Aran is a biblical figure mentioned briefly in the Book of Genesis and later reiterated in the Book of Chronicles. His identity is firmly established as a member of the Horites, the ancient people who inhabited the rugged hill country of Seir before the descendants of Esau (who became Edom) took possession of the land.
The Lineage of the Horites
Aran’s entire history is contained within two verses that document the genealogical records of the people of Seir. The lineage traces back to Seir the Horite, the patriarch of the clan.
Aran is listed as the son of Dishan, who was himself one of the sons of Seir:
“These are the children of Dishan: Uz, and Aran.” — Genesis 36:28 (KJV)
This same statement is later repeated in the historical compilation of family records:
“The sons of Dishan; Uz, and Aran.” — 1 Chronicles 1:42 (KJV)
The two references serve to confirm the importance of maintaining accurate tribal records in the ancient world, even for groups that were later assimilated by more powerful nations.
Connection to the Land of Edom
The Horites, including Aran’s lineage, were the original “dukes” or chiefs of the land of Seir. The Bible records how Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, took possession of this land, displacing the Horites through conquest, intermarriage, and assimilation, as prophesied:
“And these are the dukes of the Horites; the children of Seir in the land of Edom…” — Genesis 36:20 (KJV)
While we know nothing of Aran’s personal actions, the mention of his name and his brother Uz is historically significant as it shows the complex tribal tapestry that formed the Edomite nation. His name represents one of the ancient, foundational clans of the region that neighbored Israel.
In the original Hebrew, the name Aran (אֲרָן, ’Ārān) is often translated to mean “wild goat” or “mountain goat,” a fitting name for a person belonging to a tribe dwelling in the mountainous and rugged territory of Seir.
In sum, Aran was an ancestor of one of the foundational Horite clans who resided in the land of Seir before its conquest by the descendants of Esau, forever securing his place as a genealogical marker in the foundational records of the Bible.