Who was Zepho in the Bible?

Zepho was a grandson of Esau, the son of Esau's son Eliphaz. He is listed as one of the chiefs or chieftains of Edom, the nation descended from Esau (Genesis 36:11, 15; 1 Chronicles 1:36).

What is the significance of Zepho being a 'chief of Edom'?

Being named a 'chief of Edom' signifies that Zepho was a prominent leader within the Edomite tribal confederation. This listing of chiefs in Genesis 36 shows the fulfillment of God's promise that Esau would become a great nation, parallel to the nation of Israel descended from Jacob.

Are there any stories or key events about Zepho in the Bible?

No, the Bible does not record any specific stories or events from Zepho's life. His mention is purely genealogical and tribal, serving to document the lineage and leadership structure of the Edomite people as recorded in Genesis 36 and 1 Chronicles 1.

Zepho

Old TestamentPatriarchsMaleSon

Zepho, a son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau, was a chief of Edom (Gen.36.11,15; 1Ch.1.36).

Zepho

Biography

Zepho was a son of Eliphaz and a grandson of Esau, the patriarch of the Edomite people. He is listed among the chiefs of Edom in Genesis 36:11 and 36:15, and appears again in the parallel genealogy of 1 Chronicles 1:36 (where he is spelled 'Zephi'). As a chief, Zepho would have led a clan or tribal subdivision within the Edomite federation that developed in the region of Seir, southeast of the Dead Sea. The Edomites traced their identity through Esau, Jacob's elder brother, making them a closely related yet often adversarial people to Israel. Zepho represents the second generation of Edomite chiefs emerging from Esau's family, helping to establish the political structure of a nation that would persist for centuries.

Significance

Zepho's place in the Edomite genealogy of Genesis 36 is part of a carefully constructed record that shows how God's promises to Abraham extended even through Esau's line, though in a distinct way from the covenant line through Jacob. The detailed enumeration of Edomite chiefs demonstrates that God superintended the development of neighboring nations as well as Israel. Edom's complicated relationship with Israel, marked by rivalry, hostility, and yet shared ancestry, becomes a recurring motif in the prophetic literature. Figures like Zepho remind readers that biblical history is embedded in real ethnic and political structures, and that God's sovereign purposes encompass all nations, even those outside the primary covenant lineage.

Verse Appearances (3)

Genesis

Genesis 36:11 Genesis 36:15

1Chr

1Chr 1:36

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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