Genesis 36:21
ESV
Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan; these are the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir in the land of Edom.
NIV
Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These sons of Seir in Edom were Horite chiefs.
NASB
Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs descended from the Horites, the sons of Seir in the land of Edom.
CSB
Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs among the Horites, the sons of Seir, in the land of Edom.
NLT
Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the Horite clan leaders, the descendants of Seir, who lived in the land of Edom.
KJV
And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.
NKJV
Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir, in the land of Edom.
What does Genesis 36:21 mean?
This section of verses (Genesis 36:20–30) lists the descendants of Seir the Horite. The Horites were the original peoples of the land (Genesis 14:6) that came to be occupied by Esau and his descendants (Genesis 36:6–8). Seir's sons included Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, and now Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.These sons of Seir are also referred to as "chiefs" of the Horite people, just as the sons and grandsons of Esau were described as "chiefs" of the Edomite people in the previous verses (Genesis 36:15–19).
Genesis 36:20–30 describes the people Esau and his offspring defeated to take control of their homeland (Deuteronomy 2:12). These are the Horites (Genesis 14:6), descended from a man named Seir. After Esau's conquest, the region became known as Edom (Genesis 36:1).
Genesis 36 describes the generations of Esau, mostly focusing on the genealogy and rulers of the land of Edom. Repeatedly, the chapter emphasizes that Esau is Edom, repeating an association made earlier in Genesis (Genesis 25:25, 30). The Edomite people are his descendants. The regions in the land of Edom are named for his offspring. The chapter diverts briefly to give the genealogy of the Horite people (Genesis 14:6) who occupied the land before it was conquered (Deuteronomy 2:12). Finally, the chapter lists eight kings of Edom, along with the chiefs whose names became associated with the regions their clans occupied.
