### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
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.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
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.
### Related Words & Concepts
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]].
### Theological Significance
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.
### Summary
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