called Edom at Gen.25.30; 36.1,8,19,21; 1x,54;

Another name of e.sav (עֵשָׂו "Esau" H6215G)

§ Edom = "red"

1) Edom

2) Edomite, Idumean-descendants of Esau

3) land of Edom, Idumea-land south and south east of Palestine

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Edom

(1.) The name of Esau (q.v.), Gen. 25:30, “Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage [Heb. haadom, haadom, i.e., ‘the red pottage, the red pottage’] ...Therefore was his name called Edom”, i.e., Red.

(2.) Idumea (Isa. 34:5, 6; Ezek. 35:15). “The field of Edom” (Gen. 32:3), “the land of Edom” (Gen. 36:16), was mountainous (Obad. 1:8, 9, 19, 21). It was called the land, or “the mountain of Seir,” the rough hills on the east side of the Arabah. It extended from the head of the Gulf of Akabah, the Elanitic gulf, to the foot of the Dead Sea (

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Red, a name of Esau, Isaac’s eldest son, appropriate on account of his natural complexion, but given, it would seem, from the current name of food for which he sold his birthright-"that same red," Ge 25:25,30. See ESAU and IDUMEA.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

red, earthy; of blood

Nave's Topical Bible

→ (Signifies red)

1. A name of Esau, possibly on account of his being covered with red hair Ge 25:25,30; 36:1,8,19

2. A name of the land occupied by the descendants of Esau

It extended from the Elanitic Gulf to the Red Sea, and was also called IDUMEA Ge 32:3; 36:16,17,21; Jer 40:11

Noted for its wise men Ob 1:8

Sins of Ob 1:10-14

Prophecies concerning Jer 25:21-23; 27:1-11; Da 11:41

See EDOMITES

FIGURATIVE of the foes of Zion Isa 63:1

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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