Who was Gazez in the Bible?

Gazez was a grandson of Caleb, a faithful follower of God, and the son of Haran. He is mentioned only in a genealogical list in 1 Chronicles 2:46, which traces the lineage of the tribe of Judah.

Why is Gazez mentioned in the Bible?

Gazez is mentioned to establish the detailed genealogy of Caleb's family within the tribe of Judah. His inclusion highlights the importance of family lineage and God's faithfulness in preserving the line through which King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ would come (Matthew 1:1-16).

What is known about Gazez's life?

The Bible records no specific events from Gazez's life. His significance comes solely from his place in the family tree, identifying him as a descendant of Caleb and part of the Judahite lineage that God promised to bless.

Gazez

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon of haran

Gazez was a grandson of Caleb, born to Haran's son Gazez.

Gazez

Biography

This Gazez is distinguished from his namesake uncle by being the son of Haran and thus the grandson of Caleb through Caleb's concubine Ephah, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 2:46. The passage states that Haran 'begot Gazez,' making this figure the second generation of Calebite descendants through the Ephah branch of the family. The repetition of the name Gazez across two generations within the same family, both uncle and nephew sharing the name, was a recognized naming practice in ancient Israel, likely honoring a respected ancestor or carrying forward a family identity. This Gazez would have lived within the broader context of the Judahite tribal community, though no specific historical events or personal achievements are attributed to him beyond this genealogical reference in Chronicles.

Significance

The second Gazez, grandson of Caleb through Haran (1 Chronicles 2:46), illustrates how the Chronicler meticulously traces familial lines even through secondary and tertiary generations. The practice of repeating names within a family across generations, as seen here, demonstrates the ancient Israelite emphasis on honoring lineage and maintaining tribal memory. Theologically, the preservation of such names affirms that no descendant of the covenant community is forgotten in God's unfolding plan. Even those who left no recorded deeds are woven into the fabric of redemptive history through the genealogical record, testifying to the continuity of God's faithfulness across generations.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 2:46

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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