Caleb כָּלֵב
Son of Hezron, descendant of Judah
Who is Caleb in the Bible?
The Bible contains two distinct figures named Caleb. The most prominent is Caleb son of Jephunneh, one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the promised land in Numbers 13. While the other spies brought back a discouraging report, Caleb and Joshua alone urged the Israelites to trust God and invade Canaan, and as a reward, they were the only adults from that generation permitted to enter the promised land (Numbers 14:38, 32:12). A second Caleb, also called Chelubai, was the son of Hezron and a descendant of Judah mentioned in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 2. He was the father of Hur and grandfather of Bezalel, the craftsman who built the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 2:18-20, Exodus 31:2). The first Caleb's unwavering faith and courage in the face of overwhelming opposition made him a model of trust in God's promises.
Biography
Caleb, also known as Chelubai, is mentioned in the genealogies of Judah in 1 Chronicles 2 and 4:1. He was the son of Hezron and the father of Hur (1 Chr. 2:9, 18-19). Caleb's wives included Azubah and Ephrathah (1 Chr. 2:18-19). Through his son Hur, Caleb was the grandfather of Uri and the great-grandfather of Bezalel, the skilled craftsman who worked on the tabernacle (1 Chr. 2:20; Ex. 31:2). Caleb's descendants, known as the Calebites, settled in the region of Hebron and played a significant role in the tribe of Judah (1 Chr. 2:42-55). This Caleb is a different person from Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who was one of the twelve spies. The similar names and their connection to the tribe of Judah may have led to some confusion in the genealogical records.
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Ram Tribe of JudahSon of HezronSon of Hezron, ancestor of David and JesusView full profile →
- Jerahmeel Tribe of LeviSon of KishA Levite of the Merari clan.View full profile →
- Segub Tribe of JudahSon of HezronSon of Hezron; father of JairView full profile →
- Ashhur Tribe of JudahSon of HezronDescendant of Judah through HezronView full profile →
Partners
- Azubah Tribe of Judah(?)From Judah(?)Wife of Caleb and mother of Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.View full profile →
- Jerioth Tribe of Judah(?)From Judah(?)Wife of Caleb; mother of unnamed children.View full profile →
- Ephrathah Tribe of Judah(?)Associated with BethlehemA wife of Caleb and founder of Bethlehem.View full profile →
- Ephah Tribe of Judah(?)From Judah(?)Caleb's concubine and mother of three sons.View full profile →
- Maacah Tribe of Judah(?)From Judah(?)Caleb's concubine; mother of Sheber and TirhanahView full profile →
- Jahdai Tribe of JudahWife of CalebDescendant of Caleb, son of Jephunneh.View full profile →
Offspring
- Hur Tribe of JudahAaron's compatriotA companion of Moses and grandfather of Bezalel.View full profile →
- Jesher Tribe of JudahSon of CalebA son of Caleb and Azubah.View full profile →
- Shobab Tribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb and Azubah.View full profile →
- Ardon Tribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb, brother of Jether and MeredView full profile →
- Mesha Tribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb and founder of Ziph.View full profile →
- Haran Tribe of JudahSon of CalebA descendant of Caleb, son of Caleb's concubine Ephah.View full profile →
- Moza Tribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb by his concubine EphahView full profile →
- Gazez Tribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb and his concubine Ephah.View full profile →
- Sheber Tribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb and his concubine MaacahView full profile →
- Tirhanah Tribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb by his concubine MaacahView full profile →
- Regem Tribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Jahdai, of the tribe of JudahView full profile →
- Jotham Tribe of JudahSon of CalebA son of Jahdai, a CalebiteView full profile →
- Geshan Tribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Jahdai, a descendant of Caleb.View full profile →
- Pelet MaleDavid's warriorBenjamite warrior who joined David at ZiklagView full profile →
- Ephah Tribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Jahdai, in Caleb's genealogy.View full profile →
- Shaaph Tribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Jahdai, a CalebiteView full profile →
- Shaaph Tribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Jahdai, a CalebiteView full profile →
- Sheva Tribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb's concubine MaacahView full profile →
- Achsah Tribe of JudahSister of HurDaughter of Caleb, the son of HurView full profile →
In Scripture
1 biblical book1 Chronicles 5 verses
- 1 Chronicles 2:18
"Caleb son of Hezron had children by his wife Azubah and by Jerioth. These were the sons of Azubah: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon."
- 1 Chronicles 2:19
"When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore to him Hur."
- 1 Chronicles 2:42
"The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel: Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and Mareshah his second son, who was the father of Hebron."
- 1 Chronicles 2:46
"Caleb’s concubine Ephah was the mother of Haran, Moza, and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez."
- 1 Chronicles 2:48
"Caleb’s concubine Maacah was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | כָּלֵב | Caleb , the name of three Israelites |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | כָּלֵב | Caleb , the name of three Israelites |
| Named | Hebrew | כַּרְמִי | — |
| Named | Hebrew | כְּלוּבָ֑י | — |
Caleb
the story of the spies (Nu 13 ff). He represents the tribe of Judah as its prince (Nu 13:6; compare Nu 13:2). While the majority of the men sent out by Moses bring back evil report, Caleb and Hoshea, or Joshua, the son of Nun, are the only ones to counsel the invasion of the promised land (Nu 13:30; 14:6 ff). Accordingly, these two alone are permitted to survive (Nu 14:38; 32:12). Upon the conquest and distribution of the land by Joshua, Caleb reminds the leader of the promise made by God through Moses, and so he receives Hebron as an inheritance for himself and his descendants (Jos 14:6-15), after driving out from thence the Anakim who were in possession of the city (Jos 15:14). In the parallel account in Jud 1:8 ff, the dispossession of the Canaanite inhabitants of Hebron is ascribed to Judah (Jud 1:10). Both accounts agree in mentioning Othniel, a younger brother of Caleb, as the conqueror of Kiriath-sepher or Debir; as his reward he receives the hand of Achsah, Caleb's daughter. Achsah is given by her father a portion of the Southland; but, upon request, she obtains a more fruitful locality with upper and nether springs (Jos 15:15-19; Jud 1:12-15).
In 1Sa 30:14 Caleb is undoubtedly the name of a clan which is, moreover, differentiated from Judah. Modern scholars therefore assume that Caleb was originally an independent clan which in historical times merged with Judah. As Caleb is called the son f Kenaz (Jud 1:13) or the Kenizzite (Nu 32:12), it is further believed that the Calebites were originally associated with an Edomite clan named Kenaz (Ge 36:11), and that they entered their future homes in the southern part of Palestine from the south. Their migration up north would then be reflected in the story of the spies.
In the genealogical tables (1Ch 2), Caleb is made a descendant of Judah through his father Hezron. He is the brother of Jerahmeel, and the "father" of Hebron and of other towns in Judah. (Chelubai, 1Ch 9:9, is apparently identical with Caleb.)
Nabal, with whom David had an encounter, is called a Calebite, i.e. one belonging to the house of Caleb (1Sa 25:3).
Max. L. Margolis
ka'-leb ef'-ra-tha, -ef'-ra-ta (the King James Version Caleb-ephratah, kalebh 'ephrathah): The place where Hezron died (1Ch 2:24). Many scholars, however, read with the Sep