Judah (Person) — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

1. Fourth of Jacob’s 12 sons (Gn 35:23; 1 Chr 2:1) and the fourth son born to Jacob by Leah, who, overjoyed with the thought of bearing Jacob another son, named him Judah, meaning “praise” (Gn 29:35). Judah fathered five sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah by Bathshua the Canaanitess (Gn 38:3-5; 1 Chr 2:3); and the twins Perez and Zerah by Tamar, his daughter-in-law (Gn 38:29-30; 1 Chr 2:4). He eventually settled his family in Egypt with his father and brothers (Ex 1:2), although his first two sons, Er and Onan, were divinely killed in Canaan for their disobedience (Gn 46:12). Judah became the founder of one of Israel’s 12 tribes (Nm 1:26-27).

Show passage in OET: GEN 35:23

OET-RV GEN 35:23

23 Le’ah’s sons were his eldest son Re’uven, and then to Shim’on (Simeon), Levi, Yehudah (Judah), Yisakar (Issachar), and Zevulun.

OET-LV GEN 35:23

23 The _sons _of Lēʼāh the _firstborn _of Yaˊₐqoⱱ Rəʼūⱱēn and_Shimˊōn and_Lēvī and_Yəhūdāh/(Yihudah) and_Yissāskār/(Issachar) and_Zəⱱūlūn.

Show passage in OET: CH1 2:1

OET-RV CH1 2:1

2 These were Yisrael’s (Israel) sons: Re’uven, Shim’on (Simeon), Levi, and Yehudah (Judah), Yisakar (Issachar), and Zevulun,

OET-LV CH1 2:1

2 These were_the _sons _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) Rəʼūⱱēn Shimˊōn Lēvī and_Yəhūdāh/(Yihudah) Issachar and_Zəⱱūlūn.

Show passage in OET: GEN 29:35

OET-RV GEN 29:35

35 Then Le’ah got pregnant again and gave birth to a fourth son, and she said, “This time I will praise Yahweh.” That’s why she named him ‘Yehudah’ (Judah) (which means ‘praise’). Then she stopped getting pregnant.

OET-LV GEN 29:35

35 And_she/it _conceived/became _pregnant again and_she/it _gave _birth a _son and_she/it _said the_time//this _time I _will _praise DOM YHWH therefore yes/correct/thus/so she _called his/its_name Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_she _stopped from_bearing _children.

Show passage in OET: GEN 38:3–5

OET-RV GEN 38:3

3 and she got pregnant and in due course, gave birth to a son who Yehudah named Er.

OET-RV GEN 38:4

4 Then she got pregnant again and gave birth a another son, and she named him Onan.

OET-RV GEN 38:5

5 Then she got pregnant yet again and gave birth to a third son, and she named him Shela. (Yehudah was in Keziv when she Onan was born.)

OET-LV GEN 38:3

3 And_she/it _conceived/became _pregnant and_she/it _gave _birth a _son and_he/it _called DOM his/its_name ˊĒr.

OET-LV GEN 38:4

4 And_she/it _conceived/became _pregnant again and_she/it _gave _birth a _son and_she/it _called/named DOM his/its_name ʼŌnān.

OET-LV GEN 38:5

5 And_she/it _added again and_she/it _gave _birth a _son and_she/it _called/named DOM his/its_name Shēlāh and_it _was in_Kezib when_bore_she DOM_him/it.

Show passage in OET: CH1 2:3

OET-RV CH1 2:3

3 Yehudah’s (Judah) sons (with the Kena’ani (Canaanite) woman Bat-Shua) were Er, Onan, and Shela. (Yehudah’s eldest son, Er, was evil in Yahweh’s eyes, and he killed him.)

OET-LV CH1 2:3

3 The _sons _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) were_ˊĒr and_ʼŌnān and_Shēlāh three_sons it _was _born to_him/it from_Bath- shūˊa the_Kənaˊₐnī/(Canaanite)_woman and_he/it _was ˊĒr the _firstborn _of Yəhūdāh evil in/on_both _eyes _of YHWH and_he_put _him _to _death.

Show passage in OET: GEN 38:29–30

OET-RV GEN 38:29

29 However, it pulled its hand back in, then wow, its brother was delivered first. Then she said, “How did you manage to break out first?” So he named him ‘Perets’ (which means ‘break out’).

OET-RV GEN 38:30

30 After that, his brother who had the scarlet thread on his wrist was delivered, and he named him Zerah.

OET-LV GEN 38:29

29 And_he/it _was just_as_he_was_withdrawing his/its_hand and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE his/its_brother he _came _out and_she/it _said how you _have _made _a _breach on_yourself a _breach and_he/it _called his/its_name Pereʦ.

OET-LV GEN 38:30

30 And_after his/its_brother whom was_on his/its_hand the _scarlet_thread he _came _out and_he/it _called his/its_name Zeraḩ.

Show passage in OET: CH1 2:4

OET-RV CH1 2:4

4 His daughter-in-law Tamar had twin boys named Perets and Zerah, so altogether Yehudah had five sons.

OET-LV CH1 2:4

4 And_Tāmār his/its_daughter-in-law she _bore for_him/it DOM Pereʦ and_DOM Zeraḩ all _of the _sons _of Yəhūdāh were_five.

Show passage in OET: EXO 1:2

OET-RV EXO 1:2

2 Re’uven, Shim’on (Simeon), Levi, Yehudah (Judah),

OET-LV EXO 1:2

2 Rəʼūⱱēn Shimˊōn Lēvī and_Yəhūdāh/(Yihudah).

Show passage in OET: GEN 46:12

OET-RV GEN 46:12

12 Yehudah’s (Judah) sons were Er, Onan, Shela, Perets, and Zerah, but Er and Onan had died in Kena’an. Perets’ sons were Hetsron and Hamul.

OET-LV GEN 46:12

12 And_the _sons of _Yəhūdāh/(Judah) ˊĒr and_ʼŌnān and_Shēlāh and_Pereʦ and_Zeraḩ and_ ˊĒr and_ʼŌnān _he/it _died in_land of _Kənaˊan/(Canaan) and_ the _sons _of Pereʦ _they _were Ḩeʦrōn and_Ḩāmūl.

Show passage in OET: NUM 1:26–27

OET-RV NUM 1:26-27

• 26-27 74,600 men from the tribe of Yehudah (Judah),

OET-LV NUM 1:26

26 Of_the _descendants _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) genealogies _of_their to_their_clans to_the _house _of their _ancestors _of_their by_the_number _of names from_a _son _of twenty year[s] and_upward_upwards every _of one _who_goes _forth _of warfare.

OET-LV NUM 1:27

27 Their _enrolled _of_men of_the _tribe _of of _Yəhūdāh were_four and_seventy thousand and_six hundred(s).

Jump to OET GEN 35:23 section.

Jump to OET CH1 2:1 section.

Jump to OET GEN 29:35 section.

Jump to OET GEN 38:3–5 section.

Jump to OET CH1 2:3 section.

Jump to OET GEN 38:29–30 section.

Jump to OET CH1 2:4 section.

Jump to OET EXO 1:2 section.

Jump to OET GEN 46:12 section.

Jump to OET NUM 1:26–27 section.

Though reckless in his behavior with Tamar (Gn 38:6-30), Judah showed firm resolve in taking personal responsibility for Benjamin’s safety in Egypt and acting as intercessor for his brothers before Joseph (44:14-18). At the time of Jacob’s blessing, Judah was granted the birthright privileges of the firstborn; the leadership of Jacob’s family would come through Judah’s seed, as would the promised Messiah of Abraham’s covenant (49:8-12). Later, Judah’s family was praised at the time of Ruth’s engagement to Boaz (Ru 4:12), and both the Davidic lines of kings (1 Chr 2:1-15; 3:1-24) and Jesus Christ’s ancestors traced their descent from Judah (Mt 1:2-3; Lk 3:33).

Show passage in OET: GEN 44:14–18

OET-RV GEN 44:14

14 When Yehudah (Judah) and his brothers got to Yosef’s (Joseph) house, he was still there, and they fell to their knees and bowed to the ground in front of him.

OET-RV GEN 44:15

15 “What’s this that you’ve done?” Yosef demanded. “Didn’t you know that a man like me can certainly divine the truth?”

OET-RV GEN 44:16

16 “What can we say to my master?” Yehudah answered. “What words could we speak? How could we possibly justify ourselves? God has exposed the sin of your servants. So now, we are slaves for my master—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”

OET-RV GEN 44:17

17 “Far be it from me to do that.” Yosef corrected them. “Only the man who had the cup will become my slave, and the rest of you can go back to your father in peace.”

OET-RV GEN 44:18

18 Then Yehudah (Judah) went closer to Yosef (Joseph) and said quietly, “Please, my master, please let your servant speak a word in my master’s ears, and don’t get angry with me, since you’re as powerful as Par’oh (Pharaoh).

OET-LV GEN 44:14

14 And_ Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_brothers _of_his _he _came the _house _of_to of _Yōşēf/(Joseph) and_he still_he was_there and_they _fell before_him the _ground_to.

OET-LV GEN 44:15

15 And_he/it _said to/for_them Yōşēf what is_the_deed the_this which you(pl)_have _done am_not do _you(pl)_know if/because _that indeed _(divine) a _man who is_like_me he _practices _divination.

OET-LV GEN 44:16

16 And_ Yəhūdāh _he/it _said what will _we _say to_master _of_my what will _we _speak and_what will _we _justify _ourselves the_ʼElohīm he _has _found DOM the _guilt _of your_servants HERE_we are_slaves of_master _of_my both we as _well _as the_one_who the_cup it _was _found in_his/its_hand.

OET-LV GEN 44:17

17 And_he/it _said far_be _it to/for_me from_doing this the_man whom the_cup it _was _found in_his/its_hand he he _will _be to/for_me slave and_you(pl) go _up to_peace to father _of_your(pl).

OET-LV GEN 44:18

18 And_he _drew _near to_him/it Yəhūdāh and_he/it _said pardon _me my_master may _he _speak please servant _of_your a _message in_the _ears _of my_master and_not anger _of_your let _it _burn on_servant _of_your if/because as_you as_Parˊoh.

Show passage in OET: GEN 49:8–12

OET-RV GEN 49:8

⇔  8 Yehudah (Judah), you’ll be praised by your brothers.
⇔ You’ll be a powerful force against your enemies.
⇔ Your father’s sons will bow down to you.

OET-RV GEN 49:9

9 Yehudah is a lion cub.
⇔ My son, you’ve stood up after feasting on your prey.
⇔ He stretches and lies down like a lion.
⇔ As with a lioness, who will dare wake him?

OET-RV GEN 49:10

10 Yehudah will never leave the ruling position,
⇔ ≈ nor will his descendants be without the ruler’s staff,
⇔ until the messiah arrives
⇔ and the people groups obey him.

OET-RV GEN 49:11

11 He’ll tie his donkey to the grapevine,
⇔ ≈ and the donkey’s colt to the best branch.
⇔ He’ll wash his clothes in wine
⇔ ≈ and his robes in the blood of grapes.

OET-RV GEN 49:12

12 His eyes will be darker than wine,
⇔ ≈ and his teeth will be white from milk.

OET-LV GEN 49:8

8 Oh _Yəhūdāh/(Judah) you they_will _praise _you brothers _of_your hand _of_your will_be_on _the _neck _of your(pl)_enemies _of_your they _will _bow _down to/for_yourself(m) the _sons _of your _father _of_your.

OET-LV GEN 49:9

9 Is_a _cub _of a _lion Yəhūdāh from_prey my _son _of_my you _have _gone _up he _bows _down he _lies _down like_a _lion and_like_a _lion who will_he _rouse _him.

OET-LV GEN 49:10

10 Not a _scepter it _will _depart from_Yəhūdāh and_a _ruler’s _staff from_between feet _of_his until if/because he _will _come Shiloh and_to/for_him/it the_obedience _of peoples.

OET-LV GEN 49:11

11 He _will _be_binding _of to_vine mmm and_to_vine the _young _one _of his _donkey _of_his he _will _wash in_wine clothing _of_his and_in_the_blood _of grapes mmm.

OET-LV GEN 49:12

12 Dark _of eyes more_than _wine and_white _of teeth more_than _milk.

Show passage in OET: RUT 4:12

OET-RV RUT 4:12

12 We pray that your family will be like the family of your ancestor Perets, son of Yehudah (Judah) and Tamar, because of the many descendants that Yahweh will give to you and this young woman.”

OET-LV RUT 4:12

12 And_let _it _be household _of_your like_the _household _of Pereʦ whom Tāmār she _bore to_Yəhūdāh/(Judah) from the_offspring which YHWH he _will _give to/for_yourself(m) from the _young_woman (the)_this.

Show passage in OET: MAT 1:2–3

OET-RV MAT 1:2

2 Avraham was the father of Yitshak (Isaac), Yitshak the father of Ya’akov (Jacob; Grk. Yakob), Ya’akov the father of Yehudah (Judah; Grk. Yudas) and his brothers.

OET-RV MAT 1:3

3 Yehudah was the father of Perets (Grk. Fares) and Zerah (Grk. Zara) through Tamar (Grk. Thamar), Perets the father of Hetsron (Grk. Hesrom), Hetsron the father of Ram,

OET-LV MAT 1:2

2 Abraʼam bore the Isaʼak/(Yiʦḩāq), and Isaʼak bore the Yakōb/(Yaˊₐqoⱱ), and Yakōb bore the Youda/(Yəhūdāh) and the brothers of _him,

OET-LV MAT 1:3

3 and Youda bore the Fares/(Fereʦ) and the Zara/(Zeraḩ) of the Thamar/(Tāmār), and Fares bore the Hesrōm/(Ḩeʦrōn), and Hesrōm bore the Aram/(Rām),

Show passage in OET: LUK 3:33

OET-RV LUK 3:33

33 the son of Aminadav, the son of Ram, the son of Hetsron, the son of Perets, the son of Yehudah,

OET-LV LUK 3:33

33 the son of _Aminadab/(ˊAmminādāⱱ), the son of_Admin/(Rām?
), the son of_Arni/(Rām?
), the son of _Hesrōm/(Ḩeʦrōn), the son of _Fares/(Fereʦ), the son of _Youda,

Jump to OET GEN 44:14–18 section.

Jump to OET GEN 49:8–12 section.

Jump to OET RUT 4:12 section.

Jump to OET MAT 1:2–3 section.

Jump to OET LUK 3:33 section.

2. Forefather of a family of Levites who assisted Jeshua, the high priest, with rebuilding the temple during the postexilic era (Ezr 3:9, NLT mg). He is alternately called Hodaviah in Ezra 2:40 and Hodevah in Nehemiah 7:43. See Hodaviah #4.

Show passage in OET: EZR 3:9

OET-RV EZR 3:9

9 And Yeshua with his brothers and their sons, Kadmiel and his sons, (all descendants of Yehudah (Judah)) cooperated to act as overseers for those doing the work at the temple together with Henadad’s sons and grandsons, and their brothers the Levites.

OET-LV EZR 3:9

9 And_ Yēshūˊa sons _of_his and_brothers _of_his Qadmī^ʼēl and_sons _of_his the _sons _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) _he _stood as_one to_act _as _overseers over the _doer[s]_of the _work in_house _of the_ʼElohīm the _sons _of Ḩēnādād sons _of_their and_brothers _of_their the_Lēviyyiy.

Show passage in OET: EZR 2:40

OET-RV EZR 2:40

40 The Levites who returned:

•

74 descendants of Yeshua and Kadmiel, who were from the family of Hodavyah,

OET-LV EZR 2:40

40 The_Lēviyyiy the _descendants _of Yēshūˊa and_Qadmī^ʼēl of_the _sons _of of _Hōdav^yāh seventy and_four.

Show passage in OET: NEH 7:43

OET-RV NEH 7:43

43 The Levites who returned:

•

74 descendants of Yeshua and Kadmiel (descendants of Hodevah).

OET-LV NEH 7:43

43 The_Lēviyyiy the _descendants _of Yēshūˊa of_Qadmī^ʼēl of_the _descendants _of of_Hodaviah seventy and_four.

Jump to OET EZR 3:9 section.

Jump to OET EZR 2:40 section.

Jump to OET NEH 7:43 section.

3. One of the Levites who was encouraged by Ezra to divorce his foreign wife (Ezr 10:23).

Show passage in OET: EZR 10:23

OET-RV EZR 10:23

• 23 Among the other Levites: Yozavad, and Shimei, and Kelayah (that is, Kelita), Petahyah, Yehudah (Judah), and Eliezer.

OET-LV EZR 10:23

23 And_from the_Lēviyyiy Yōzāⱱād and_Shimˊī and_Qēlā^yāh it is_Qəlīţāʼ Pətaḩ^yāh Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_ʼElīˊezer.

Jump to OET EZR 10:23 section.

4. Benjamite, son of Hassenuah, who was second in command over the city of Jerusalem during the days of Nehemiah (Neh 11:9).

Show passage in OET: NEH 11:9

OET-RV NEH 11:9

9 Zikri’s son Yoel (Joel) was their overseer in the city, and Senuah’s son Yehudah (Judah) was his second-in-command.

OET-LV NEH 11:9

9 And_Yō^ʼēl/(Joel) the _son _of Zikrī was_overseer over_them and_Yəhūdāh/(Yihudah) the _son _of Şənūʼāh over the_city was_second _in _command.

Jump to OET NEH 11:9 section.

5. One of the leaders of the Levites who returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua to Judah after the exile (Neh 12:8).

Show passage in OET: NEH 12:8

OET-RV NEH 12:8

8 The Levites were:

•

Yeshua, Binuy, Kadmiel, Shereveyah, Yehudah (Judah), and Matanyah who led the thanksgiving songs along with his brothers,

OET-LV NEH 12:8

8 And_the_Lēviyyiy Yēshūˊa Binnūy Qadmī^ʼēl Shērēⱱə^yāh Yəhūdāh Mattan^yāh were_over songs _of _thanksgiving he and_brothers _of_his.

Jump to OET NEH 12:8 section.

6. One of the princes of Judah who participated in the dedication of the Jerusalem wall during the postexilic period (Neh 12:34).

Show passage in OET: NEH 12:34

OET-RV NEH 12:34

34 Yehudah, Benyamin, Shemayah, and Yirmiyah (Jeremiah),

OET-LV NEH 12:34

34 Yəhūdāh and_Binyāmīn and_Shəmaˊ^yāh and_Yirmə^yāh/(Jeremiah).

Jump to OET NEH 12:34 section.

7. One of the priests who played a musical instrument at the dedication of the Jerusalem wall during the days of Nehemiah (Neh 12:36). He is perhaps identical with #5 above.