Genesis 19:37

37 The firstborn bore a son, and named him Mo'av. The same is the father of the Mo`avim to this day.

Genesis 19:37 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 19:37

And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab
As if it was "Meab", from the father, as Aben Ezra, and so Josephus, that is, which she had by her father; and she was so far from being ashamed that it might be known in time to come, she gave him this name. Hillerus F23 makes it to be a compound of (ba) and (abwm) , and to signify "going into", or "lying with a father", which still more notoriously points to her own action. Drusius has another derivation of the word, at least proposes it, and renders it "aqua patris"; "mo" in the Egyptian language signifying "water", which is sometimes used for seed, see ( Isaiah 48:1 ) : the same [is] the father of the Moabites unto this day;
a people that lived on the borders of the land of Canaan, often troublesome to the Israelites, and frequently spoken of in the Old Testament.


FOOTNOTES:

F23 Onomastic. Sacr. p. 414.

Genesis 19:37 In-Context

35 They made their father drink wine that night also. The younger arose, and lay with him. He didn't know when she lay down, nor when she arose.
36 Thus both of Lot's daughters were with child by their father.
37 The firstborn bore a son, and named him Mo'av. The same is the father of the Mo`avim to this day.
38 The younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben-`Ammi. The same is the father of the children of `Ammon to this day.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.