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Meaning, origin and etymology of the name Edom


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Edom Edom

The name Edom is a nickname for Esau, the non-identical twin brother of Jacob, the sons of Isaac and Rebekah. Later the name Edom denotes the nation that came from Esau.

In the famous soup-scene where Esau receives his nickname Edom, the author seems to engage in word play. The word for soup (nazid, nazid 547d) comes from the verb zid (zid/ zud 547), to literally to 'boil', but figuratively to act proudly or presumptuously. This verb is used in the sense of boiling only once, in our soup-scene. All other occurrences of this verb have to do with arrogance or otherwise aggressive attitudes.

When Esau walks in, tired from the field, he demands that Jacob gives him of 'that red stuff, that red stuff.' The word for 'red stuff' is Adam (adom 26a & b); a word highly similar to the name Edom. The identical root Adam ('dm 25) is the source for the name Adam. Another derivation is adama (adama 25b), which means field. Esau is a 'man of the field' and even though the word adama is not used but rather sadeh (sadeh 2236b), also meaning field, the association is clear.

Jacob gives Esau of the red stuff and wings him out of his birth-right. At least, that what he hopes. But just to be sure he tries to deceive his blind father by dressing up as Esau. Not very clever, especially since the bigger blessing was his already, and Isaac bestowed it on Jacob out of faith, and not because he was tricked (Hebr 11:20).

The name Edom means Red or Ruddy.



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