Jalam

At a Glance

A son of Esau mentioned in Genesis and Chronicles; a real biblical person, not a theological concept.

Key Points

• Appears in Esau’s family line
• Listed in Genesis and 1 Chronicles
• No independent doctrine is attached to him
• Helps trace the Edomite genealogy

Description

Jalam is a minor Old Testament person named in the genealogical records connected to Esau. The biblical references identify him as one of Esau’s sons, and thus part of the family line associated with Edom. Scripture gives no narrative beyond the genealogical notices and attaches no distinct doctrinal teaching to the name. For that reason, Jalam is best treated as a brief biblical person entry rather than a theological term.

Biblical Context

Jalam appears in the family records of Esau in Genesis and Chronicles. These passages preserve the names of Esau’s descendants and help trace the early formation of Edomite family lines.

Historical Context

The genealogies connected with Esau reflect the historical memory of clan and tribal origins in the ancient Near East. Jalam belongs to the line that later came to be associated with Edom.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In ancient Israel, genealogies served to preserve family identity, inheritance lines, and covenant-history context. Jalam’s inclusion shows the Scripture’s concern for real historical persons, even when little else is known about them.

Primary Key Texts

• Genesis 36:5
• 1 Chronicles 1:35

Secondary Key Texts

• Genesis 36:14 (in some translational traditions the name appears as a spelling variant)

Original Language Note

A Hebrew proper name; English spellings may vary by transliteration or textual tradition.

Theological Significance

Jalam has no standalone doctrinal significance. His importance is genealogical, showing part of the biblical record of Esau’s descendants and the Edomite line.

Philosophical Explanation

The entry illustrates how Scripture preserves both major redemptive events and ordinary family records. Even brief genealogical names contribute to the coherence of the biblical account.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not confuse Jalam with a theological concept or overread symbolic meaning into a brief genealogical mention. The text gives identity, not extended biography.

Major Views

There is little interpretive disagreement; the name is simply part of Esau’s genealogical record.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry supports the historical reliability of biblical genealogies but does not establish a doctrine on its own.

Practical Significance

Jalam reminds readers that biblical genealogies record real people and family lines, even when Scripture provides only a name.

Related Entries

• Esau
• Edom
• Edomites
• Genesis 36
• 1 Chronicles 1

See Also

• Aholibamah
• Genesis
• Chronicles