Who was Harum in the Bible?

Harum was a man from the tribe of Judah, specifically recorded as a descendant of Judah through his father, Coz. He is mentioned only once in a genealogical list in the Old Testament (1 Chronicles 4:8).

Why is Harum mentioned in the Bible?

Harum is included to preserve the genealogical record of the tribe of Judah, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant people through specific family lines. His mention, though brief, helps establish the continuity of Judah's lineage leading to King David and ultimately Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:3-6).

Are there any stories about Harum in the Bible?

No, there are no narratives or key events recorded about Harum's life. The Bible only notes his name and lineage within a list of Judah's descendants in 1 Chronicles 4:1-8.

Harum

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon of koz

Harum was a descendant of Judah, son of Coz. (1Ch.4.8)

Harum

Biography

Harum is identified in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 4:8 as a descendant of the tribe of Judah and the son of Coz (also rendered Koz). The passage forms part of a larger genealogical catalog in 1 Chronicles 4 that traces the families of Judah beyond the primary lineages, capturing the breadth and diversity of the tribe's descendants. Harum appears within a list that also mentions Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel son of Harum, suggesting that Harum himself was a significant clan progenitor whose descendants branched into multiple family lines. The Judahite genealogies in Chronicles reflect the chronicler's concern with preserving the full scope of Israel's covenant people, including those who played no dramatic narrative role in Israel's history.

Significance

Harum's place in the tribal genealogy of Judah, while brief, reflects the broader theological purpose of 1 Chronicles: to establish the continuity and comprehensiveness of God's covenant people from the patriarchs through the post-exilic period. The tribe of Judah was the tribe through which the promises to David, and ultimately to all humanity through the Messiah, would be fulfilled. Every name in Judah's genealogical tree, including Harum's, represents a thread in the fabric of redemptive history. His mention also reminds readers that the biblical record honors the full spectrum of God's people, not only the famous or powerful, but those whose faithful lives contributed to the ongoing story without dramatic headlines.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 4:8

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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