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Lotan

biblical_person theological_term standard

Lotan is a biblical proper name: a Horite clan chief in Edom and a son of Seir the Horite.

At a Glance

A Horite ancestor or clan chief associated with Edom.

Key Points

Description

Lotan is an Old Testament proper name rather than a theological concept. In Genesis 36 and 1 Chronicles 1, Lotan appears in the genealogical material connected with Seir the Horite and the chiefs associated with Edom. The text presents him as part of a historical clan structure, not as a figure central to doctrine or covenant theology. In biblical reference works, Lotan is best treated as a person-name entry tied to the Edomite/Horite genealogies.

Biblical Context

Genesis 36 preserves the genealogy of Esau and the related peoples of Seir. In that setting, Lotan is named among the sons of Seir the Horite and is connected to a Horite family line in Edom.

Historical Context

The passage reflects the tribal and clan organization of the Edom region before and alongside Israel’s settlement history. Lotan belongs to the broader network of Horite and Edomite names preserved in the biblical record.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Ancient genealogical lists often preserved clan origins, territorial associations, and remembered ancestral names. Lotan fits this pattern as one of the names linked to the peoples of Seir and Edom.

Primary Key Texts

Original Language Note

The Hebrew name is לֹוטָן (Lōṭān), rendered in English as Lotan.

Theological Significance

Lotan has no major doctrinal significance in Scripture. His importance is historical and genealogical, helping situate the peoples associated with Edom in the biblical narrative.

Philosophical Explanation

This entry is an example of a biblical name that matters for historical continuity and textual specificity, even though it does not carry theological content in the narrow sense.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not treat Lotan as a theological category or draw hidden doctrinal meaning from the name alone. His significance comes from his place in the genealogy.

Major Views

There is no major interpretive debate about Lotan himself; the main question is simply how to classify the entry, since it is a proper name rather than a doctrine term.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Lotan should not be used to support doctrines beyond the plain historical-genealogical data of the text. No special theological claims should be attached to the name.

Practical Significance

Genealogical names like Lotan remind readers that Scripture records real peoples and family lines in concrete historical settings.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Lotan

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