Jerioth is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Jerioth is named in the genealogies of the tribe of Judah, in 1 Chronicles 2:18. The passage reads, “And Caleb the son of Hezron begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.” According to the source note, Jerioth was one of the wives of Caleb, the son of Hezron.
The setting is a genealogy—a record of families and descendants within the tribe of Judah. Caleb son of Hezron appears in these lists as a man with multiple wives and children, and Jerioth is named among them. The verse links her to three sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. This is the only place in the King James Bible where her name appears.
Scripture says nothing more about Jerioth beyond this single mention. It does not record her background, her character, or any event in her life. She is known only as a wife of Caleb and the mother of these sons. What we have is a name in a family record—a brief line in a long list of Judah’s descendants. Yet even this short notice places her within the covenant people and the lineage of Judah.
The Name
The meaning of the name Jerioth is not clearly recoverable from the Hebrew text. Various suggestions have been made by scholars, but none is firmly established, and the name’s exact sense remains uncertain. Because Scripture itself offers no explanation and the etymology is disputed, it is best to say plainly that the meaning is unknown rather than to assign it a definition that cannot be supported.
A Closing Thought
Jerioth’s life is summed up in a single verse—a name, a marriage, and three sons. Most of us will not be remembered in grand histories either. Yet the genealogies of Judah were not idle lists; they traced the line through which God’s promises would unfold. Jerioth’s brief mention reminds us that faithfulness in ordinary life matters, even when no one writes much about it. God keeps His own records, and a life hidden in Him is never forgotten.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 2:18 — And Caleb the son of Hezron begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.