Hirah חִירָה
Judah's Adullamite friend.
Who is Hirah in the Bible?
Hirah was an Adullamite who served as a close friend of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, mentioned in Genesis 38:1 and 38:12. When Judah separated from his brothers, he stayed with Hirah in the Canaanite city of Adullam, where he married a local woman named Shua and fathered three sons, marking a significant departure from his family's tradition of marrying within Hebrew circles. Years later, after Shua's death, Hirah accompanied Judah to Timnah for sheep shearing, a journey during which Judah unknowingly encountered his disguised daughter-in-law Tamar. Though Hirah appears only briefly in the biblical narrative, his friendship with Judah places him at the periphery of events that would shape the lineage of David and ultimately Jesus Christ.
Biography
Hirah is mentioned in Gen.38.1 and 12 as an Adullamite who was a close friend of Judah, the fourth son of Israel (or 'Jacob'). Adullam was a Canaanite city located in the Shephelah, the foothills between the coastal plain and the Judean hills.
In Gen.38.1, Judah left his brothers and stayed with Hirah in Adullam. During this time, Judah married a Canaanite woman named Shua and had three sons with her. This event marked a significant departure from the traditions of his family, as marrying outside of the Hebrew people was generally discouraged.
Later, in Gen.38.12, after the death of Judah's wife, he went to Timnah with his friend Hirah to shear his sheep. It was during this trip that Judah encountered his daughter-in-law Tamar, who had disguised herself as a prostitute. Judah, unaware of her true identity, slept with her, resulting in Tamar's pregnancy.
Hirah's presence in these narratives suggests that he was a trusted companion of Judah and that their friendship endured over time. As an Adullamite, Hirah would have been familiar with the local customs and culture, which may have influenced Judah's decisions and actions during his time away from his family.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentGenesis 2 verses
- Genesis 38:1
"About that time, Judah left his brothers and settled near a man named Hirah, an Adullamite."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 38:12
"After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah."
Study Genesis →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | חִירָה |