Judah
Israelite / Jew Hebrew; father of the tribe of Judah · Creation & Patriarchs · Old Testament
- Also called
- Judas, Juda
- Name means
- Praise
- Role
- Fourth son of Jacob; father of the royal tribe
- When
- c. 1900 BC (traditional)
What they did
Proposed selling Joseph, but later confessed that Tamar was more righteous than he, and offered himself as a slave in place of Benjamin.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
Jacob prophesied that the sceptre would not depart from Judah. From his tribe came David and the Lord Jesus, 'the Lion of the tribe of Juda'.
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Genesis 49:10 (KJV)
Bible references
And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing. Genesis 29:35 (KJV)
And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more. Genesis 38:26 (KJV)
Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. Genesis 44:33 (KJV)
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Genesis 49:10 (KJV)
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; Matthew 1:2-3 (KJV)
For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. Hebrews 7:14 (KJV)
Family
- Father
- Jacob
- Mother
- Leah
- Spouse(s)
- Daughter of Shuah, a Canaanite (unnamed)
- Children
- Er, Onan, Shelah, Pharez, Zarah
- Brothers / sisters
- Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah; half-brothers Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher
Pharez and Zarah were born to him by Tamar (Genesis 38:29-30).