Who was Zibeon in the bible?
Zibeon is listed among the sons of Seir in Genesis 36 and 1 Chronicles 1, and is named as the father of Anah and Aiah.
Family Links
“These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah” (Genesis 36:24; 1 Chronicles 1:40). Oholibamah is called “the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon” (Genesis 36:2; Genesis 36:14).
Learn More →Chief Listed
Zibeon is named among the Horite chiefs: “chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah” (Genesis 36:29). This places him within the recorded leadership lines of Seir’s descendants.
Learn More →Zibeon (Tsib’own) is presented in Scripture as a Horite figure associated with Seir, named among “the sons of Seir,” and as the father of Anah and Aiah. In the lexicon gloss, Tsibon is identified as an Idumaean, and the name is connected with the idea of being “variegated,” related to a word for “a dye.”
Zibeon in Scripture
Zibeon appears within genealogical and clan lists connected to Seir and the Horites. In Genesis 36, the setting is introduced as “the history of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom)” (Genesis 36:1), and the chapter places Esau’s family in relation to the peoples and chiefs of Seir.
First, Zibeon is named when Esau’s marriage connections are described. Esau’s wife Oholibamah is identified through a lineage that reaches to Zibeon:
“Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon, the Hittite; and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, the Hivite;” (Genesis 36:2)
Later the same lineage is repeated when listing the sons borne to Esau by Oholibamah:
“These were the sons of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.” (Genesis 36:14)
Within the flow of Genesis 36, these statements connect Zibeon to Esau’s household indirectly: Zibeon’s descendant (through Anah and Oholibamah) is part of Esau’s family line described in the chapter.
Genesis 36 also gives Zibeon a place within the Horite population of Seir. After describing Esau’s line and chiefs, the text turns to Seir the Horite and the inhabitants of the land, listing Zibeon among Seir’s sons:
“These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,” (Genesis 36:20)
This list is followed by additional sons and a statement about Horite chiefs (Genesis 36:21). Zibeon reappears when the text identifies the “children of Zibeon,” naming two:
“These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the donkeys of Zibeon his father.” (Genesis 36:24)
Here Zibeon is explicitly called Anah’s father, and the verse preserves a brief narrative detail: Anah “found the hot springs in the wilderness” while he “fed the donkeys of Zibeon his father.” The note is about Anah’s action, but it also situates Zibeon as a household head with donkeys being tended.
Finally, Genesis 36 includes Zibeon among the Horite chiefs:
“These are the chiefs who came of the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah,” (Genesis 36:29)
Within the chapter’s broader movement, Genesis 36 interweaves (1) Esau’s family line and chiefs (Genesis 36:1–19), (2) Seir the Horite and the Horite inhabitants and chiefs (Genesis 36:20–30), and (3) additional Edomite political lists (Genesis 36:31–43). Zibeon is part of the Horite segment, while also being mentioned in Esau’s household section through the repeated phrase “the daughter of Zibeon” (Genesis 36:2, 36:14).
The Chronicler repeats and condenses these same family connections in 1 Chronicles 1. In the list of Seir’s sons, Zibeon again appears:
“The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.” (1 Chronicles 1:38)
And 1 Chronicles 1 states Zibeon’s sons by name:
“The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah.” (1 Chronicles 1:40)
In both Genesis and 1 Chronicles, the core picture is consistent: Zibeon is a named member of Seir’s line and the father of Aiah and Anah, and he is remembered among the Horite chiefs.
Name and Meaning
The name is written in Hebrew as צִבְעוֹן and transliterated Tsib’own (pronounced tsib-one’). Its derivation is explained in the lexicon as coming from the same root as H6648 and carrying the sense of “variegated,” with a component word, tseba’ (צֶבַע), meaning “a dye.” The identity gloss in the lexicon describes Tsibon as an Idumaean.
Brief Observation
Zibeon is not developed through extended dialogue or a separate story, but his place in the recorded lines is stable: he is listed among “the sons of Seir” (Genesis 36:20; 1 Chronicles 1:38), his “children” are named as “Aiah and Anah” (Genesis 36:24; 1 Chronicles 1:40), and he is remembered as “chief Zibeon” among the Horites (Genesis 36:29).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Zibeon mean?
Zibeon is associated with the meaning “variegated.”
How many times does Zibeon appear in the Bible?
Zibeon appears 7 times.
Who was Zibeon in the Bible?
Zibeon is identified as an Idumaean and is listed among the sons of Seir (Genesis 36:20; 1 Chronicles 1:38). He is also named as the father of Aiah and Anah (Genesis 36:24; 1 Chronicles 1:40).
How is Zibeon connected to Esau’s family?
Oholibamah, Esau’s wife, is described as “the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon” (Genesis 36:2; Genesis 36:14).
Explore Further
If you found this page about Zibeon interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.
Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
