Who was Chelub in the Bible?

Chelub was a descendant of Judah, the son of Hezron and the brother of Caleb. He is mentioned as the father of Mehir in a genealogical record (1 Chronicles 4:11).

What is the significance of Chelub's family line?

Chelub's significance lies in his placement within the genealogy of Judah, which was the royal tribe of Israel. His lineage connects to King David and, ultimately, to Jesus Christ, showing God's faithfulness through generations.

Are Chelub and Caleb the same person?

No, Chelub and Caleb are different individuals. The Bible identifies Chelub as the brother of Caleb, son of Hezron (1 Chronicles 4:11). Caleb the spy, a more prominent figure, was from the tribe of Judah but from a different family line (Numbers 13:6).

Chelub

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSonBrother

Chelub, Caleb's brother and Hezron's son, was Mehir's father. (1Ch.4.11)

Chelub

Biography

This Chelub was a descendant of Judah through the line of Hezron, identified in 1 Chronicles 4:11 as the brother of Caleb (or Caleb the Kenizzite) and the father of Mehir. Mehir is noted as the father of Eshton, extending the genealogical line further into the tribe of Judah. The tribal genealogies in 1 Chronicles 4 represent the preserved family memory of Judahite clans, and Chelub's placement within this record links him to one of Scripture's most significant tribal lineages, the tribe from which David and ultimately Jesus the Messiah would descend. While no narrative events are attached to this Chelub, his genealogical position anchors him within the expansive network of Judahite families that carried forward God's covenantal purposes through the centuries.

Significance

Chelub's genealogical entry in 1 Chronicles 4:11 is a small but integral link in the chain of Judahite ancestry. The Chronicler's careful preservation of these genealogical records served a vital theological purpose for the post-exilic community: establishing continuity of identity, land claims, and covenantal belonging after the disruption of the Babylonian exile. Chelub's position as brother to Caleb within the Judahite genealogy connects him to one of the tribe's most celebrated figures, and his descendants through Mehir represent the ongoing unfolding of Judah's tribal story, a story that culminates in the Davidic monarchy and, ultimately, in the Messiah who is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5).

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 4:11

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]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources