This verse identifies the origin of Amalek, the ancestor of the Amalekites, who would become one of Israel's most persistent enemies. Commentators note the significance of this lineage, as it establishes the historical and familial roots of a major conflict that unfolds later in the Old Testament. Some scholars suggest this Amalek founded a specific branch of a larger, pre-existing Amalekite people in the land of Seir.