Who was Azubah in the Bible?

Azubah was the wife of Caleb, one of the faithful spies sent into Canaan. She is mentioned as the mother of his sons Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon (1 Chronicles 2:18).

Why is Azubah significant?

Her significance lies in her connection to Caleb, a key figure from the tribe of Judah who faithfully followed God. As his wife and the mother of his heirs, she is part of the lineage that leads to King David (1 Chronicles 2:9-18).

What do we know about Azubah's life?

The Bible records only her family role: she was married to Caleb and bore him three sons. No specific events from her life are detailed beyond this genealogical record in 1 Chronicles 2:18-19.

Azubah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyFemaleWifeMother

Azubah was Caleb's wife and the mother of his sons Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.

Azubah

Biography

Azubah was the wife of Caleb son of Hezron and the mother of three sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon (1 Chronicles 2:18-19). She belongs to the early Judahite genealogical tradition preserved in Chronicles, connected to the tribe from which Israel's royal line would eventually emerge. Caleb of Hezron (distinct from the celebrated Caleb son of Jephunneh of the spy narrative) was a significant figure in the Judahite clan structure, and his family history is recorded with particular care in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 2. Azubah's name means "forsaken", a name whose meaning, though somber, was common in the ancient Near East and may reflect circumstances surrounding her birth or naming. Following her death or departure from the record, Caleb took Ephrath as his wife, who bore him Hur, ancestor of Bezalel the craftsman.

Significance

Azubah's significance lies in her role as a maternal founder within the Judahite tribal genealogy. The careful recording of her sons, Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon, in 1 Chronicles 2 places her within the intricate network of families from which Israel's most celebrated leaders would emerge. Judah's genealogies in Chronicles serve a post-exilic purpose: to demonstrate the continuity of the covenant community and the legitimacy of its tribal identity. As a wife and mother in this foundational lineage, Azubah represents the indispensable role women played in sustaining the people of God through biological and domestic faithfulness. Her story, though brief, is a reminder that the covenant community is built generation by generation through countless unnamed acts of love and nurture.

Verse Appearances (2)

1Chr

1Chr 2:18 1Chr 2:19

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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