Who was Jahdai in the Bible?

Jahdai was a descendant of Caleb, the faithful spy from the tribe of Judah. He is mentioned only in a genealogy as one of Caleb's sons or descendants (1 Chronicles 2:47).

Why is Jahdai mentioned in the Bible?

Jahdai's inclusion highlights the importance of genealogical records in establishing lineage, particularly for the tribe of Judah and the family of Caleb. His mention preserves the continuity of God's promises to the families of Israel.

What can we learn from Jahdai's life?

While no specific events are recorded, Jahdai's life reminds us that faithfulness to God is often measured in legacy and continuity. Being part of a faithful family line, like Caleb's, was a significant honor in Israel's history.

Jahdai

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessFemaleSon

Jahdai was one of the descendants of Caleb, the son of Jephunneh (1Ch.2.47).

Jahdai

Biography

Jahdai appears in a genealogical list within the lineage of Caleb, son of Jephunneh, in 1 Chronicles 2:47. The exact nature of his relationship to Caleb is somewhat ambiguous in the Hebrew text, he may have been a concubine's son or a collateral descendant, yet the Chronicler considered his line important enough to preserve. The name Jahdai may derive from a root meaning something akin to 'led by Yahweh' or 'Yahweh directs,' suggesting a family that valued the divine name. His listing among Caleb's descendants connects him to the great spy and warrior who alone, with Joshua, trusted God's promise and was granted an inheritance in Canaan (Numbers 13–14; Joshua 14).

Significance

Jahdai's significance lies chiefly in his genealogical connection to Caleb, one of Scripture's most celebrated examples of wholehearted faithfulness to God. To be counted among Caleb's descendants was to share in a legacy of trust and courage. The preservation of Jahdai's name in 1 Chronicles 2 reflects the biblical conviction that every life within the covenant community matters to God, even those who leave no memorable deeds. Genealogies in Chronicles serve a theological purpose: they affirm that the story of God's people is woven from countless individual lives, each contributing to the lineage through which blessing flows.

Authority Records

Wikidata

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 2:47

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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