Who was Jered in the Bible?

Jered was a descendant of Judah, the son of Mered, and the father (or founder) of the town of Gedor. He is mentioned only in the genealogical records found in 1 Chronicles 4:18.

Why is Jered mentioned in the Bible?

Jered's inclusion establishes a historical and genealogical link within the tribe of Judah, showing the lineage and settlement patterns of God's people. His primary significance is as the founder of Gedor, recording the growth of Judah's territory (1 Chronicles 4:18).

Are there any stories about Jered in the Bible?

No, there are no narrative stories or key events recorded about Jered's life. The Bible only notes his familial relationship and his role as the founder of Gedor within a genealogy (1 Chronicles 4:18).

Jered

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Jered was the son of Mered and the father (ie founder) of Gedor, as recorded in the genealogy of Judah in 1 Chronicles.

Jered

Biography

Jered was a descendant in the tribal genealogy of Judah recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:18, identified as the son of Mered and the founder or progenitor of the city of Gedor. He is listed among the children of Mered's Egyptian wife, Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh, a lineage that marks him as part of a remarkable mixed heritage within the tribe of Judah. His mother's identity as an Egyptian princess who married into Judah gives Jered an unusual ancestral background. As the 'father of Gedor,' Jered likely either founded the settlement or served as the leading patriarch of the clan that inhabited the town of Gedor, a place found in the hill country of Judah. His name appears only in this single genealogical note.

Significance

Jered's genealogical placement in the Chronicler's account of Judah carries subtle but meaningful theological weight. His descent from Bithiah, daughter of Pharaoh, illustrates God's providential weaving of unlikely threads into the tapestry of covenant history. That a daughter of Egypt's royal house became mother to a clan within the chosen tribe of Judah speaks to the expansive reach of God's grace beyond ethnic boundaries. Jered's identity as the founding ancestor of Gedor also demonstrates how Scripture honors the builders and settlers who shaped the physical inheritance of God's people, reminding readers that the land promises of the covenant were fulfilled through real individuals and families.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 4:18

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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