The Meaning of Genesis 26:34 Explained

Genesis 26:34

KJV: And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

YLT: And Esau is a son of forty years, and he taketh a wife, Judith, daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath, daughter of Elon the Hittite,

Darby: And Esau was forty years old, when he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basmath the daughter of Elon the Hittite.

ASV: And when Esau was forty years old he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Esau  was forty  years  old  when he took  to wife  Judith  the daughter  of Beeri  the Hittite,  and Bashemath  the daughter  of Elon  the Hittite: 

What does Genesis 26:34 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Reacting to Isaac"s disobedient plan to bless Esau, Jacob and Rebekah stole the blessing by deception. Esau became so angry with Jacob over his trickery that Jacob had to flee for his life.
Two reports of Esau"s marriages ( Genesis 26:34-35 and Genesis 28:6-9) frame the major account ( Genesis 27:1 to Genesis 28:5) providing a prologue and epilogue. Esau"s marriages are significant because Rebekah used them to persuade Isaac to send Jacob away to get a wife ( Genesis 27:4 b) and because they were the reason Isaac did so ( Genesis 28:1).
The main account centers on Isaac giving the blessing.
"AIsaac and the son of the brkh/bkrh (=Esau) ( Genesis 27:1-5).BRebekah sends Jacob on the stage ( Genesis 27:6-17).CJacob appears before Isaac and receives blessing ( Genesis 27:18-29).C"Esau appears before Isaac and receives antiblessing ( Genesis 27:30-40).B"Rebekah sends Jacob from the stage ( Genesis 27:41-45).A"Isaac and the son of brkh/bkrh (=Jacob!) ( Genesis 27:46 to Genesis 28:5)." [1]

Context Summary

Genesis 26:18-35 - Isaac's Wells And Covenant
It is interesting to follow Isaac in his well-digging. Let us also dig wells and set streams flowing, which will bless men long after we have gone home to heaven. The first well was Esek-strife. The second, Sitnah-hatred. The third, Rehoboth-room. Thus is human life, too often, till it ends with Sheba-oath or covenant. But even the outward repose to which life may attain, as the result of the struggles of earlier life, may be interrupted by anxiety and trial, caused by children or grandchildren. Esau's marriage brought endless trouble in its train. And grief of mind will sow life with thorns. Let children take care lest they give needless pain to those who love them. That which hurts tender and true hearts is not likely to carry with it the blessing of God. As soon as a wandering soul gets back to God even his enemies make peace with him; he is at least secure from their hurt. See Proverbs 16:7. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 26

1  Isaac, because of famine, sojourns in Gerar, and the Lord blesses him
7  He is reproved by Abimelech for denying his wife
12  He grows rich, and the Philistines envy his prosperity
18  He digs wells
23  God appears to him at Beersheba, and blesses him;
26  and Abimelech makes a covenant with him
34  Esau's wives

What do the individual words in Genesis 26:34 mean?

And when was Esau old forty years then he took as wives - Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath of Elon the Hittite
וַיְהִ֤י עֵשָׂו֙ בֶּן־ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וַיִּקַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ אֶת־ יְהוּדִ֔ית בַּת־ בְּאֵרִ֖י הַֽחִתִּ֑י וְאֶת־ בָּ֣שְׂמַ֔ת אֵילֹ֖ן הַֽחִתִּֽי

וַיְהִ֤י  And  when  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
עֵשָׂו֙  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.
בֶּן־  old 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אַרְבָּעִ֣ים  forty 
Parse: Number, common plural
Root: אַרְבָּעִים  
Sense: forty.
שָׁנָ֔ה  years 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
וַיִּקַּ֤ח  then  he  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.
אִשָּׁה֙  as  wives 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְהוּדִ֔ית  Judith 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְהוּדִית 
Sense: the daughter of Beeri the Hittite and wife of Esau.
בַּת־  the  daughter 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
בְּאֵרִ֖י  of  Beeri 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בְּאֵרִי  
Sense: Esau’s Hittite father-in-law.
הַֽחִתִּ֑י  the  Hittite 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: חִתִּי  
Sense: the nation descended from Heth, the 2nd son of Canaan; once inhabitants of central Anatolia (modern Turkey), later in north Lebanon.
בָּ֣שְׂמַ֔ת  Basemath 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בָּשְׂמַת  
Sense: Hittite wife of Esau, daughter of Ishmael, sister of Nebaioth.
אֵילֹ֖ן  of  Elon 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵילֹון 
Sense: Hittite, father-in-law of Esau.
הַֽחִתִּֽי  the  Hittite 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: חִתִּי  
Sense: the nation descended from Heth, the 2nd son of Canaan; once inhabitants of central Anatolia (modern Turkey), later in north Lebanon.