Hebrew · Strong's H3063
יְהוּדָה
(yeh-hoo-DAW)
proper noun
Predominantly, this word refers to the tribe descended from Jacob's fourth son, Judah, and the territory it occupied; it also names several individuals.
The Hebrew term יְהוּדָה (yeh-hoo-DAW), or Judah, primarily refers to the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, whose birth is recorded in Genesis 29:35. His name is derived from the verb יָדָה (yah-DAW), meaning "to praise" or "to give thanks." This etymology reflects Leah's declaration at his birth: "This time I will praise the Lord." From this patriarch descended the tribe of Judah, which became one of the most prominent tribes of Israel. Its territory, located in the southern part of Canaan, included significant cities such as Jerusalem and Bethlehem. After the division of the united monarchy, "Judah" commonly designates the Southern Kingdom, comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with Jerusalem as its capital. This kingdom maintained the Davidic line of kings, a crucial detail for messianic prophecy.
Throughout the Old Testament, Judah plays a central role in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. The Davidic covenant, promising an eternal dynasty, is rooted in the tribe of Judah. Prophets frequently address the kingdom of Judah, delivering messages of judgment for its unfaithfulness and promises of restoration. For instance, Isaiah and Jeremiah both prophesy extensively regarding the future of Judah, its exile, and its eventual return. The book of Lamentations grieves over the destruction of Jerusalem and the desolation of Judah.
The theological significance of Judah is profound. Ultimately, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, is identified as a descendant of Judah (Genesis 49:10; Revelation 5:5). This lineage fulfills ancient prophecies, solidifying Judah's enduring importance in biblical theology. The New Testament writers emphasize Jesus's identity as "the Lion of the tribe of Judah," connecting him directly to this ancient lineage and its royal promises.
Common English renderings
- Judah
- Juda
- Yehudah
Key verses
"In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, and reigned twenty and four years."
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"And there was a young man out of Beth-lehem-judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite; and he sojourned there."
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"And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them, but they hearkened not."
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"And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and of the king’s house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem."
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"Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe the deeds, and seal them, and call witnesses, in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the hill-country, and in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the South: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith Jehovah."
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Related words