Who was Bithiah in the Bible?

Bithiah was an Egyptian princess, a daughter of Pharaoh, who married Mered, a man from the tribe of Judah. Her story is briefly mentioned in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles, showing an unusual union between Egyptian royalty and an Israelite.

Why is Bithiah significant in the Bible?

Bithiah is significant because her marriage represents a rare, peaceful integration of an Egyptian into the lineage of Judah. Her inclusion in the genealogy (1 Chronicles 4:18) highlights God's grace in drawing people from all nations into His story.

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

The Bible only tells us she was Pharaoh's daughter and that she married Mered of Judah, who also had a Judean wife. She is listed as the mother of Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah (1 Chronicles 4:17-18), connecting her to the tribe of Judah.

Bithiah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyFemaleDaughter

Bithiah, a daughter of Pharaoh, married Mered from the tribe of Judah.

Bithiah

Biography

Bithiah (also spelled Bithia) is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:18 as a daughter of Pharaoh who became the wife of Mered from the tribe of Judah. Her name in Hebrew means "daughter of the LORD" (bat-Yah), a remarkable designation for an Egyptian princess that has led many scholars to conclude she converted to the worship of the God of Israel upon her marriage. Some ancient Jewish traditions identify her with the unnamed daughter of Pharaoh who rescued the infant Moses from the Nile (Exodus 2:5-10), suggesting that her compassionate act was rewarded with the honor of bearing a Hebrew name that acknowledged her relationship with Israel's God. Whether or not this identification is correct, her inclusion in Judah's genealogy is striking.

Significance

Bithiah's incorporation into the genealogy of Judah carries significant theological weight. An Egyptian princess bearing a Hebrew theophoric name: "daughter of the LORD", embodies the inclusive reach of God's covenant purpose, which was always intended to extend beyond ethnic Israel to embrace those who turn to him in faith. Her story anticipates the New Testament's proclamation that in Christ "there is neither Jew nor Greek" (Galatians 3:28). If indeed she is the one who rescued Moses, her compassion toward a vulnerable Hebrew child became an instrument of divine deliverance for an entire nation. Either way, Bithiah stands as an early witness to the truth that God draws his children from every nation and honors those who, regardless of origin, align themselves with his purposes.

Verse Appearances (1)

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 4:18

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]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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