Bible Strands
Genesis 36:17
These are the sons of Esau’s son Reuel: Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. They are the chiefs descended from Reuel in the land of Edom, and they are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The text is a genealogical catalog listing the tribal chiefs descended from Reuel, Esau’s grandson, within the territory of Edom. It follows preceding lists of Esau’s other descendants and precedes the record of Oholibamah’s line.
The words — The phrase בְּנֵי רְעוּאֵל (bene Reuel) literally means "sons of Reuel," while אַלּוּף (aluf) translates to "chief," designating these four men as recognized heads of their respective clans.
The thread — This exact list of Reuel’s sons appears in Genesis 36:13 and 1 Chronicles 1:37, and Genesis 36:4 records that Basemath gave birth to Reuel.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to track the formal organization of Esau’s family line and note the specific administrative structure established for Reuel’s descendants in Edom.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And these are the sons of Reuel Esau’s son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Bashemath Esau’s wife.
Cross-references
- Genesis 36:13 These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. They are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.
- 1 Chronicles 1:37 The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
- Genesis 36:4 And Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath gave birth to Reuel,