Birth Year:1774 BC ³

Dictionary Summary:Praise, the fourth son of Jacob by Leah. The name originated in Leah’s words of praise to the Lord on account of his birth: “Now will I praise [Heb. odeh] Jehovah, and she called his name Yehudah” ([Gen. 29:35](/gen#Gen.29.35)). It was Judah that interposed in behalf of Joseph, so that his life was spared ([Gen. 37:26](/gen#Gen.37.26), [27](/gen#Gen.37.27)). He took a lead in the affairs of the family, and “prevailed above his brethren” ([Gen. 43:3-10](/gen#Gen.43.3); [44:14](/gen#Gen.44.14), [16-34](/gen#Gen.44.16); [46:28](/gen#Gen.46.28); [1 Chr. 5:2](/1chr#1Chr.5.2)). Soon after the sale of Joseph to the Ishmaelites, Judah went to reside at Adullam, where he married a woman of Canaan. (See ONAN; TAMAR.) After the death of his wife Shuah, he returned to his father’s house, and there exercised much influence over the patriarch, taking a principal part in the events which led to the whole family at length going down into Egypt. We hear nothing more of him till he received his father’s blessing ([Gen. 49:8-12](/gen#Gen.49.8)). ²