Who was Kenaz in the Bible?

Kenaz was a descendant of Caleb from the tribe of Judah, mentioned in the genealogical records. He is noted as the father of Othniel, who became the first judge of Israel (Joshua 15:17, Judges 1:13).

Why is Kenaz significant in the Bible?

Kenaz's primary significance is through his son, Othniel, whom God raised up to deliver Israel from oppression. This establishes Kenaz's family line as one of faithful leadership within the tribe of Judah (Judges 3:9-11).

What key events involve Kenaz in the Bible?

The Bible does not record specific events in Kenaz's life. His importance is genealogical, as his name appears in lists establishing the lineage of Caleb and the leaders of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:13-15).

Kenaz

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon of elah

Kenaz was a descendant of Caleb, mentioned in the genealogy of the tribe of Judah.

Kenaz

Biography

Kenaz, listed as a descendant of Caleb in the tribal genealogy of Judah recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:15, was one of several figures bearing this name in the Old Testament. He appears as a son of Elah and grandson of Caleb son of Jephunneh, the renowned spy who, along with Joshua, brought back a faithful report from Canaan. The genealogical records in 1 Chronicles 4 are notably compressed, offering names without narrative context, but they serve to establish the lineage and territorial inheritances of Judah's clans within the Promised Land. Kenaz's placement in the Calebite line situates him within one of Judah's most celebrated families, a family that had distinguished itself through faith at Kadesh-barnea and had received the hill country of Hebron as a specific inheritance (Joshua 14:13-14). Beyond his name in the genealogical register, no independent narrative is associated with this particular Kenaz.

Significance

Kenaz's appearance in the Calebite genealogy serves a function that may seem modest but carries genuine theological weight: it demonstrates the multigenerational continuity of Caleb's faithful legacy. Caleb's inheritance at Hebron was not merely a personal reward for his courage at Kadesh-barnea but an inheritance to be passed to his descendants, embedding faithfulness into the land itself. The genealogies of 1 Chronicles 4 are a record of how God's promises unfold across generations, with each name representing a household and a heritage. Kenaz's place in this list reminds readers that the fruits of a single act of faith, Caleb's courageous report, continue to ramify through the lives of children and grandchildren, underscoring the long-term consequences of covenant fidelity.

Authority Records

Wikidata

SiblingCaleb

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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