Jephunneh יְפֻנֶּה
The Kenizzite, father of Caleb the spy.
Who is Jephunneh in the Bible?
Jephunneh was a Kenizzite and the father of Caleb, one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:6). Along with Joshua, Caleb brought back a faithful report encouraging the Israelites to trust God and possess the land, while the other ten spies spread discouraging words (Numbers 14:6-10). Because of his unwavering faith, Caleb became one of only two adults from his generation permitted to enter the Promised Land, and he later received Hebron and its surrounding territories as his inheritance (Numbers 14:30, Joshua 14:13-14). Jephunneh's Kenizzite background indicates he came from a non-Israelite tribe that was absorbed into Judah, yet his descendants became models of faithfulness and obedience to God throughout Israel's history.
Biography
Jephunneh, a Kenizzite, was the father of Caleb, a prominent figure in the Old Testament. Caleb was chosen as one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan. Along with Joshua, Caleb was one of the two spies who brought back a positive report and encouraged the Israelites to trust in God and take possession of the land. As a result, Caleb and Joshua were the only two adults from their generation permitted to enter Canaan. Jephunneh's Kenizzite background suggests that he may have been a descendant of the Kenizzites, a non-Israelite tribe that was later absorbed into the tribe of Judah. Caleb's inheritance in the Promised Land, including Hebron and its surrounding areas, is mentioned multiple times in connection with Jephunneh, emphasizing the faithfulness and obedience of this father-son duo.
Family
In Scripture
4 biblical books ; 2 with study contentNumbers 5 verses
- Numbers 13:6
"from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;"
- Numbers 14:6
"Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes"
- Numbers 14:30
"Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun."
- Numbers 14:38
"Of those men who had gone to spy out the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh remained alive."
- Numbers 26:65
"For the LORD had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun."
Deuteronomy 1 verse
- Deuteronomy 1:36
"except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land on which he has set foot, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.”"
Study Deuteronomy →
Joshua 5 verses
- Joshua 14:6
"Then the sons of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 14:13
"Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 14:14
"Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 15:13
"According to the LORD’s command to him, Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah—Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)"
Study Joshua → - Joshua 21:12
"But they had given the fields and villages around the city to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession."
Study Joshua →
1 Chronicles 2 verses
- 1 Chronicles 4:15
"The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam. The son of Elah: Kenaz."
- 1 Chronicles 6:56
"But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יְפֻנֶּה | Jephunneh , the name of two Israelites |