Who was Reuel in the Bible?

Reuel was a son of Esau and his wife Basemath, and he became a tribal chief among the Edomites, the descendants of Esau. He is listed in the genealogies of Genesis 36:4, 10, 13, and 17.

What is the significance of Reuel in the Bible?

Reuel's significance lies in his role as one of the chiefs of Edom, establishing the lineage and tribal structure of Esau's descendants. His mention helps trace the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that Esau would become a nation (Genesis 25:23).

What key events involved Reuel in the Bible?

The Bible does not record specific events in Reuel's life, only his lineage and title. His key 'event' is being named as a son of Esau and a chief of Edom in the Genesis 36 genealogy, which documents the rise of the Edomite nation.

Reuel

Old TestamentPatriarchsMaleSon

Reuel was a son of Esau and Basemath, and he became a chief in the land of Edom.

Reuel

Biography

Reuel was the son of Esau and his wife Basemath, a daughter of Ishmael (Genesis 36:4, 10). He is listed in the genealogies of Edom in Genesis 36, where his own sons, Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah, are further named as chiefs (alluphim) of Edom. Reuel thus became the patriarch of four Edomite clans whose influence shaped the political and tribal landscape of the region southeast of Canaan. His name, meaning "friend of God," is notable given his descent from Esau, whose relationship with the God of Jacob was defined by rivalry and divine election (Genesis 25:23; Malachi 1:2-3). Reuel represents a second-generation Edomite leader through whom the family of Esau established territorial and political dominance in the region later known as Edom or Seir.

Significance

Reuel's place in the Edomite genealogy reflects the biblical principle that God's sovereign purposes encompass even those outside the primary covenant line. Esau and his descendants, while excluded from the specific promises given to Jacob, were nonetheless the object of God's providential care, they too received land, chiefs, and kings (Genesis 36:31). The detailed Edomite records in Genesis 36 serve a dual purpose: they honor God's promise to bless Esau as Abraham's descendant (Genesis 17:20), and they establish the historical backdrop for Israel's ongoing complex relationship with Edom. Reuel's progeny as Edomite chiefs thus illustrates both the particularity of covenant election and the universality of divine providence over all nations.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherEsauMotherBasemathChildMizzahChildNahathChildZerahChildShammah

Verse Appearances (6)

Genesis

Genesis 36:4 Genesis 36:10 Genesis 36:13 Genesis 36:17

1Chr

1Chr 1:35 1Chr 1:37

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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