Who was Ithran in the Bible?

Ithran was a descendant of Esau, specifically listed as a son of Dishon and a grandson of Seir the Horite (Genesis 36:26). He was part of the Horite clans who lived in the land of Edom before the descendants of Esau displaced them.

Why is Ithran mentioned in the Bible?

Ithran is mentioned in genealogical records to establish the lineage of Esau and the pre-existing inhabitants of Edom. His inclusion shows the fulfillment of God's promise to Esau and documents the history of the Edomite region (1 Chronicles 1:41-42).

What was Ithran's significance or role?

Ithran's significance is primarily genealogical; he represents one of the Horite chieftains in Seir. The Bible records no specific events from his life, but his lineage highlights the interconnected history of the Edomites and the Horites in the region God gave to Esau.

Ithran

Old TestamentPatriarchsMaleSon

Ithran was a descendant of Esau and son of Dishon the Horite (Gen.36.26; 1Ch.1.41).

Ithran

Biography

Ithran was a Horite chieftain, the son of Dishon and a descendant of Esau through the Edomite lineages recorded in Genesis 36:26 and 1 Chronicles 1:41. The Horites were a pre-Edomite people of the region of Seir who were gradually absorbed into or displaced by the descendants of Esau (Deuteronomy 2:12, 22). Dishon's family, including Ithran, is listed among the Horite clan chiefs who populated the land of Seir before and during the rise of Edomite power. Ithran's name appears in the genealogical tables as one of the sons of Dishon alongside Hemdan, Eshban, and Cheran (Genesis 36:26), providing a detailed record of the non-Israelite peoples who inhabited the Transjordanian region.

Significance

Ithran's inclusion in the Edomite and Horite genealogies of Genesis 36 reflects the Bible's expansive concern for the peoples and nations surrounding Israel, not merely for Israel itself. The careful enumeration of Horite clans in Genesis 36 acknowledges the complex human geography of the ancient Near East and the interweaving of Esau's descendants with earlier inhabitants of the region. Theologically, these genealogies remind readers that God's sovereignty extends over all nations and peoples, not only the covenant line of Jacob. The Edomites, descended from Esau, retained a fraternal relationship with Israel throughout the biblical period, and their genealogies are preserved with the same care as Israel's own ancestral records.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherDishonSiblingEshban

Verse Appearances (2)

Genesis

Genesis 36:26

1Chr

1Chr 1:41

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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