Judah
the one who pledged himself for Benjamin
Who was Judah?
- Fourth son of Jacob and Leah. His mother gave him that name when she said she would praise the Lord. Genesis 29:35
- He proposed selling his brother Joseph instead of killing him. Years later, he offered himself as a slave in place of his brother Benjamin. Genesis 37:26-27; Genesis 44:33
- He was the father of Perez and Zerah, whom he had with Tamar. Matthew names him in the genealogy of Jesus. Genesis 38:29-30; Matthew 1:2-3
- The name
- Leah, his mother, gave it to him when she said she would praise the Lord. A NAB note explains that in Hebrew it sounds like “I will praise.” Genesis 29:35; NAB note on Gn 29, 35
- Also called
- Judas, in Matthew’s genealogy in the Douay-Rheims Matthew 1:2-3
- From
- From Haran, in Mesopotamia, where Jacob’s first sons were born Genesis 29:4, 35
- Occupation
- Shepherd, like his brothers Genesis 37:12; Genesis 38:12
- Feast day
- December 24: Commemoration of all the holy ancestors of Jesus Christ
What the Bible says
Genesis 29:35
The fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and said: now will I praise the Lord: and for this she called him Juda. And she left bearing.
Genesis 37:26-27; Genesis 44:33
26And Juda said to his brethren: What will it profit us to kill our brother, and conceal his blood? 27It is better that he be sold to the Ismaelites, and that our hands be not defiled: for he is our brother and our flesh. His brethren agreed to his words.
Genesis 38:29-30; Matthew 1:2-3
29But he drawing back his hand, the other came forth: and the woman said: Why is the partition divided for thee? and therefore called his name Phares. 30Afterwards his brother came out, on whose hand was the scarlet thread: and she called him Zara.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
The path of Judah
- Before Jesus. He was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. Genesis 29:35
- Before Jesus. Joseph’s brothers thought about killing him. Judah proposed selling him to some Ishmaelites, because he was their brother. Genesis 37:18-20, 26-27
- With Jesus. He went away from his brothers and married the daughter of a Canaanite named Shua. He had three sons: Er, Onan and Shelah. Genesis 38:1-5
- With Jesus. He had Er marry Tamar. Er and then Onan died, and Judah did not give Tamar to Shelah in marriage, as he should have. Genesis 38:6-11, 14
- With Jesus. Tamar became pregnant by Judah without his recognizing her. When he learned the truth, he said she was more in the right than he was. Genesis 38:15-18, 24-26
- Afterward. Years later there was a famine. So that his father would let Benjamin go to Egypt, Judah took responsibility for the boy. Genesis 43:1, 8-9
- Afterward. Joseph’s cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Judah offered to stay as a slave in Benjamin’s place. Genesis 44:12, 18, 33
- Afterward. Before he died, Jacob blessed him: his brothers would praise him. And the scepter, the staff of kings, would never depart from Judah. Genesis 49:8-10
Words of Judah
“What will it profit us to kill our brother, and conceal his blood? It is better that he be sold to the Ismaelites, and that our hands be not defiled: for he is our brother and our flesh.” Genesis 37:26-27
To his brothers, when Joseph was in the cistern.
“She is juster than I: because I did not give her to Sela, my son.” Genesis 38:26
When Tamar sent him the pledges he had left with her.
“What shall we answer my lord? or what shall we say, or be able justly to allege? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are all bondmen to my lord, both we, and he with whom the cup was found.” Genesis 44:16
Before Joseph, when the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
“Therefore I thy servant will stay instead of the boy in the service of my lord, and let the boy go up with his brethren.” Genesis 44:33
Before Joseph, at the end of his plea for Benjamin.
What they were like
- He did not want Joseph killed, but he proposed selling him. Genesis 37:26-27
- He was able to admit his fault: he said that Tamar was more in the right than he was. Genesis 38:26
- Brave enough to speak up: he went up to Joseph and spoke for Benjamin. Genesis 44:18
- He cared about his father: he did not want to see his father’s grief if Benjamin did not come back. Genesis 44:30-34
The greatest thing they did
- He took responsibility for Benjamin and offered himself as a slave in his place. Genesis 43:9; Genesis 44:32-33
- Jacob sent him ahead into Egypt, to meet Joseph in Goshen. Genesis 46:28
- Jacob blessed him: his brothers would praise him. Genesis 49:8
Not to be confused with
- Judas Iscariot: Judah is the son of Jacob, many centuries before Jesus. Judas Iscariot was one of the Twelve. In Matthew’s genealogy in the Douay-Rheims, Judah is called “Judas.” Genesis 29:35; Matthew 1:2; Matthew 10:4
- Jude Thaddeus: Jude Thaddeus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Judah lived many centuries earlier: he is the son of Jacob. Genesis 29:35; Luke 6:16
In the Church today
Feast day: December 24, Commemoration of all the holy ancestors of Jesus Christ (commemoration). Roman Martyrology, December 24
In art, recognized by: A lion From Gn 49, 9: Jacob compared him to a lion’s cub
What people ask
Did Judah sell Joseph?
Judah proposed selling him so they would not kill him, and his brothers agreed. A NAB note explains that the chapter combines two traditions about how Joseph came to Egypt. Genesis 37:26-28; NAB note on Gn 37, 21-36
What happened between Judah and Tamar?
Judah did not give Tamar to his son Shelah in marriage. She covered her face, and Judah, not recognizing her, took her for a prostitute and got her pregnant. In the end, Judah admitted that she was more in the right than he was. Genesis 38:11, 14-18, 26
Is Jesus from the tribe of Judah?
Yes. The Letter to the Hebrews says that our Lord came from Judah. Hebrews 7:14
Why is Jesus called the lion of the tribe of Judah?
That is what the Book of Revelation calls him. It recalls Jacob’s blessing, which compared Judah to a lion. Revelation 5:5; Genesis 49:9
What does it mean that the scepter shall not depart from Judah?
Jacob announced that rulers would come from Judah. A NAB note says this was fulfilled in the house of David. And, in the end, in Jesus Christ, the Son of David. Genesis 49:10; NAB note on Gn 49, 10
Their failings He proposed selling his brother Joseph. Genesis 37:26-27 He did not keep his word to give Tamar to his son Shelah in marriage. Genesis 38:11, 14, 26 He…
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