Question 1

What does 1 Chronicles 2:19 mean?

Accepted Answer

1 Chronicles 2:19 records that after the death of Azubah, Caleb married Ephrath, and Ephrath gave birth to a son named Hur. This verse is part of a genealogy, tracing family lines and showing the descendants of important figures in Israel’s history. The verse appears in a list of names and relationships, where the writer is documenting the family tree of Judah’s descendants. Caleb is a significant figure, and this detail about his marriages and children helps clarify the lineage that leads to other notable people in the Bible, such as Hur.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 2:19

Accepted Answer

אָזוּבָה (Azubah, transliterated "Azuvah") is the name of Caleb’s wife who died. Knowing her name helps distinguish Caleb’s family line from others with similar names. קָלֵב (Caleb, transliterated "Kalev") is a well-known figure, and the Hebrew name means "dog" or "faithful," but here it simply identifies the ancestor. אֶפְרָת (Ephrath, transliterated "Ephrath") is the woman Caleb marries after Azubah’s death. Ephrath is also associated with the region of Bethlehem elsewhere in the Bible, but here it is a personal name. הוּר (Hur, transliterated "Hur") is the son born from Caleb and Ephrath. Hur later appears as a leader during the time of Moses, so this genealogy links him to Caleb.

Question 3

Why 1 Chronicles 2:19 matters

Accepted Answer

This verse clarifies the family connections between Caleb, Ephrath, and Hur, which helps readers follow the lineage of Judah’s tribe. By naming both wives and the son, the verse shows the importance of maternal lines as well as paternal ones in biblical genealogies. The mention of Hur’s birth sets up his later appearance in the biblical story, connecting different parts of Israel’s history through family relationships.

1 Chronicles 2:19 (KJV)