Bath-shua בַּת+H7770«H7770=שׁוּעַ
Judah's Canaanite wife; mother of Er, Onan, and Shelah.
Who is Bath-shua in the Bible?
Bath-shua was a Canaanite woman who became the wife of Judah, son of Jacob, and mother of his first three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah (Genesis 38:2, 1 Chronicles 2:3). She appears only briefly in biblical genealogies, with no detailed narrative about her life or character provided in Scripture. Her significance lies in her role as part of Judah's lineage, though her marriage to Judah represented a departure from the patriarchal practice of seeking wives from within their own people. The genealogy including Bath-shua's sons is important because it sets up the narrative in Genesis 38, where Er and Onan die for their wickedness, ultimately leading to Judah's encounter with Tamar and the birth of Perez and Zerah, ancestors of King David and the messianic line.
Biography
Bath-shua is mentioned in 1Ch.2.3 as the Canaanite wife of Judah, son of Israel (or 'Jacob'). She gave birth to Judah's first three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. This brief genealogical note is the only information provided about Bath-shua in the Bible. Her Canaanite origin is significant, as it shows that Judah married outside of his own people, which was not in line with the patriarchs' practice of seeking wives from their own kinsmen. The mention of Bath-shua's sons is also important, as the narrative in Genesis 38 reveals that Er and Onan died due to their wickedness, leaving Judah without an heir until the birth of his twins, Perez and Zerah, through his daughter-in-law Tamar. Bath-shua's inclusion in the genealogy highlights the complex family dynamics and the importance of Judah's lineage in the history of Israel.
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In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study contentGenesis 1 verse
- Genesis 38:2
"There Judah saw the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua, and he took her as a wife and slept with her."
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1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 2:3
"The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bath-shua the Canaanite. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name combined | Hebrew | בַּת+H7770«H7770=שׁוּעַ | bat | a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively) |