Genesis 26:34 (KJV)

What does Genesis 26:34 mean?

Genesis 26:34 states that Esau was forty years old when he married two women: Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. This verse marks a significant point in Esau’s life by noting his age and his choice of wives from among the Hittite people.

Genesis 26:34 is a narrative detail, not a speech or command. The verse is part of the story of Isaac’s family, focusing on Esau, the older son of Isaac and Rebekah. By mentioning Esau’s marriages to Hittite women, the text sets up tension in the family, as later verses show that these marriages caused grief to his parents. The verse also hints at Esau’s different priorities compared to his family’s traditions.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 26:34

• "Esau" (עֵשָׂו, Esav): The name Esau is used here to identify Isaac’s firstborn son, whose choices are often contrasted with those of his brother Jacob.
• "Hittite" (חִתִּי, Ḥitti): The term Hittite refers to a Canaanite people living in the land. Esau’s wives being Hittites is significant because Abraham’s family had tried to avoid marriages with local Canaanite groups, preferring relatives from their own people.
• "wife" (אִשָּׁה, ishah): The word for wife here is the standard Hebrew term, but the use of it twice in this verse highlights that Esau took two wives, which was not the usual practice for Abraham’s family.

Why Genesis 26:34 matters

• This verse helps explain later family conflict, as Esau’s marriages to Hittite women are described as a source of bitterness for Isaac and Rebekah in the following verse.
• The verse shows Esau’s independence from his family’s customs, which becomes a key theme in the stories about him.
• By noting Esau’s age and his choice of wives, the verse places his decisions in the broader timeline of the family’s story, connecting to earlier concerns about marriage partners in Genesis.