Who was Tappuah in the Bible?

Tappuah was a man from the tribe of Judah, recorded as a son of Hebron and a grandson of Caleb (1 Chronicles 2:42-43). He is part of a genealogical list showing the lineage and descendants of Judah's tribe.

Why is Tappuah mentioned in the Bible?

Tappuah is mentioned to establish the genealogical record of the tribe of Judah, which was crucial for land inheritance and establishing the lineage leading to King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ. His inclusion shows the fulfillment of God's promise to make Judah a great tribe (Genesis 49:8-10).

Are there any key events in Tappuah's life?

The Bible does not record any specific events in Tappuah's life; he is only listed in a genealogy. His significance lies entirely in his place within the family line of Judah, as documented in 1 Chronicles 2:42-43.

Tappuah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Tappuah was a son of Hebron, a descendant of Judah.

Tappuah

Biography

Tappuah was a son of Hebron, listed among the descendants of Judah in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 2:43. He is named alongside his brothers Korah, Rekem, and Shema as part of the extended Calebite lineage within the tribe of Judah. His name is shared with at least two Canaanite cities in the Promised Land, one in the Shephelah (Joshua 15:34) and one on the border of Ephraim and Manasseh (Joshua 16:8), suggesting that personal names and place names often shared common origins in the ancient Israelite world, with families sometimes being eponymously linked to the towns they founded or inhabited. As a descendant of Hebron, Tappuah was part of the Calebite branch of Judah centered in the southern highlands.

Significance

Tappuah's inclusion in the Judahite genealogy of 1 Chronicles 2 reflects the Chronicler's intent to trace the full extent of Judah's tribal heritage, including its Calebite subdivisions. Though Tappuah himself receives no narrative attention, his position in the lineage of Judah connects him to the tribe through whom God would bring forth both the Davidic monarchy and ultimately the Messiah (Genesis 49:10). The genealogies of Chronicles remind readers that the fulfillment of covenant promises depended on the preservation of these family lines through every generation, however obscure, a testimony to God's meticulous providential care over his chosen people.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherHebron

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 2:43

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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