Who was Iru in the Bible?

Iru was a son of Caleb, from the tribe of Judah, and a brother to Elah and Naam. He is mentioned only once in the Bible, in a genealogical record (1 Chronicles 4:15).

Why is Iru mentioned in the Bible?

Iru is listed to establish the lineage and descendants of Caleb, a faithful follower of God. His mention helps trace the genealogy of the tribe of Judah, which was significant for Israel's history and the lineage of King David and, ultimately, Jesus.

Are there any stories about Iru in the Bible?

No, there are no specific stories or key events recorded about Iru's life. The Bible only records his name as one of Caleb's sons within a genealogy (1 Chronicles 4:15).

Iru

Old TestamentMaleSonBrother

Iru was a son of Caleb, along with his brothers Elah and Naam (1Ch.4.15).

Iru

Biography

Iru was one of three sons of Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, listed in the genealogy of Judah in 1 Chronicles 4:15. His brothers were Elah and Naam, and their father Caleb was the famous spy from Judah who, along with Joshua, brought a faithful report from Canaan and was consequently promised his own portion of the land (Numbers 13-14; Joshua 14). Iru's name connects him to the heroic lineage of a man celebrated for wholehearted devotion to God. While 1 Chronicles 4:15 offers no individual narrative about Iru, his position as Caleb's firstborn son suggests he would have inherited a significant portion of his father's celebrated legacy and land.

Significance

Iru's identity as a son of Caleb carries significant theological weight. His father Caleb is one of Scripture's most admirable figures, a man of different spirit who followed God fully (Numbers 14:24). To be born into such a heritage meant inheriting both land and legacy. Iru's place in the Judahite genealogies of 1 Chronicles 4 signals the continuation of Caleb's faithful line within the tribe from which the Davidic dynasty and ultimately the Messiah would emerge. Even where individual details are sparse, the genealogical record affirms that faithfulness has generational reach, shaping descendants long after the patriarch's own acts of courage are completed.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 4:15

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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