Jacob's son living at the time of the Patriarchs
Judah
Jacob’s fourth son, born to Leah, who named him Judah, “praise,” saying, “This time I will praise Yahweh” (Genesis 29:35). He urged his brothers to sell Joseph and not kill him (Genesis 37:26–27). He fathered Perez and Zerah by his daughter-in-law Tamar (Genesis 38). Years later, he offered himself in Benjamin’s place before Joseph, and so showed how he had changed (Genesis 43:8–9; 44:18–34).
In his blessing Jacob said, “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs” (Genesis 49:8–10). The line of David’s kings came from Judah, and so did Jesus, called “the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah” (Matthew 1:2–3; Revelation 5:5).
Family
- Father
- Jacob
- Mother
- Leah
- Wives
- Bath-shua, Tamar
- Children
- Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, Zerah