Shua שׁוּעַ
Father of Canaanite wife of Judah, mother of Er, Onan, and Shelah.
Who is Shua in the Bible?
Shua was a Canaanite man mentioned in Genesis 38:2 and 1 Chronicles 2:3 as the father of Bath-shua, who became the wife of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. Bath-shua bore Judah three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah, whose stories form the backdrop of the significant narrative in Genesis 38 involving Judah and Tamar. Shua himself appears only briefly in Scripture, identified primarily through his daughter's marriage, but his Canaanite heritage carries theological weight as it illustrates the tension between the Israelites and the surrounding Canaanite peoples during the patriarchal period. The significance of Shua's family emerges in the fates of his grandsons, particularly through the death of Er and Onan for their wickedness, which set in motion the events leading to Tamar's remarkable role in the lineage of Judah and ultimately in the ancestry of King David and Jesus.
Biography
Shua is mentioned in Gen.38.2,12 and 1Ch.2.3 as the father of a Canaanite wife of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Israel (or 'Jacob'). Judah married Bath-shua, the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua, and she bore him three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. The narrative in Genesis 38 focuses on the story of Judah and Tamar, with Bath-shua's sons playing a significant role. Er, Judah's firstborn, was killed by God due to his wickedness, and Onan, who was obligated to provide an heir for his deceased brother, also displeased God and died. Bath-shua is not mentioned beyond her role as the mother of Judah's sons, and her Canaanite origin is significant in the context of the Israelites' relationship with the Canaanites in the Promised Land.
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study contentGenesis 2 verses
- Genesis 38:2
"There Judah saw the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua, and he took her as a wife and slept with her."
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 →
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 2:3
"The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bath-shua the Canaanite. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שׁוּעַ |