Keren-happuch is a name found in the King James Bible.
Who This Was
Keren-happuch was one of the three daughters born to Job after the period of his severe trials and his restoration by God. The account of her birth is found in the closing chapter of the Book of Job, where the text records that Job was blessed with sons and daughters following his affliction. She is named alongside her two sisters, Jemimah and Keziah, as one of the daughters of Job’s latter years.
The setting of her appearance is the restoration narrative at the end of Job’s life. After Job had lost his children, his health, and his possessions, and after God had spoken to him out of the whirlwind, the Lord restored Job’s fortunes and gave him a new family. It is within this context of renewed blessing that Keren-happuch is mentioned. Scripture does not record any action, word, or deed of Keren-happuch herself; she appears only in the genealogical and narrative summary of Job’s restored household.
What Scripture says of her is brief but notable. The text states that in all the land there were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job, and that their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. This detail is significant, for it shows that Keren-happuch and her sisters were included in their father’s estate in a manner that was not customary. Beyond this, the Bible records nothing else concerning her life, character, or later years.
The Name
The name Keren-happuch is a compound Hebrew name. The first element, *keren*, commonly means “horn,” often used in Scripture as a symbol of strength, dignity, or honor. The second element is understood to be related to a word for “antimony” or “stibium,” a dark cosmetic powder used in the ancient world to paint the eyes. Thus the name is frequently explained as meaning “horn of antimony” or “horn of eye-paint,” possibly suggesting a container shaped like a horn used to hold such cosmetic. This meaning is widely accepted among Hebrew lexicographers, though the precise nuance of the compound is not entirely certain. It is regarded as a name denoting beauty or adornment, which fits the narrative note that Job’s daughters were exceptionally fair.
A Closing Thought
Keren-happuch’s brief appearance in Scripture is a quiet testimony to God’s restorative grace. Her very name speaks of beauty, and the text tells us she was among the fairest women in the land—yet her greater significance lies in what her birth represents. She came into Job’s life after profound loss, a living sign that God can bring forth new joy from ashes. Her inclusion in the inheritance alongside her brothers also hints at the generosity of a father who had learned to treasure what God had restored. For the reader, her life is a gentle reminder that God’s latter blessings can exceed what was lost.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 0