Calebכָּלֵב
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
- RamTribe of JudahSon of HezronSon of Hezron, ancestor of David and JesusView full profile →
- JerahmeelTribe of LeviSon of KishA Levite of the Merari clan.View full profile →
- SegubTribe of JudahSon of HezronSon of Hezron; father of JairView full profile →
- AshhurTribe of JudahSon of HezronDescendant of Judah through HezronView full profile →
Partners
- AzubahTribe of Judah(?)From Judah(?)Wife of Caleb and mother of Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.View full profile →
- JeriothTribe of Judah(?)From Judah(?)Wife of Caleb; mother of unnamed children.View full profile →
- EphrathahTribe of Judah(?)Associated with BethlehemA wife of Caleb and founder of Bethlehem.View full profile →
- EphahTribe of Judah(?)From Judah(?)Caleb's concubine and mother of three sons.View full profile →
- MaacahTribe of Judah(?)From Judah(?)Caleb's concubine; mother of Sheber and TirhanahView full profile →
- JahdaiTribe of JudahWife of CalebDescendant of Caleb, son of Jephunneh.View full profile →
Offspring
- HurTribe of JudahAaron's compatriotA companion of Moses and grandfather of Bezalel.View full profile →
- JesherTribe of JudahSon of CalebA son of Caleb and Azubah.View full profile →
- ShobabTribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb and Azubah.View full profile →
- ArdonTribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb, brother of Jether and MeredView full profile →
- MeshaTribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb and founder of Ziph.View full profile →
- HaranTribe of JudahSon of CalebA descendant of Caleb, son of Caleb's concubine Ephah.View full profile →
- MozaTribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb by his concubine EphahView full profile →
- GazezTribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb and his concubine Ephah.View full profile →
- SheberTribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb and his concubine MaacahView full profile →
- TirhanahTribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb by his concubine MaacahView full profile →
- RegemTribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Jahdai, of the tribe of JudahView full profile →
- JothamTribe of JudahSon of CalebA son of Jahdai, a CalebiteView full profile →
- GeshanTribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Jahdai, a descendant of Caleb.View full profile →
- PeletMaleDavid's warriorBenjamite warrior who joined David at ZiklagView full profile →
- EphahTribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Jahdai, in Caleb's genealogy.View full profile →
- ShaaphTribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Jahdai, a CalebiteView full profile →
- ShaaphTribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Jahdai, a CalebiteView full profile →
- ShevaTribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb's concubine MaacahView full profile →
- AchsahTribe of JudahSister of HurDaughter of Caleb, the son of HurView full profile →
In Scripture
1 biblical book1 Chronicles5 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