Boy Old Testament Known
Eliphaz
the endeavor of God
אֱלִיפַז e.li.phaz
Eliphaz (Hebrew: אֱלִיפַז, e.li.phaz) means “the endeavor of God”, by traditional interpretation. Two men in scripture bear the name; the best attested is a foreigner. In 2025 it was given to 7 children in the United States. Use is rising. Appears with Adah in Genesis 36.
Which Eliphaz?
Two men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
-
Eliphaz
-
Eliphaz
son of Esau; related to Korah; father of Zepho
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 14 across 3 books
- Bearers
- 2 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 7 | Rising |
| All-time total | 26 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 13 in 2024 | Its highest year on record |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 36:4 |
| Last appears | Job 42:9 |
| Cross-references | 191 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Timna attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Esau.
- Jeush attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Esau.
- Jalam attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Esau.
- Reuel attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Esau.
- Korah attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Esau.
- Teman co-occurrence Appears with Teman in Job 42.
- Gatam co-occurrence Appears with Gatam in Genesis 36.
- Omar co-occurrence Appears with Omar in Genesis 36.
Origin & meaning
A man of the Edomites living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.4;
son of: Esau (H6215) and Adah (H5711H);
half-brother of: Reuel (H7467), Jeush (H3266), Jalam (H3281) and Korah (H7141); married to Timna (H8555);
father of: Teman (H8487), Omar (H0201), Zepho (H6825), Gatam (H1609), Kenaz (H7073), Amalek (H6002H) and Korah (H7141H)
§ Eliphaz = "my God is (fine) gold"
1) Esau's son, father of Teman
2) the Temanite friend of Job
Eliphaz was the firstborn son of Esau and the father of several Edomite clans.
The biblical story
Eliphaz was the firstborn son of Esau, born to his wife Adah (Gen.36.4). He became the father of several sons, including Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz, and Amalek (through his concubine Timna) (Gen.36.11-12). These sons grew into clans within the Edomite nation, with Eliphaz's descendants being listed among the chiefs of Edom (Gen.36.15-16). Eliphaz's lineage is also recorded in the genealogy of Esau in 1Ch.1.35-36. As the firstborn of Esau, Eliphaz played a significant role in the establishment and growth of the Edomite people, who were the descendants of Esau. The Bible does not provide any further details about Eliphaz's life or personal characteristics.
Key verses
Eliphaz appears in 8 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;
Genesis 36:4 -
These are the names of Esau’s sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau.
Genesis 36:10 -
And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
Genesis 36:11 -
And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife.
Genesis 36:12 -
These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,
Genesis 36:15
Show all 8 references
Genesis (6)
- Genesis 36:4
- Genesis 36:10
- Genesis 36:11
- Genesis 36:12
- Genesis 36:15
- Genesis 36:16
1 Chronicles (2)
- 1 Chronicles 1:35
- 1 Chronicles 1:36