The Meaning of Genesis 28:9 Explained

Genesis 28:9

KJV: Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.

YLT: and Esau goeth unto Ishmael, and taketh Mahalath, daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, sister of Nebajoth, unto his wives, to himself, for a wife.

Darby: And Esau went to Ishmael, and took, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.

ASV: And Esau went unto Ishmael, and took, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then went  Esau  unto Ishmael,  and took  unto the wives  which he had Mahalath  the daughter  of Ishmael  Abraham's  son,  the sister  of Nebajoth,  to be his wife. 

What does Genesis 28:9 Mean?

Study Notes

Mahalath
Genesis 36:3 is called Bashemath:

Context Summary

Genesis 28:1-9 - Jacob Sent Away From Home
Esau deferred the execution of his murderous purpose, because of the near approach, as he supposed, of his father's death. But Isaac lived for forty years after this. His secret purpose, however, became known to Rebekah. See Proverbs 29:11. The ostensible reason for Jacob's expatriation which Rebekah gave her husband was not the real one. He was sent to Haran, not primarily for a wife, but to escape his brother. Does not this constant duplicity explain the reason of Rebekah's heart-weariness? It seems probable that she never saw her favorite son again. The benediction already pronounced on Jacob was repeated with greater amplitude and tenderness as he left his father's tent. Sad as he was in the inevitable wrench, the star of hope shone in the sky, beckoning him onward. It was necessary that he should be taken from under his mother's influence into that greater world, where, through pain and disappointment, he should become a prince with God. Often our nest is broken up that we may learn to fly. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 28

1  Isaac blesses Jacob, and sends him to Padan-aram
6  Esau marries Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael
10  Jacob journeys, and has a vision of a ladder
18  The stone of Bethel
20  Jacob's vow

What do the individual words in Genesis 28:9 mean?

so went Esau to Ishmael and took - Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham the sister of Nebajoth in addition to the wives [already] unto him be his wife -
וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ עֵשָׂ֖ו אֶל־ יִשְׁמָעֵ֑אל וַיִּקַּ֡ח אֶֽת־ מָחֲלַ֣ת ׀ בַּת־ יִשְׁמָעֵ֨אל בֶּן־ אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֲח֧וֹת נְבָי֛וֹת עַל־ נָשָׁ֖יו ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה ס

וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ  so  went 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
עֵשָׂ֖ו  Esau 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵשָׂו  
Sense: eldest son of Isaac and Rebecca and twin brother of Jacob; sold the birthright for food when he was hungry and the divine blessing went to Jacob; progenitor of the Arab peoples.
יִשְׁמָעֵ֑אל  Ishmael 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׁמָעֵאל  
Sense: son of Abraham and Sarah’s handmaid Hagar and the progenitor of the Arabian peoples.
וַיִּקַּ֡ח  and  took 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
אֶֽת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מָחֲלַ֣ת ׀  Mahalath 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מָחֲלַת  
Sense: daughter of Jerimoth son of king David and wife, evidently the st, of king Rehoboam the grandson of king David.
בַּת־  the  daughter 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
יִשְׁמָעֵ֨אל  of  Ishmael 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׁמָעֵאל  
Sense: son of Abraham and Sarah’s handmaid Hagar and the progenitor of the Arabian peoples.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אַבְרָהָ֜ם  of  Abraham 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָהָם  
Sense: friend of God and founder of Hebrew nation via God’s elective covenant.
אֲח֧וֹת  the  sister 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אָחֹות  
Sense: sister.
נְבָי֛וֹת  of  Nebajoth 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נְבָיׄות  
Sense: a son of Ishmael.
עַל־  in  addition  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
נָשָׁ֖יו  the  wives  [already] 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
ל֥וֹ  unto  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
לְאִשָּֽׁה  be  his  wife 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 28:9?

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