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Caleb כָּלֵב

Male H3612G 6 books

Faithful spy, given Hebron as inheritance

Biography

Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan (Num. 13:6). Along with Joshua, Caleb stood firm in his faith and trust in God's promise, encouraging the Israelites to enter the land despite the other spies' negative report (Num. 13:30; 14:6-9). As a result, God commended Caleb for his faithfulness and promised that he would inherit the land he had explored (Num. 14:24, 30, 38; Deut. 1:36). After the conquest of Canaan, Caleb requested and received Hebron as his inheritance (Josh. 14:6-15; 15:13-19; 21:12; Judg. 1:12-15, 20). He drove out the Anakim giants from Hebron and offered his daughter Achsah in marriage to whoever conquered Kirjath Sepher (Josh. 15:14-17; Judg. 1:12-13). Caleb's descendants settled in the Negev region and in the cities of Hebron (1 Sam. 30:14; 1 Chr. 4:15; 6:56). His faith, courage, and obedience to God made him a prominent figure in Israel's history, and his story is remembered as an example of unwavering trust in God's promises (Num. 32:12; Judg. 3:9).

Family

Parents

Siblings

Offspring

In Scripture

6 biblical books ; 2 with study content
Numbers 5 verses
  • Numbers 13:6

    "Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh."

  • Numbers 13:30

    "Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, “Let’s go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it!”"

  • Numbers 14:6

    "Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes."

  • Numbers 14:24

    "But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and has followed me fully, him I will bring into the land into which he went. His offspring shall possess it."

  • Numbers 14:30

    "surely you shall not come into the land concerning which I swore that I would make you dwell therein, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun."

Deuteronomy 1 verse
  • Deuteronomy 1:36

    "except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it. I will give the land that he has trodden on to him and to his children, because he has wholly followed Yahweh.”"

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Joshua 5 verses
  • Joshua 14:6

    "Then the children of Judah came near to Joshua in Gilgal. Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know the thing that Yahweh spoke to Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning you in Kadesh Barnea."

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  • Joshua 14:13

    "Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance."

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  • Joshua 14:14

    "Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he followed Yahweh, the God of Israel wholeheartedly."

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  • Joshua 15:13

    "He gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of Yahweh to Joshua, even Kiriath Arba, named after the father of Anak (also called Hebron)."

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  • Joshua 15:14

    "Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak."

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Judges 5 verses
  • Judges 1:12

    "Caleb said, “I will give Achsah my daughter as wife to the man who strikes Kiriath Sepher, and takes it.”"

  • Judges 1:13

    "Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it, so he gave him Achsah his daughter as his wife."

  • Judges 1:14

    "When she came, she got him to ask her father for a field. She got off her donkey; and Caleb said to her, “What would you like?”"

  • Judges 1:15

    "She said to him, “Give me a blessing; because you have set me in the land of the South, give me also springs of water.” Then Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs."

  • Judges 1:20

    "They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said, and he drove the three sons of Anak out of there."

1 Samuel 2 verses
  • 1 Samuel 30:14

    "We made a raid on the South of the Cherethites, and on that which belongs to Judah, and on the South of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.”"

  • 1 Samuel 25:3

    "Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail. This woman was intelligent and had a beautiful face; but the man was surly and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb."

1 Chronicles 2 verses
  • 1 Chronicles 4:15

    "The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam. The son of Elah: Kenaz."

  • 1 Chronicles 6:56

    "but the fields of the city, and its villages, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh."

Names & Aliases

Form Language Script Strong's
Named Hebrew כָּלֵב H3612G
Group Hebrew כָּלִבִּי H3614