Who was Madmannah in the Bible?

Madmannah was a descendant of Caleb, the son of Hezron, from the tribe of Judah. He is mentioned only in a genealogical list in 1 Chronicles 2:49, which traces the lineage of Judah's tribe.

Why is Madmannah mentioned in the Bible?

Madmannah is listed to establish the detailed genealogy of the tribe of Judah, showing the fulfillment of God's promise to make Judah a powerful tribe. His inclusion helps document the family line that would eventually lead to King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-16).

Are there any stories or key events about Madmannah?

No, there are no specific stories or key events recorded about Madmannah's life in the Bible. His sole mention is his name within a family list, highlighting the Bible's focus on his lineage rather than his personal actions.

Madmannah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Madmannah was a descendant of Caleb, the son of Hezron, from the tribe of Judah (1Ch.2.49).

Madmannah

Biography

Madmannah appears in the genealogy of the tribe of Judah as a descendant of Caleb son of Hezron, listed as a son of Shaaph by Caleb's concubine Maacah (1 Chronicles 2:49). Like several other names in this section of the Chronicler's genealogy, Madmannah likely represents both a person and the settlement that person founded or led. The town of Madmannah is separately attested as a location in the southern Negev region allotted to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:31), situated in the arid frontier territory south of Hebron. The dual identity of Madmannah as both personal name and place name reflects the common ancient practice of identifying a settlement's founder with the settlement itself, encoding territorial history within genealogical records.

Significance

Madmannah's presence in the Calebite genealogy demonstrates how Israel's tribal records served simultaneously as family histories and territorial maps. The Chronicler's concern to document these connections was not antiquarian curiosity but theological conviction: the settlement of the Promised Land fulfilled God's covenantal promises to Abraham and his descendants. Madmannah's association with the Negev frontier reflects the Calebite tradition of bold settlement in challenging territories, a legacy rooted in Caleb's own courageous faith when he stood as one of only two faithful spies. Each settlement name preserved in these genealogies represents an act of faith in taking possession of what God had promised.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 2:49

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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