Who was Hodiah in the Bible?

Hodiah was the wife of Mered (also called Ishbar), a descendant of Judah, and the mother of several notable figures, including Jered, Heber, and Jekuthiel (1 Chronicles 4:17-18). She is mentioned only in a genealogical list within the tribe of Judah.

What is the significance of Hodiah?

Hodiah's significance lies in her role as a matriarch within the tribe of Judah. By naming her sons, the biblical record preserves her lineage, which was important for establishing tribal heritage and identity in ancient Israel.

What key events involved Hodiah?

The Bible records no specific events in Hodiah's life. Her mention is purely genealogical, listing her marriage to Mered and identifying her as the mother of his children, highlighting her contribution to the family line (1 Chronicles 4:17-18).

Hodiah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyFemaleWife

Hodiah was the wife of Ishbar or Mered, a descendant of Judah, and the mother of several notable individuals.

Hodiah

Biography

Hodiah was a woman of the tribe of Judah whose identity is recorded in the genealogical material of 1 Chronicles 4:19. She is described in connection with Mered, a descendant of Judah, and is identified as a Judahite wife, a detail that the text uses to distinguish her from Mered's Egyptian wife, whose children are enumerated separately in the same passage. Hodiah's children are associated with the Judahite clans of Keilah and Eshtemoa, two towns in the territory of Judah. Her name, meaning "splendor of Yahweh" or "Yahweh is majestic," is a theophoric expression reflecting deep piety. Though confined to a genealogical notice, she represents the female line through which Judahite heritage and clan identity were transmitted across generations.

Significance

Hodiah's brief appearance in the Judahite genealogy of 1 Chronicles 4 carries significance beyond its genealogical function. The careful preservation of her name alongside those of her children reflects the Chronicler's recognition that tribal identity in Judah was sustained through both patrilineal and matrilineal lines. The tribe of Judah bore the Messianic promise, the scepter would not depart from Judah (Genesis 49:10), and every generation of faithful men and women within that tribe contributed to carrying that promise forward. Hodiah, as a named matriarch of Judah, participates in that heritage. Her story reminds readers that the unfolding of divine redemption depended on the faithfulness of countless ordinary families throughout Israel's long history.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 4:19

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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