Who was Oholibamah in the Bible?

Oholibamah was one of the wives of Esau, the son of Isaac and Rebekah. She was a descendant of Seir the Horite, meaning she was from the native people of the land of Edom where Esau settled (Genesis 36:2).

Why is Oholibamah significant in the Bible?

Her significance lies in her role as a matriarch of the Edomite tribes. The clans descended from her and Esau are listed among the chiefs of Edom, showing how Esau's family integrated with and led the Horite people of Seir (Genesis 36:18, 41).

What does the name Oholibamah mean?

The name Oholibamah likely means 'tent of the high place' or 'my tabernacle is exalted.' In the context of Esau's other wives, her Horite lineage and this name highlight the cultural and religious influences from the people of Canaan that entered the family line.

Oholibamah

Old TestamentPatriarchsFemaleWife

Oholibamah was one of Esau's wives, a descendant of Seir the Horite.

Oholibamah

Biography

Oholibamah was a Hivite (or Horite) woman who became one of the wives of Esau, Jacob's twin brother. She is identified as the daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite (Genesis 36:2). Through her marriage to Esau, Oholibamah bore three sons, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah, each of whom became chiefs among the Edomite clans (Genesis 36:5, 18). She is sometimes identified with Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, mentioned in Genesis 26:34, though this identification remains debated among scholars. Oholibamah's marriage represented Esau's continued pattern of taking wives from the local Canaanite and Horite populations, which caused grief to his parents Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 26:35). An Edomite clan chief also bore the name Oholibamah, reflecting her lasting influence.

Significance

Oholibamah's role in the Genesis narrative highlights the diverging paths of Esau and Jacob, which carried enormous covenantal consequences. Esau's marriages to local women, including Oholibamah, contrasted sharply with the patriarchal practice of seeking wives from within the covenant community, a pattern Abraham and Isaac carefully maintained. Her sons' rise to chieftainship among the Edomites illustrates how Esau's line developed into a powerful but separate nation outside the covenant promises. Theologically, Oholibamah's inclusion in the genealogies of Genesis 36 demonstrates God's providential ordering of nations, as the Edomites would play a recurring role in Israel's history as both kin and adversary, illustrating the complex outworking of blessing and election.

Verse Appearances (7)

Genesis

Genesis 36:2 Genesis 36:5 Genesis 36:14 Genesis 36:18 Genesis 36:25 Genesis 36:41

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 1:52

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]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources