Lexical Definition

‎יְהוּדָה‎ Yᵉhûwdâh (yeh-hoo-daw') Judah ^N:N-M-P
from ‎יָדָה‎; celebrated

Judah.

• § Judah = "praised"
• Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites
• also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

1) the son of Jacob by Leah
2) the tribe descended from Judah the son of Jacob
3) the territory occupied by the tribe of Judah
4) the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon
5) a Levite in Ezra's time
6) an overseer of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah
7) a Levite musician in the time of Nehemiah
8) a priest in the time of Nehemiah

See Greek: Ἰουδά · Ἰούδας

Extended Information

• A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.35
• son of: Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל) and Leah (לֵאָה)
• brother of: Reuben (רְאוּבֵן), Simeon (שִׁמְעוֹן), Levi (לֵוִי), Issachar (יִשָּׂשכָר), Zebulun (זְבוּלוּן) and Dinah (דִּינָה)
• half-brother of: Dan (דָּן), Naphtali (נַפְתָּלִי), Gad (גָּד), Asher (אָשֵׁר), Joseph (יוֹסֵף) and Benjamin (בִּנְיָמִין); married to Bath-shua (בַּת) and Tamar (תָּמָר)
• father of: Er (עֵר), Onan (אוֹנָן), Shelah (שֵׁלָה), Perez (פֶּרֶץ) and Zerah (זֶרַח)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎יְהוּדָה‎₈₂₀ proper name, masculine and of a territory Judah (treated Gen 29:35; Gen 49:8 (q. v. below) as if derived from Hoph`al of ‎ידה‎ = praised, object of praise (on ‎ה‎ compare Hiph`il ‎אֲהוֺדֶ֑נּוּ‎ Ps 28:7, ‎יְהוֺדֶה‎ Neh 11:17), but this dubious; relation to ‎יְהֻד‎, II. ‎יְהוּדִית‎: unexplained; see further Jastr^{JBL xii, 1898, 61 ff.}; Assyrian Ia-u-du, of land; Ia-u-da-ai, Judaean COT^Gloss) —

I. proper name, masculine 1. son of Jacob and Leah, explained by Leah's words I will praise ‎׳‎‎י‎ Gen 29:35 (J); compare Jacob's prediction, thy brethren shall praise thee Gen 49:8 (poem in J E), see also vGen 49:9 vGen 49:10 elsewhere Gen 37:26; Gen 38:1 + 14 t. Gen 38; Gen 43:3; Gen 43:8; Gen 44:14; Gen 44:16; Gen 44:18; Gen 46:28 (all J), Gen 35:23 (P), 1Chr 2:1; 1Chr 2:3; Ruth 4:12 ‎בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה‎ sons of Judah Gen 46:12; Num 26:19 (P), 1Chr 2:3; 1Chr 2:4; 1Chr 4:1.

2. tribe descended from Judah Deut 33:7 (poem), Num 1:7 (P), Deut 27:12 +; ‎בְּנֵי יהודה‎ Num 1:26; Josh 14:6 (D), Judg 1:8 +; ‎שֵׁבֶט יהודה‎ Josh 7:16 (J), 1Kgs 12:20; 2Kgs 17:18; Ps 78:68 ‎מַטֵּה בְנֵי יהודה‎ Josh 15:1; Josh 15:20; Josh 15:21; Josh 21:9 (all P), 1Chr 6:50* elsewhere ‎מַטֵּה‎ ‎יהודה‎ Exod 31:2; Exod 35:30; Exod 38:22; Num 1:27; Num 7:12; Num 13:6; Num 34:19; Josh 7:1; Josh 7:18; Josh 21:4 (all P); ‎אישׁ יהודה‎ Judg 15:20 +; ‎אנשׁי יהודה‎ 2Sam 2:4 +, (compare amelûti [ƒabê] Ia-u-du Tel el-Amarna^{No. 39} Jastr^{JBL xii, 1893, 64}).

3. nation, of southern kingdom under dynasty of David, as distinguished from northern kingdom of Ephraim or Israel: Hos 4:15; Jer 2:28; 2Chr 12:12 +; of the returned exiles Neh 4:4* ‎עַם יהודה‎ 2Kgs 14:21 = 2Chr 26:1; Jer 25:1; Jer 25:2; Ezra 4:4 ‎בְּנֵי יהודה‎ Hos 2:2*; Jer 7:30; 2Chr 13:18; 2Chr 25:12; 2Chr 28:10 ‎בֵּית יהודה‎ Hos 1:7; Jer 3:18; Ezek 4:6 +; ‎מַלְכוּת‎ ‎יהודה‎ 2Chr 11:17 personified, ‎׳‎‎בַּת י‎ Lam 1:15; Lam 2:2; Lam 2:5.

4. Levite, Ezra's time, Ezra 10:23.

5. an over-seer of Jerusalem Neh 11:9.

6. Levite musician Neh 12:8.

7. priest Neh 12:36.

II. proper name, of a territory land of Judah, feminine Isa 7:6; Jer 23:6 = Jer 33:16; Joel 4:30; Ps 114:2 +; ‎ארץ יְהוּדָה‎ 1Sam 22:5; 2Kgs 23:24 +; ‎אדמת יהודה‎ Isa 19:17 ‎עָרֵי יהודה‎ 2Sam 2:1; 1Kgs 12:17; 2Kgs 18:13; 2Kgs 23:5; 2Kgs 23:8; Isa 40:9; Isa 44:26; Zech 1:12; Ps 69:36*; Lam 5:11 elsewhere 15 t. Chronicles, 23 t. Jeremiah; ‎בִּיהודה‎ Judg 15:9 +; ‎מיהודה‎ 1Kgs 13:1 +; ‎הר יהודה‎ the hill-country of Judah Josh 11:21(D), Josh 20:7; Josh 21:11 (P), 2Chr 27:4 ‎נֶגֶב יהודה‎ the south (country) of Judah 1Sam 27:10; 2Sam 24:7 ‎מדבר יהודה‎ Judg 1:16; Ps 63:1* (title).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Book	Refs
Genesis	29:35 · 35:23 · 37:26 · Chapter 38 · 38:1 · 43:3 · 43:8 · 44:14 · 44:16 · 44:18 · 46:12 · 46:28 · 49:8 · 49:9 · 49:10
Exodus	31:2 · 35:30 · 38:22
Numbers	1:7 · 1:26 · 1:27 · 7:12 · 13:6 · 26:19 · 34:19
Deuteronomy	27:12 · 33:7
Joshua	7:1 · 7:16 · 7:18 · 11:21 · 14:6 · 15:1 · 15:20 · 15:21 · 20:7 · 21:4 · 21:9 · 21:11
Judges	1:8 · 1:16 · 15:9 · 15:20
Ruth	4:12
1 Samuel	22:5 · 27:10
2 Samuel	2:1 · 2:4 · 24:7
1 Kings	12:17 · 12:20 · 13:1
2 Kings	14:21 · 17:18 · 18:13 · 23:5 · 23:8 · 23:24
1 Chronicles	2:1 · 2:3 · 2:4 · 4:1 · 6:50*
2 Chronicles	11:17 · 12:12 · 13:18 · 25:12 · 26:1 · 27:4 · 28:10
Ezra	4:4 · 10:23
Nehemiah	4:4* · 11:9 · 11:17 · 12:8 · 12:36
Psalms	28:7 · 63:1* · 69:36* · 78:68 · 114:2
Isaiah	7:6 · 19:17 · 40:9 · 44:26
Jeremiah	2:28 · 3:18 · 7:30 · 23:6 · 25:1 · 25:2 · 33:16
Lamentations	1:15 · 2:2 · 2:5 · 5:11
Ezekiel	4:6
Hosea	1:7 · 2:2* · 4:15
Joel	4:30
Zechariah	1:12

Profile

Male • Son of Israel • Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province

Jacob's son living at the time of the Patriarchs

Judah, also known as the Jews or Judea, refers to the Israelite tribe, the southern kingdom, and the Roman province in various biblical contexts.

• Jacob's son who founded the tribe of Judah living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.35;
• referred to as Judah or David (KJV= Judah) יְהוּדָה, or Judah יְהוּד, or Jew or Jewish or Judean or "those of Judah" יְהוּדִי, or Jew יְהוּדָאִי, or Judah (KJV= Juda) Ἰουδά, or Judah (KJV= Judas) Ἰούδας, or Jew or Jewish people or "of Judea" Ἰουδαῖος, or Jew Ἰουδαΐζω, or Jewish Ἰουδαϊκός, or Jew Ἰουδαϊκῶς;
• son of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל and Leah לֵאָה;
• a brother of Reuben רְאוּבֵן, Simeon שִׁמְעוֹן, Levi לֵוִי, Issachar יִשָּׂשכָר, Zebulun זְבוּלוּן and Dinah דִּינָה;
• half-brother of: Dan דָּן, Naphtali נַפְתָּלִי, Gad גָּד, Asher אָשֵׁר, Joseph יוֹסֵף and Benjamin בִּנְיָמִין;
• husband of Bath-shua בַּת and Tamar תָּמָר;
• father of Er עֵר, Onan אוֹנָן, Shelah שֵׁלָה, Perez פֶּרֶץ and Zerah זֶרַח.

Judah, Jews, and Judea are terms used throughout the Bible to refer to the Israelite tribe, the southern kingdom, and the Roman province, depending on the historical context.

Judah was the fourth son of Israel (or 'Jacob') and Leah (Genesis 29:35) and became the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribe of Judah played a prominent role in Israel's history, with notable figures such as Caleb, Othniel, and King David coming from this tribe.

After the reign of Solomon, the kingdom of Israel split into two: the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah (1 Kings 12). The southern kingdom, which included the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty and the worship of God in Jerusalem. The kingdom of Judah lasted from about 930 BC until the Babylonian conquest in 586 BC.

Following the Babylonian exile, many Jews returned to the land of Judah, now a province of the Persian Empire (Ezra 1-6). During the Second Temple period, Judea became a province of the Roman Empire. In the New Testament, the terms "Jews" and "Judea" are often used to refer to the Jewish people and the region they inhabited.

The history of Judah, the Jews, and Judea is a central focus of the biblical narrative, with many of the key events, prophecies, and teachings revolving around this people and their relationship with God. The prophets, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, often addressed their messages to Judah and warned of judgment for disobedience while also offering hope for restoration.

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is born in Judea and is recognized as the King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2). The early Christian church began in Jerusalem, and many of the first converts were Jews (Acts 2).

Throughout the Bible, God's covenant relationship with the people of Judah, the Jews, and the inhabitants of Judea remains a central theme, highlighting His faithfulness, judgment, and redemptive purposes for all nations through the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ.

All entries for Judah, Judea or Jews: יְהוּדָה ☩ יְהוּד ☩ יְהוּדִי ☩ יְהוּדָאִי ☩ Ἰουδαῖος ☩ Ἰουδαΐζω ☩ Ἰουδαϊκός ☩ Ἰουδαϊκῶς ☩ Ἰουδά ☩ Ἰούδας ☩ יָהַד

Related Profiles:

• Israel (father)
• Leah (mother)
• Bath-shua (spouse)
• Tamar (spouse)
• Reuben (sibling)
• Simeon (sibling)
• Levi (sibling)
• Dan (sibling)
• Naphtali (sibling)
• Gad (sibling)
• Asher (sibling)
• Issachar (sibling)
• Zebulun (sibling)
• Dinah (sibling)
• Joseph (sibling)
• Benjamin (sibling)
• Er (child)
• Onan (child)
• Shelah (child)
• Perez (child)
• Zerah (child)