Who was Elah in the Bible?

Elah was a chief, or duke, of Edom, descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob. He is listed among the Edomite tribal leaders in the genealogy found in Genesis 36:40-43.

Why is Elah mentioned in the Bible?

Elah's mention primarily serves to document the fulfillment of God's promise to Esau that he would become the father of a nation (Genesis 36:1). His listing among the chiefs of Edom shows the established lineage and leadership structure of Esau's descendants.

What does the name Elah mean?

The name Elah likely means 'terebinth tree' or 'oak,' a common type of tree in the ancient Near East. In the Bible, such trees were often associated with places of significance or meeting, though no specific event in Elah's life is recorded beyond his title.

Elah

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Elah was a chief of Edom, descended from Esau.

Elah

Biography

This Elah is recorded as a chief (Hebrew: אַלּוּף, alluf) of Edom, one of the clan leaders descended from Esau as listed in Genesis 36:41 and 1 Chronicles 1:52. As a descendant of Esau, Elah belongs to the founding generation of the Edomite nation, the people who inhabited the rugged territory of Seir southeast of Canaan. The Edomite chiefs listed in Genesis 36 represent the early political organization of Esau's descendants into tribal territories and chieftainships, a structure that predated and paralleled the formation of Israel's own tribal organization. Elah's name, meaning 'oak' or 'terebinth', is woven into the genealogical tapestry that Scripture uses to document the broader family of nations descended from Abraham through Isaac and Esau.

Significance

The inclusion of Edomite chiefs like Elah in the biblical narrative reflects Scripture's sweeping concern for all peoples descended from the patriarchs. While Israel occupied the central role in God's redemptive purposes, Edom's genealogy is carefully recorded in Genesis 36, honoring the promise God made to Rebekah that two nations were in her womb (Genesis 25:23). Elah and the other Edomite chiefs remind readers that God's sovereignty extends over all nations, not just Israel. The tensions between Edom and Israel throughout Scripture also serve as a warning about the consequences of rejecting one's spiritual birthright, the path Esau chose, and the different trajectories that choice set in motion for generations.

Verse Appearances (2)

Genesis

Genesis 36:41

1Chr

1Chr 1:52

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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