Jehudijah
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Jehudijah is a biblical figure mentioned in the genealogical records of the Old Testament. Her name appears in 1 Chronicles 4:18, where she is identified as the wife of Mered. The passage reads: "His Judean wife gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. These were the sons of Bithiah, daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered had married" .

Name and Meaning

The name Jehudijah is often understood to mean "Jewess" or "the praised one of Yahweh." This name reflects her connection to the tribe of Judah, as indicated by the term "Judean wife" in the biblical text. The name underscores her identity and heritage within the Israelite community.

Family and Lineage

Jehudijah is noted for her marriage to Mered, a descendant of the tribe of Judah. The genealogical record in 1 Chronicles 4:18 highlights her as the mother of several significant figures: Jered, Heber, and Jekuthiel. These sons are associated with the towns of Gedor, Soco, and Zanoah, respectively, indicating their importance in the regional and tribal structure of ancient Israel.

Connection to Egypt

An intriguing aspect of Jehudijah's account is her connection to Egypt through Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh. The text suggests that Mered had another wife, Bithiah, who bore him children. This connection to Egyptian royalty through marriage is a notable detail, reflecting the complex interactions between Israel and Egypt during the biblical period.

Cultural and Historical Context

The mention of Jehudijah in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles provides insight into the cultural and familial structures of ancient Israel. Her inclusion in the lineage of Judah emphasizes the importance of maternal lines in the transmission of tribal identity and heritage. The genealogies in Chronicles serve to establish the continuity and legitimacy of the Israelite tribes, with figures like Jehudijah playing a crucial role in this narrative.

Theological Significance

From a theological perspective, Jehudijah's account highlights the providence of God in the unfolding of Israel's history. Her marriage to Mered and her role as a mother to influential descendants underscore the divine orchestration of events and relationships that contribute to the fulfillment of God's promises to His people. The genealogies in which she appears serve as a testament to God's faithfulness in preserving and guiding the lineage of Judah, from which the Messiah would eventually come.

Conclusion

While Jehudijah is a relatively obscure figure in the biblical narrative, her mention in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles provides valuable insight into the familial and tribal dynamics of ancient Israel. Her account, though brief, is woven into the larger tapestry of God's redemptive plan for His people.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Jehudijah

the praise of the Lord

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Jehudijah

(the Jewess). There is really no such name in the Hebrew Bible as that which our Authorized Version exhibits at (1 Chronicles 4:18) If it is a proper name at all, it is Ha-jehudijah, like Hammelech, Hak-koz, etc.; and it seems to be rather an appellative, "the Jewess."

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
JEHUDIJAH

je-hu-di'-ja (1 Chronicles 4:18 the King James Version).

See HA-JEHUDIJAH.

Strong's Hebrew
3057. Yehudiyyah -- a Jewess
... Word Origin fem. of Yehudi Definition a Jewess NASB Word Usage Jewish (1). Jehudijah,
a Jewess. Feminine of Yhuwdiy; Jehudijah, a Jewess: see HEBREW Yhuwdiy. ...
/hebrew/3057.htm - 6k
Thesaurus
Jehudijah
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia JEHUDIJAH. je-hu-di'-ja (1 Chronicles
4:18 the King James Version). See HA-JEHUDIJAH. ...
/j/jehudijah.htm - 6k

Ha-jehudijah
Ha-jehudijah. Hajehudijah, Ha-jehudijah. Hakeldama . Int. ... HA-JEHUDIJAH.
ha-je-hu-di'-ja (ha-yehudhiyah): Named in the genealogical list (1 Chronicles 4: ...
/h/ha-jehudijah.htm - 6k

Hajehudijah
... HA-JEHUDIJAH. ha-je-hu-di'-ja (ha-yehudhiyah): Named in the genealogical list (1
Chronicles 4:18). ... The King James Version translates "Jehudijah.". ...
/h/hajehudijah.htm - 6k

Mered (2 Occurrences)
... and the Revised Version (British and American) text agree in translating the other
wife of Mered as "the Jewess," rather than as a proper name Jehudijah, as if ...
/m/mered.htm - 9k

Jehu'di (3 Occurrences)
Jehu'di. Jehudi, Jehu'di. Jehudijah . Multi-Version Concordance Jehu'di (3
Occurrences). ... (See RSV). Jehudi, Jehu'di. Jehudijah . Reference Bible.
/j/jehu'di.htm - 7k

Jehuel (1 Occurrence)

/j/jehuel.htm - 7k

Bithiah (2 Occurrences)
... British and American) reads, the other wife of Mered is distinguished as "the Jewess"
(instead of the King James Version "Jehudijah"), this supposition would ...
/b/bithiah.htm - 7k

Hakeldama (1 Occurrence)

/h/hakeldama.htm - 6k

Resources
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Jehudi: A Jew, an official at Jehoiakim's Court Who Read Jeremiah's Scroll to the King
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