The Hebrew word Yᵉhudîyâh, represented by H3057, is a proper name, Jehudijah, which means "a Jewess". This name appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire biblical record, marking a singular but significant appearance within a genealogical listing.
The sole use of H3057 is in a genealogical account in 1 Chronicles. In this context, Jehudijah is identified as a wife H802 who bare H3205 three sons: Jered, Heber, and Jekuthiel. The passage specifies that these sons became the father H1 of key settlements, namely Gedor, Socho, and Zanoah 1 Chronicles 4:18. This verse firmly places Jehudijah as a matriarch whose lineage is foundational to the establishment of these communities.
The verse where Jehudijah is mentioned connects her to several key relational terms:
- H802 ʼishshâh (wife): This term establishes her primary familial role in the passage. She is identified as the wife of Mered, alongside another wife, Bithiah 1 Chronicles 4:18.
- H3205 yâlad (to bear young): This verb describes her specific action of bringing forth children, cementing her role as a mother who continued a lineage 1 Chronicles 4:18.
- H1121 bên (son): As the direct counterpart to a mother, this word defines her offspring. The verse explicitly names her sons, and also notes the sons of Bithiah, daughter of Pharaoh 1 Chronicles 4:18.
- H1 ʼâb (father): This term is used to describe the status her sons achieved as founders of Gedor, Socho, and Zanoah, showing the generational impact of the children she bore 1 Chronicles 4:18.
- H1332 Bithyâh (Bithiah): This is the name of the other wife mentioned in the same verse, identified as the daughter of Pharaoh whom Mered took, creating a notable parallel within the genealogy 1 Chronicles 4:18.
While appearing only once, the context of H3057 carries genealogical and relational weight.
- Establishment of Lineage: Jehudijah's primary significance is her role in the official lineage of Judah. Her sons are recorded as the "fathers" or founders of Gedor H1446, Socho H7755, and Zanoah H2182, linking her directly to the geographic and tribal heritage of Israel 1 Chronicles 4:18.
- Contrast of Identity: Her name, meaning "Jewess," is presented in the same verse that identifies Mered's other wife as Bithiah H1332, the daughter H1323 of Pharaoh H6547. This juxtaposition highlights her specific identity as an Israelite in contrast to the royal Egyptian lineage of the other wife.
- Maternal Foundation: By bearing sons who became progenitors, Jehudijah fulfills the vital role of a matriarch, ensuring the continuation and establishment of her family line within the larger narrative of her people.
In summary, H3057 Jehudijah is a name that, despite its single appearance, is embedded in a crucial genealogical record. She is remembered as "the Jewess," a wife and mother whose sons founded significant towns. Her inclusion in the biblical text, particularly in contrast with a wife of foreign royal descent, underscores the importance of her specific lineage in the history of Judah.
TRV