Meaning of JUDAH

"may He (God) be praised."
(A) Fourth son of Jacob and Leah, and the head of the tribe named after him. It was Judah who advised his brothers to sell Joseph instead of taking his life (Gen. 37:26).

He sinned in the matter of his daughter-in-law Tamar (Gen. 38). He had no qualms about punishing Tamar with death, until it was proven that he was also guilty (Gen. 38:26). Thus the terrible corruption is pointed out in the history of the family into which, by election of grace, Christ would be born (Mt. 1:2).

Although he was not the eldest son, he soon began to take first place in the family. He was able to persuade his father to let Benjamin go to Egypt (Gen. 43:8), and when Joseph had to be spoken to, it was Judah who spoke up (Gen. 44:14-18 ff.).

In Jacob's blessing to his sons, the predictions show that the royal line is centered on Judah. The scepter would not depart from Judah, nor the lawgiver from between his feet until Shiloh came, etc. (Gen. 49:8-12). David and a long succession of kings descended from Judah. Christ, born of the tribe of Judah, is called "the Lion of the tribe of Judah" (Rev. 5:5).

(B) Levite, ancestor of some of those who helped rebuild the temple (Ezra 3:9). He possibly the same as Hodaviah (Ezra 2:40; Neh. 7:43).

(C) Levite who had taken a foreign wife (Ezra 10:23).

(D) Son of Senua, overseer of Jerusalem (Neh. 11:9).

(E) Levite who returned from exile (Neh. 12:8).

(F and G) A prince of Judah and a priest and musician who attended the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem (Neh. 12:34, 36).