edom

Etymology

Came from Late Latin Edōm, from Koine Greek Ἐδώμ (Edṓm), from Biblical Hebrew אֱדוֹם (ʾĔḏōm). Medieval Jewish writers used Edom to refer to Christians, reflecting their view of Christianity as a heresy that had originated from Judaism, and comparing Christians to Esau as a relative hostile to Jacob (who represented the Jewish people). The usage began in Jewish writings that compared the Roman authorities to Edom for their persecution of Jewish people, and it was later applied to Christianity once Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire.