Who was Naarah in the Bible?

Naarah was one of the two wives of Ashhur, a descendant of Judah. She is mentioned in the genealogy of Judah as the mother of Ashhur's sons, who were founders of the town of Tekoa (1 Chronicles 4:5-6).

Why is Naarah mentioned in the Bible?

Naarah is significant because her inclusion in the genealogy of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:5-6) helps establish the lineage and tribal heritage of the people of Tekoa. Her mention underscores the importance of family lines and maternal roles in Israel's history.

What do we know about Naarah's life?

The Bible records only that Naarah was married to Ashhur and was the mother of his sons Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These sons are noted as the founders or 'fathers' of the town of Tekoa, indicating her role in establishing a notable family line.

Naarah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyFemaleWife

Naarah was one of the two wives of Ashhur, the father (ie founder) of Tekoa, mentioned in the genealogy of Judah.

Naarah

Biography

Naarah was one of two wives of Ashhur, who is identified as the founder or father of Tekoa, a settlement in the tribal territory of Judah. She is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:5-6, where the genealogical record notes that Naarah bore Ashhur four sons: Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. The other wife of Ashhur was Helah, who bore him three sons. Naarah's place in the genealogy of Judah situates her within the broader lineage that extends from Judah's descendants through the post-exilic period. Tekoa itself later gained prominence as the home of the prophet Amos and as a fortified city in Judah's defense network. Though Naarah's personal story is not elaborated beyond the genealogical notice, her role as a matriarch contributed to the establishment of significant family lines within Judah.

Significance

Naarah's brief appearance in the Chronicler's genealogy illustrates the important yet often overlooked role that women played in building the tribal structure of Israel. By naming her alongside her sons, the text preserves her contribution to the lineage of Judah, the tribe through which the messianic line would ultimately flow. The settlement of Tekoa, founded through Ashhur's family, became a place of prophetic and military significance in Israel's later history. Naarah reminds readers that God's redemptive purposes are advanced through faithful family structures and that the women who bore and raised children within the covenant community were essential participants in the unfolding of salvation history, even when their stories receive only summary treatment.

Verse Appearances (2)

1Chr

1Chr 4:5 1Chr 4:6

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]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources