Genesis 36:39Baal Hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his place. The name of his city was Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
The setting
Pau (location unknown), ~1360 BC. The death of Baal-Hanan ends this genealogical record, unusually including his wife's full lineage...
The emotion here: careful attention to completing the record
The original word
Meheṭavʾēl (מהיטבאל) — 'God does good', ironically a godly name in pagan Edom
Why it matters
This is one of the few places in ancient genealogies that traces a woman's lineage three generations deep
Read with care
What most readers miss in Genesis 36:39
Including Mehetabel's grandmother shows this woman had significant political importance
Common misconceptionThis seems like pointless detail, but Moses is showing that even in pagan kingdoms, God notices and honors women - Mehetabel gets the most detailed lineage.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Genesis 36:39
Bible Genome reading
Genesis 36:39 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Genesis 36:39 comes from the book of Genesis, written during the Patriarchal period. These words are attributed to narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 5% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the genealogy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include mortality, succession, marriage, genealogy. Notable phrases: Baal Hanan died; Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Genesis 36:39 mean to you, today?
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