Who was Jeush in the Bible?

Jeush was a son of Esau and his wife Oholibamah, making him a grandson of Isaac and a great-grandson of Abraham. He is listed among the chiefs of Edom, the nation descended from his father Esau (Genesis 36:5, 14, 18).

Why is Jeush mentioned in the Bible?

Jeush is mentioned primarily in genealogical records to trace the lineage of Esau (Edom) and establish the origins of the Edomite tribes. His inclusion shows the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, as Esau's line prospered separately from Jacob's (Genesis 25:23; 1 Chronicles 1:35).

What was Jeush's role as a 'chief'?

As a 'chief' or 'clan leader' of Edom, Jeush held a position of tribal leadership and authority. This indicates he was a founder of one of the prominent family groups within the Edomite nation, which often warred with Israel (Genesis 36:15-19).

Jeush

Old TestamentPatriarchsMaleSon

Jeush, a son of Esau and Oholibamah, was a chief of Edom (Gen.36.5,14,18; 1Ch.1.35).

Jeush

Biography

Jeush was the firstborn son of Esau by his wife Oholibamah, a daughter of Anah the Hivite (Gen. 36:5, 14, 18; 1 Chr. 1:35). He is listed among the sons born to Esau in Canaan before Esau relocated his household to the hill country of Seir (Gen. 36:6-8). As Esau's son, Jeush became one of the founding chiefs of the Edomite people, and his name appears in the list of Edomite chiefs derived from Oholibamah (Gen. 36:18). He is thus among the first generation of the nation of Edom, the people descended from Esau who occupied the territory southeast of the Dead Sea. Beyond these genealogical notices, no individual deeds or personal narratives are associated with Jeush in the biblical text.

Significance

Jeush's significance rests in his position as a son of Esau and founding chief of an Edomite clan. The Edomites descending from Esau represent the outworking of God's promise to bless Esau materially even while the covenant birthright passed to Jacob (Gen. 27:39-40). Their chiefs, including Jeush, governed a nation whose relationship with Israel oscillated between conflict and kinship throughout the biblical period. The prophetic tradition repeatedly addresses Edom (Obadiah; Isa. 34; Jer. 49; Ezek. 35), indicating that this nation remained theologically significant to Israel's understanding of God's justice and sovereignty over the nations. Jeush thus stands at the beginning of a people whose history is thoroughly woven into the fabric of Old Testament prophecy.

Verse Appearances (4)

Genesis

Genesis 36:5 Genesis 36:14 Genesis 36:18

1Chr

1Chr 1:35

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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