Who was Tehinnah in the Bible?

Tehinnah was a man from the tribe of Judah, recorded as the father of Ir-nahash and a descendant of Chelub. He is mentioned only in a genealogy, specifically in 1 Chronicles 4:12.

Why is Tehinnah mentioned in the Bible?

Tehinnah's mention in 1 Chronicles 4:12 preserves the lineage of the tribe of Judah, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant promises through detailed family records. His inclusion shows that even lesser-known individuals are part of God's sovereign plan for His people.

What does the name Tehinnah mean?

The name Tehinnah (תְּחִנָּה) means 'supplication' or 'favor' in Hebrew, often referring to earnest prayer. While the Bible does not record a specific story about him, his name's meaning reflects a theme of dependence on God within the community of Judah.

Tehinnah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleFather

Tehinnah was the father of Ir-nahash and a descendant of Chelub from the tribe of Judah.

Tehinnah

Biography

Tehinnah is mentioned only in 1 Chronicles 4:12 as a descendant of Chelub from the tribe of Judah and the father of Ir-nahash, a name meaning "city of the serpent" or possibly "city of the craftsman." He appears within a genealogical section of Chronicles that catalogues the clans and settlements of Judah, linking particular individuals to specific towns or territories.

The men listed in this section were prominent within their respective communities, their identities preserved in tribal memory even when the details of their lives were not. Tehinnah himself is remembered as a founding or prominent figure associated with Ir-nahash, suggesting he may have played a role in the establishment or leadership of that settlement.

Significance

Tehinnah exemplifies the broader purpose of the Chronicler's genealogies: to demonstrate the continuity of God's covenant people through the succession of named individuals across generations. For post-exilic readers of Chronicles, these ancestral records affirmed both identity and inheritance, that particular families had legitimate claims to land, towns, and roles within Israel. Tehinnah's association with Ir-nahash likely reflected a real community with historical memory of its founders.

In a theological sense, these genealogical passages proclaim that no one in the story of God's people is truly forgotten; each name is a testimony to divine providence sustaining the covenant community through time.

Authority Records

Wikidata

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 4:12

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