Atomic Bible

Descendants of Esau; enemy nation southeast of Israel

Edom

Named in 98 verses across 22 books, first in Genesis 32:3.

אֱדוֹםEdom

אֲדֹמִיEdomite

אֲרָםEdom

Also called Edomite.

The name means “red, earthy; of blood.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

About Edom Written by AI

Edom was a nation located southeast of Israel, in the area that is now southern Jordan. The Edomites were descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Israel (or 'Jacob') (Israel). The name Edom means "red", referring to Esau being born red and selling his birthright for red stew. Edom and Israel had a tumultuous relationship throughout their history. During the Exodus, Edom refused to let the Israelites pass through their territory. Edom was later defeated by King Saul and subjugated under King David. However, they rebelled in later years and were able to establish their independence from Judah. The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos and Obadiah all prophesied against Edom for its arrogance and for standing by when Judah was invaded by Babylon. Edom helped the Babylonians loot Jerusalem and expressed joy over its destruction. As a result, the prophets declared that Edom would face God's wrath and be completely destroyed.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

(1.) The name of Esau (q.v.), Gen. 25:30, “Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage [Heb. haadom, haadom, i.e., ‘the red pottage, the red pottage’] ...Therefore was his name called Edom”, i.e., Red.

(2.) Idumea (Isa. 34:5, 6; Ezek. 35:15). “The field of Edom” (Gen. 32:3), “the land of Edom” (Gen. 36:16), was mountainous (Obad. 1:8, 9, 19, 21). It was called the land, or “the mountain of Seir,” the rough hills on the east side of the Arabah. It extended from the head of the Gulf of Akabah, the Elanitic gulf, to the foot of the Dead Sea (1 Kings 9:26), and contained, among other cities, the rock-hewn Sela (q.v.), generally known by the Greek name Petra (2 Kings 14:7). It is a wild and rugged region, traversed by fruitful valleys. Its old capital was Bozrah (Isa. 63:1). The early inhabitants of the land were Horites. They were destroyed by the Edomites (Deut. 2:12), between whom and the kings of Israel and Judah there was frequent war (2 Kings 8:20; 2 Chr. 28:17).

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At the time of the Exodus they churlishly refused permission to the Israelites to pass through their land (Num. 20:14-21), and ever afterwards maintained an attitude of hostility toward them. They were conquered by David (2 Sam. 8:14; comp. 1 Kings 9:26), and afterwards by Amaziah (2 Chr. 25:11, 12). But they regained again their independence, and in later years, during the decline of the Jewish kingdom (2 Kings 16:6; R.V. marg., “Edomites”), made war against Israel. They took part with the Chaldeans when Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem, and afterwards they invaded and held possession of the south of Palestine as far as Hebron. At length, however, Edom fell under the growing Chaldean power (Jer. 27:3, 6).

There are many prophecies concerning Edom (Isa. 34:5, 6; Jer. 49:7-18; Ezek. 25:13; 35:1-15; Joel 3:19; Amos 1:11; Obad.; Mal. 1:3, 4) which have been remarkably fulfilled. The present desolate condition of that land is a standing testimony to the inspiration of these prophecies. After an existence as a people for above seventeen hundred years, they have utterly disappeared, and their language even is forgotten for ever. In Petra, “where kings kept their court, and where nobles assembled, there no man dwells; it is given by lot to birds, and beasts, and reptiles.”

The Edomites were Semites, closely related in blood and in language to the Israelites. They dispossessed the Horites of Mount Seir; though it is clear, from Gen. 36, that they afterwards intermarried with the conquered population. Edomite tribes settled also in the south of Judah, like the Kenizzites (Gen. 36:11), to whom Caleb and Othniel belonged (Josh. 15:17). The southern part of Edom was known as Teman.

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

30.735, 35.606 See it on a map

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names it

  1. Genesis 32:3

    Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

  2. Genesis 36:9

    This is the account of Esau, the father of the Edomites, in the area of Mount Seir.

  3. Genesis 36:16

    Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. They are the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom, and they are the grandsons of Adah.

  4. Genesis 36:17

    These are the sons of Esau’s son Reuel: Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. They are the chiefs descended from Reuel in the land of Edom, and they are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.

  5. Genesis 36:31

    These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites:

  6. Genesis 36:32

    Bela son of Beor reigned in Edom; the name of his city was Dinhabah.

  7. Genesis 36:43

    Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they possessed. Esau was the father of the Edomites.

  8. Exodus 15:15

    Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; those who dwell in Canaan will melt away,

  9. Numbers 20:14

    From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us,

  10. Numbers 20:18

    But Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”

  11. Numbers 20:20

    But Edom insisted, “You may not pass through.” And they came out to confront the Israelites with a large army and a strong hand.

  12. Numbers 20:21

    So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their territory, and Israel turned away from them.

  13. Numbers 20:23

    And at Mount Hor, near the border of the land of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

  14. Numbers 21:4

    Then they set out from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, in order to bypass the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient on the journey

  15. Numbers 24:18

    Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.

  16. Numbers 33:37

    They set out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the outskirts of the land of Edom.

  17. Numbers 34:3

    Your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will run from the end of the Salt Sea,

  18. Deuteronomy 23:7

    Do not despise an Edomite, for he is your brother. Do not despise an Egyptian, because you lived as a foreigner in his land.

  19. Joshua 15:1

    Now the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah extended to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin at the extreme southern boundary:

  20. Joshua 15:21

    These were the southernmost cities of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the border of Edom: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,

  21. Judges 5:4

    O LORD, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the land of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain, and the clouds poured down water.

  22. Judges 11:17

    Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Please let us pass through your land,’ but the king of Edom would not listen. They also sent messengers to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel stayed in Kadesh.

  23. Judges 11:18

    Then Israel traveled through the wilderness and bypassed the lands of Edom and Moab. They came to the east side of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the territory of Moab, since the Arnon was its border.

  24. 1 Samuel 14:47

    After Saul had assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side—the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he routed them.

  25. 1 Samuel 21:7

    Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief shepherd for Saul.

  26. 1 Samuel 22:9

    But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.

  27. 1 Samuel 22:18

    So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

  28. 1 Samuel 22:22

    Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s house.

  29. 2 Samuel 8:12

    from Edom and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

  30. 2 Samuel 8:13

    And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

  31. 2 Samuel 8:14

    He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

  32. 1 Kings 9:26

    King Solomon also assembled a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea.

  33. 1 Kings 11:1

    King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women.

  34. 1 Kings 11:14

    Then the LORD raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom.

  35. 1 Kings 11:15

    Earlier, when David was in Edom, Joab the commander of the army had gone to bury the dead and had struck down every male in Edom.

  36. 1 Kings 11:16

    Joab and all Israel had stayed there six months, until he had killed every male in Edom.

  37. 1 Kings 11:17

    But Hadad, still just a young boy, had fled to Egypt, along with some Edomites who were servants of his father.

  38. 1 Kings 22:47

    And there was no king in Edom; a deputy served as king.

  39. 2 Kings 3:8

    Then he asked, “Which way shall we go up?” “By way of the Desert of Edom,” replied Joram.

  40. 2 Kings 3:9

    So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days, they had no water for their army or for their animals.

And 58 more

2 Kings 3:12, 3:20, 3:26, 8:20, 8:21, 8:22, 14:7, 14:10, 16:6

1 Chronicles 1:43, 18:11, 18:12, 18:13

2 Chronicles 8:17, 20:2, 21:8, 21:9, 21:10, 25:14, 25:19, 25:20, 28:17

Psalms 60:8, 60:9, 83:6, 108:9, 108:10, 137:7

Isaiah 11:14, 34:5, 34:6, 63:1

Jeremiah 9:26, 25:21, 27:3, 40:11, 49:7, 49:17, 49:20, 49:22

Lamentations 4:21, 4:22

Ezekiel 25:12, 25:13, 25:14, 32:29, 35:15, 36:5

Daniel 11:41

Joel 3:19

Amos 1:6, 1:9, 1:11, 2:1, 9:12

Obadiah 1:1, 1:8

Malachi 1:4

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.