Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Genesis 36:40 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 40. 40And 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,
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
The text changes from kings to a final list of chiefs from Esau, organized by families, places, and names. The KJV's 'dukes' means chiefs or clan leaders, and the place language suggests territorial as well as genealogical organization.
Read It With
- Genesis 36:31–37:1
Read verses 40–43 together and compare verses 15–19. The earlier chiefs are grouped under Esau's family branches; this closing list emphasizes names and locations before summarizing Edom's habitations.
Why This Verse Appears Here
After the kings, the text returns to chiefs and reorganizes Edomite leadership through families and places.
Read Genesis 36:40–43 together
Why these verses belong together: The final chief list is explicitly arranged through families, places, names, and habitations and closes Esau-Edom's record.
Verse 40. 40 And 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,
Verse 41. 41 Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
Verse 42. 42 Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,
Verse 43. 43 Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites.
What Remains True
Communities may preserve leadership through family and place at once, but a short list cannot disclose an entire constitution.
How It Can Shape Life
- Explain ancient leadership categories in their own context instead of importing modern aristocratic, tribal, or governmental systems.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Genesis 36:31–37:1 — Edom's Kings and Chiefs Precede Jacob in CanaanSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
Where care is needed
The exact relationship between this chief list, the earlier chiefs, and the kings is not stated.
Some names may function as persons, clans, places, or overlapping categories.
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Displayed wording, king and chief sequences, political comparison, Hadad's conflict, Mehetabel's ancestry, Jacob bridge, parallel list, and canonical brotherhood and monarchy restraints.
Exact location: Genesis 36:31–37:1 in the pinned eng-kjv2006 source; compared with Genesis 27:39–40; 35:11; 36:1–30; 37:2–11; Deuteronomy 2:4–5; 23:7; 1 Samuel 8–10; 14:47; 2 Samuel 8:14; 1 Kings 11:14–22; 22:47; 2 Kings 8:20–22; 1 Chronicles 1:43–54
Open source ↗hebrew text morphology and lemma data
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible — Genesis
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project
Open Scriptures, Version 2.2 released 2021; repository inspected 2026
Supports: Hebrew political, succession, place, clan-territorial, possession, dwelling, and sojourning evidence.
Exact location: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible, wlc/Gen.xml, Genesis 36:31–37:1; forms and syntax for king, reign, in his stead, the River, Hadar, alluf, families, places, names, habitations, possession, dwelt, and sojournings
Open source ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Genesis with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, Digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Translation alternatives, textual variants, KJV-language clarification, and geographical uncertainty.
Exact location: NET Bible, Genesis 36:31–37:1 and translator notes on verse 31's alternative syntax, Rehoboth by the River, Hadar or Hadad, Pau or Pai, chiefs, territories, and the 37:1 transition
Open NET Genesis 36 ↗