Original Word: צִבְעוֹן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Tsib`own
Pronunciation: tsee-BONE
Phonetic Spelling: (tsib-one')
KJV: Zibeon
NASB: Zibeon
Word Origin: [from the same as H6648 (צֶּבַע - dyed work)]

1. variegated
2. Tsibon, an Idumaean

Zibeon

From the same as tseba'; variegated; Tsibon, an Idumaean -- Zibeon.

see HEBREW tseba'

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
"hyena," a Horite
NASB Translation
Zibeon (8).

צִבְעוֺן proper name, masculine a Horite (hyena; RS^{K 219}; Gray^{Prop.N.95 and references}); — Genesis 36:2,14,20 (in these gloss according to Di Holz), Genesis 36:24; Genesis 36:24 Genesis 36:29; 1 Chronicles 1:38,40, Σεβεγων.

Biblical Profile

Zibeon appears only in the genealogies of Genesis 36 and their parallel record in 1 Chronicles 1, yet his name is mentioned eight times, underscoring his place in the formative history of Edom. He is listed among “the sons of Seir the Horite” (Genesis 36:20) and is later recognized as one of the Horite chiefs who held territorial authority in the hill country that Esau’s descendants came to inhabit (Genesis 36:29). At the same time Genesis 36:2 identifies him as “the Hivite,” indicating either an ethnic blending or a broader use of tribal designations for the non-Israelite peoples of Canaan.

Family Connections

• Father of Aiah and Anah (Genesis 36:24; 1 Chronicles 1:40).
• Grandfather of Oholibamah, one of Esau’s three recorded wives (Genesis 36:2, 14).

Through Oholibamah, Zibeon became ancestorially linked to the nation of Edom, placing his family line squarely within the Abrahamic sphere even while remaining outside the covenant line of promise.

Historical Setting

The Horites occupied the rugged region later called Edom before Esau’s arrival. Rather than driving them out, Esau’s descendants intermarried with them, absorbing the local chieftains into the emerging Edomite structure. Zibeon’s name surfaces at this intersection of two peoples: the Seirite Horites and the rising clan of Esau. His descendants therefore illustrate how God’s providence wove many ethnic threads into the broader tapestry of Old Testament history without compromising the unique calling of Israel.

Key Biblical Passages

Genesis 36:2: “Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite.”

Genesis 36:24: “These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. (This is the Anah who discovered the hot springs in the wilderness while he was pasturing the donkeys of his father Zibeon.)”

Genesis 36:29: “These are the chiefs of the Horites: Chiefs Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,”

Cultural Identity: Horite or Hivite?

The apparent discrepancy between “Horite” (Genesis 36:20) and “Hivite” (Genesis 36:2) is best understood as complementary rather than contradictory. “Horite” designates the native clan structure of Seir, while “Hivite” names a branch of the broader Canaanite family (compare Genesis 10:17). Scripture simply records both designations for the same man, much as one might today speak of both a regional and an ethnic identity (for example, “a Texan American”). The text therefore affirms—not undermines—the unity of the genealogical record.

Role in Edomite Leadership

By the time Genesis 36 recounts the “chiefs” (Hebrew ’allupim), Zibeon is named alongside his brothers as a recognized territorial leader. These chiefs pre-date the later kings of Edom (Genesis 36:31) and represent clan heads whose influence was both civic and military. Zibeon’s elevation illustrates the decentralized nature of early Edomite governance and prepares the reader to see how Esau’s house eventually consolidated these local powers under a monarchy.

Narrative Notes

Anah, Zibeon’s son, “discovered the hot springs in the wilderness” (Genesis 36:24). This curious aside breathes life into an otherwise terse genealogy and throws light on the Horite skill in resource discovery—a quality that would have bolstered the clan’s status. Zibeon, as patriarch, benefits from his son’s accomplishment, and the mention serves to underscore the industrious spirit characterizing many non-Israelite figures whom God allowed to flourish within their appointed boundaries (Acts 17:26).

Theological and Ministerial Observations

1. God’s sovereignty over nations: Zibeon’s clan, though outside the covenant line, is carefully catalogued in Scripture, attesting to the Creator’s concern for every people group (Genesis 10; Revelation 7:9).
2. The impact of family choices: Esau’s marriage into Zibeon’s line shaped Edomite history for centuries, reminding readers that alliances formed through marriage have long-lasting spiritual and social consequences.
3. The precision of the biblical record: Genealogies that preserve even minor figures like Zibeon affirm Scripture’s reliability. Such details, later verified by parallel accounts, reinforce confidence in the entire narrative framework.

Lessons for Today

• Faithfulness in obscurity: Zibeon never performs a headline miracle, yet his name endures because God chose to preserve it. Believers find encouragement that quiet faithfulness within family and community matters to the Lord.
• Discernment in relationships: Just as Esau’s unions intertwined covenant and non-covenant lines, modern disciples must weigh relational decisions in light of long-term spiritual outcomes.
• Respect for God’s universal dealings: Though Israel holds the central redemptive role, the biblical inclusion of Zibeon shows that God’s redemptive plan engages—and records—the histories of surrounding peoples.

Related Topics

Horites; Hivites; Seir; Edom; Esau’s marriages; Genealogies in Genesis; Chiefs of Edom; Intermarriage in the Old Testament.

וְצִבְע֣וֹן וְצִבְע֥וֹן וצבעון לְצִבְע֥וֹן לצבעון צִבְע֖וֹן צבעון lə·ṣiḇ·‘ō·wn ləṣiḇ‘ōwn letzivon ṣiḇ‘ōwn ṣiḇ·‘ō·wn tzivon vetzivon wə·ṣiḇ·‘ō·wn wəṣiḇ‘ōwnInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts