Judah

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Hebrew Yehudah (“praise”), reflecting Leah’s naming in Genesis.
• Period/Era: Patriarchal Period
• Main References: Genesis 29:35; 37; 38; 43–44; 49
• Key Connections: Son of Jacob and Leah; brother of Joseph; ancestor of the tribe of Judah

Who was Judah?

Judah was the fourth son born to Jacob through Leah and became the namesake ancestor of the tribe of Judah.
He appears in Genesis narratives as a leading brother during the Joseph account and in the family’s move toward reconciliation.
Genesis also records his household line through Tamar as part of Israel’s early tribal genealogy.

Key Events & Achievements

• Joseph’s fate (Genesis 37): Proposed selling Joseph rather than killing him, shaping the brothers’ actions.
• Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38): A family and legal crisis that established a genealogical line through Perez and Zerah.
• Plea for Benjamin (Genesis 44): Offered himself as substitute for Benjamin in Egypt, marking a decisive family turning point.

Life Lesson & Legacy

Judah’s story highlights how leadership within a covenant family is tested through responsibility, kinship obligations, and public accountability.

Key Verse

"Then Judah came near to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself." — Genesis 44:18, ESV