Answer · confidence: partial

Was the god Qos linked to Yahweh, based on Edomite names and seals?

Research question: What do Edomite inscriptions, personal names, and seals show about the god Qos and whether he was linked to Yahweh?

The records show that the Edomites' national god was called Qaus, later Qōs, though his origins remain obscure ¹⁵. Qōs appears as a element in personal names across Edomite, Judean, Nabatean and Old North Arabian contexts from the 8th century BCE onward, but he stands alone in only one Edomite graffito, from Buṣēra, dated to the 7th century ²³. In the Persian period Qaus became the most widely worshipped deity in the area, and other gods, including Yahweh, were also recognized, which shows co-recognition rather than a confirmed identity between them ⁴. One scholar proposed that the Horvat Qitmit shrine was Edomite and dedicated to Qos, but another source states that nothing has matched the Horvat Qitmit finds, so it gives no confirmed link between Qos and Yahweh ⁶⁷. The newest fact comes from a 2020 publication ⁴.

Checked 2026-10-21. Only documented and supported facts are used.

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Sources

[1] supported

The Edomites' national god was called Qaus, later Qōs.

"Ihr Nationalgott hieß Qaus , jünger Qōs."

Edom

[2] supported

Qōs appears as a theophoric element (a god's name built into a personal name) in Edomite, Judean, Nabatean and Old North Arabian personal names from the 8th century BCE onward.

"Seit dem 8. Jh. ist Qōs als theophores Element in edomitischen, judäischen, nabatäischen und altnordarabischen Personennamen belegt."

Edom

[3] supported

The name Qōs appears on its own in only one Edomite graffito, from Buṣēra, dated to the 7th century.

"Selbstständig erscheint der Name lediglich in einem edomitischen Graffito aus Buṣēra (7. Jh.)"

Edom

[4] supported

Inscriptions from the Persian period show that Qaus became the most widely worshipped deity in the area, though other gods, including Yahweh, were also recognized.

"the many inscriptions from the Persian period show that Qaus became the most widely worshipped deity in the area, even if other gods, including Yahweh, were also recognized"

The Religion of Idumea and Its Relationship to Early Judaism (2020)

[5] supported

The origins of the Edomite deity Qaus remain obscure.

"While the origins of the “Edomite deity” Qaus remain obscure"

The Religion of Idumea and Its Relationship to Early Judaism (2020)

[6] supported

One scholar suggested that the shrine at Horvat Qitmit in the Negev was Edomite and dedicated to the god Qos.

"suggested that the shrine at Horvat Qitmit in the Negev was Edomite and dedicated to Qos (Beit-Arieh 1995b: 206)"

Busayra excavations by crystal-M. Bennett 1971-1980, page 514

[7] supported

The source refers to Qos as a deity, but its excerpt says nothing has matched the finds at Horvat Qitmit, an ancient shrine, so it gives no confirmed link between Qos and Yahweh.

"name of the deity Qos. But nothing has matched the finds at Horvat Qitmit, an ancient shrine"

The view from Nebo, page 314

[8] supported

The 'Edomite' elements found at Horvat Qitmit and Haseva, both in Judah, are treated as evidence bearing on the Edomite character of the Qos cult.

"The ‘Edomite’ elements at Qitmit and Haseva ..."

Book, page 354