Who was Timna in the Bible?

Timna was a concubine of Eliphaz, who was the son of Esau. She is noted as the mother of Amalek, the ancestor of the Amalekite people (Genesis 36:12).

Why is Timna significant in the Bible?

Timna's significance lies in her son, Amalek, whose descendants became the Amalekites, a persistent enemy of Israel. This establishes a key genealogical and historical conflict (Exodus 17:8-16).

What was Timna's relationship to Esau?

Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, making her a daughter-in-law in the family line of Esau (Edom). Through this connection, she became part of the ancestry of the Edomite tribes (Genesis 36:12, 1 Chronicles 1:36).

Timna

Old TestamentPatriarchsFemaleMother

Timna was a concubine of Eliphaz, son of Esau, and the mother of Amalek.

Timna

Biography

Timna was a Horite woman who became the concubine of Eliphaz, the firstborn son of Esau and grandson of Isaac. Her story is briefly recorded in Genesis 36:12 and 1 Chronicles 1:36. From this union she bore Amalek, the ancestor of the Amalekites, one of Israel's most persistent and formidable enemies throughout the Old Testament period. The same chapter identifies a Timna among the chiefs of Edom (Genesis 36:40), suggesting the name was of some prominence in the Edomite region. As a Horite, Timna represented the indigenous Canaanite population of the region later known as Edom. Her lineage through Eliphaz placed her within the complex web of relationships between Esau's descendants and the surrounding peoples of Canaan.

Significance

Timna's significance in redemptive history rests primarily on her son Amalek, whose descendants became emblematic of opposition to God's covenant people. The Amalekites attacked Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 17:8–16), prompting Moses's famous intercession and Israel's first post-Exodus battle. God declared perpetual war against Amalek (Exodus 17:16), and the command to blot out their memory became a test case for Saul's obedience that ultimately cost him the throne (1 Samuel 15). Through Timna, the genealogy of Esau produced a lineage that would repeatedly challenge Israel's journey toward the Promised Land, illustrating how the consequences of patriarchal choices, including Esau's departure from covenant life, extended across generations.

Authority Records

Wikidata

SpouseEliphazChildAmalek

Verse Appearances (6)

Genesis

Genesis 36:12 Genesis 36:22 Genesis 36:40

1Chr

1Chr 1:36 1Chr 1:39 1Chr 1:51

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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