Mehir is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Mehir was a descendant of Judah, mentioned in the genealogies of the tribe in 1 Chronicles. He appears in a brief genealogical notice embedded in the larger record of Judah’s descendants. The passage in which he is named reads, “And Chelub the brother of Shuah begat Mehir, which was the father of Eshton” (1 Chronicles 4:11). This places Mehir within the clan records of Judah, the tribe from which the messianic line would eventually come.
The setting of the passage is a genealogy—a list of names and family relationships preserved to trace the lineage of Israel’s tribes. Mehir is identified as the son of Chelub, who is described as “the brother of Shuah.” Mehir himself is then named as “the father of Eshton.” Beyond these relationships, Scripture records nothing else about him. We are not told where he lived, what he did, or how long he lived. His entire appearance in the King James Bible consists of this single mention.
What Scripture says of Mehir, then, is simply his place in a family line. He was a link in the chain of Judah’s descendants, named among those whose generations were preserved. The genealogies of 1 Chronicles served to establish tribal identity and inheritance after the exile, and Mehir’s inclusion shows that his family was counted among the people of Judah. He did nothing notable that Scripture records, yet he was remembered as part of the covenant people’s history.
The Name
The Hebrew name Mehir is generally understood to derive from a root meaning “price” or “purchase,” and it is often rendered with the sense of “one who has been bought” or “purchased.” Some lexicographers connect it to the idea of a “price” or “hire,” so the name may carry the connotation of something acquired at a cost. While the meaning is not stated in Scripture itself, the etymology is reasonably well established among Hebrew name studies. It is worth noting that the same consonants appear in other Hebrew words related to buying and selling, which supports this general sense.
A Closing Thought
Mehir’s life is a reminder that most of God’s people are known not for great deeds but for faithful presence in the line of those who belong to Him. He is remembered in a single verse, yet he was part of the tribe of Judah and the unfolding story of redemption. His name, suggesting “purchased,” quietly echoes the truth that we too are bought at a price and counted among God’s people—not by our own fame, but by His gracious choosing. There is comfort in knowing that even the quietest link in a family chain matters to God.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 4:11 — And Chelub the brother of Shuah begat Mehir, which was the father of Eshton.