Who was Caleb in the Bible?
Joshua's compatriot, during Egypt, the wilderness, and the conquest
Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan (Num. 13:6). Caleb appears in 35 verses across 6 books of the Bible.
The Bible uses the name Caleb for 2 different people. All 2 are below, each with its own passages.
Caleb, son of Jephunneh
Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan (Num. 13:6). Along with Joshua, Caleb stood firm in his faith and trust in God's promise, encouraging the Israelites to enter the land despite the other spies' negative report (Num. 13:30; 14:6-9). As a result, God commended Caleb for his faithfulness and promised that he would inherit the land he had explored (Num. 14:24, 30, 38; Deut. 1:36). After the conquest of Canaan, Caleb requested and received Hebron as his inheritance (Josh. 14:6-15; 15:13-19; 21:12; Judg. 1:12-15, 20). He drove out the Anakim giants from Hebron and offered his daughter Achsah in marriage to whoever conquered Kirjath Sepher (Josh. 15:14-17; Judg. 1:12-13). Caleb's descendants settled in the Negev region and in the cities of Hebron (1Sam. 30:14; 1Chr. 4:15; 6:56). His faith, courage, and obedience to God made him a prominent figure in Israel's history, and his story is remembered as an example of unwavering trust in God's promises (Num. 32:12; Judg. 3:9).
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Caleb (Chelubai)
Caleb, also known as Chelubai, is mentioned in the genealogies of Judah in 1Chronicles 2 and 4:1. He was the son of Hezron and the father of Hur (1Chr. 2:9, 18-19). Caleb's wives included Azubah and Ephrathah (1Chr. 2:18-19). Through his son Hur, Caleb was the grandfather of Uri and the great-grandfather of Bezalel, the skilled craftsman who worked on the tabernacle (1Chr. 2:20; Ex. 31:2). Caleb's descendants, known as the Calebites, settled in the region of Hebron and played a significant role in the tribe of Judah (1Chr. 2:42-55). This Caleb is a different person from Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who was one of the twelve spies. The similar names and their connection to the tribe of Judah may have led to some confusion in the genealogical records.
7 verses: 1 Chronicles 2:18, 1 Chronicles 2:19, 1 Chronicles 2:24, 1 Chronicles 2:42, 1 Chronicles 2:46, 1 Chronicles 2:48, 1 Chronicles 2:50
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Where does Caleb appear in the Bible?
Caleb is referenced in 35 verses across 6 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- 1 Chronicles 4:15
- 1 Chronicles 6:56
- 1 Samuel 30:14
- Deuteronomy 1:36
- Judges 1:12
- Judges 1:13
- Judges 1:14
- Judges 1:15
- Judges 1:20
- Judges 3:9
- Joshua 14:6
- Joshua 14:13
- Joshua 14:14
- Joshua 15:13
- Joshua 15:14
- Joshua 15:16
- Joshua 15:17
- Joshua 15:18
- Joshua 21:12
- Numbers 13:6
- Numbers 13:30
- Numbers 14:6
- Numbers 14:24
- Numbers 14:30
Showing the first 24 of 35.
Open all 35 references in ProtosWhat else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Caleb.
Common questions
How many people in the Bible are called Caleb?
Caleb refers to 2 different people in the Bible: Caleb, son of Jephunneh; Caleb (Chelubai).
How many times does the Bible mention Caleb?
Caleb appears in 35 verses across 6 books, most often in Joshua, which accounts for 9 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Caleb?
Joshua, Numbers, 1 Chronicles, Judges, 1 Samuel, Deuteronomy.
Where can I read every verse about Caleb?
This page lists 24 of them. Protos carries all 35, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
