A Kenizzite and son of Jephunneh, brother of the warrior Caleb, and father of the judge Othniel and Seraiah.
About Kenaz
The singular form of the name of the Kenizzite tribe. God promised their land to the descendants of Abraham (Genesis 15:19). The Old Testament mentions three different men with this name. This might be because the Kenizzites had moved into both Edom (a land to the south) and southern Judah (part of what would become Israel). This happened before the Israelites conquered the land.
A grandson of Esau and a clan leader of Edom (Genesis 36:11, 15, 42; 1 Chronicles 1:36, 53).
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Jephunneh
- Half-sibling
- Caleb
- Children 2
- Othniel, Seraiah (1 Chronicles 4:13)
- Nieces & Nephews 4
- Achsah, Iru, Elah (1 Chronicles 4:15), Naam
Key References
Then the sons of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me.
So Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.
The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai.
All Scripture References (8)
Numbers (1)
not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun—because they did follow the LORD wholeheartedly.’
Joshua (3)
Then the sons of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me.
Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel.
So Othniel son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.
Judges (3)
So Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.
But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, He raised up Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz as a deliverer to save them.
So the land had rest for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.
1 Chronicles (1)
The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai.