Who was Jerioth in the Bible?

Jerioth was one of the wives of Caleb, son of Hezron, from the tribe of Judah. She is mentioned only in a genealogical record as the mother of some of Caleb's children (1 Chronicles 2:18).

Why is Jerioth mentioned in the Bible?

Jerioth's brief mention serves to trace the lineage of Caleb and the tribe of Judah. Her inclusion highlights the importance of family and ancestry in God's covenant promises to Israel.

What do we know about Jerioth's life and family?

The Bible records only that Jerioth was Caleb's wife and bore him children, whose names are not listed. No other events or details about her life are provided (1 Chronicles 2:18).

Jerioth

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyFemaleWifeMother

Jerioth was one of the wives of Caleb, and she bore him some unnamed children, as mentioned in the genealogy of Judah in 1 Chronicles.

Jerioth

Biography

Jerioth was a wife of Caleb son of Hezron, a prominent figure in the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:18). The genealogical notation in 1 Chronicles is briefly stated, indicating that Caleb had children by both his wife Azubah and Jerioth, though the text's syntax has generated scholarly discussion about whether Jerioth was a separate wife or a secondary designation for Azubah. Regardless of the interpretive complexity, Jerioth is preserved in Scripture as part of Caleb's household and thus connected to one of Judah's most important ancestral lines. Her children, though unnamed in the received text, contributed to the growth of the Calebite clan that settled portions of the Negev and the hill country around Hebron.

Significance

Jerioth's brief mention in 1 Chronicles 2:18 reflects the biblical pattern of preserving the memory of women within patriarchal genealogies, even when their stories are told in compressed form. As part of Caleb's household, she participated in the expansion of the Judahite clans that would eventually produce the royal line of David. The Calebites were known for faithful courage, Caleb himself was commended for fully following the Lord (Numbers 14:24), and Jerioth stands within that heritage of covenant faithfulness. Her inclusion in the genealogical record affirms the biblical conviction that women share equally in the covenantal community whose story Scripture preserves, even when their voices are only faintly heard.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 2:18

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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