Where is Gilead in the Bible?
Gilead is a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, extending from the Sea of Galilee in the north to the Dead Sea in the south. Gilead appears in 76 verses across 18 books of the Bible.
The Bible uses the name Gilead for 2 different entries. All 2 are below, each with its own passages.
Gilead in Judges
Gilead is a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, extending from the Sea of Galilee in the north to the Dead Sea in the south. It is characterized by rugged terrain, forests, and fertile valleys. In the Old Testament, Gilead is often used to refer to the entire region east of the Jordan, which was allotted to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh (Numbers 32:1-42; Joshua 13:24-31). The region was known for its balm, a medicinal resin (Jeremiah 8:22, 46:11).
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.
Gilead, son of Machir
Gilead, the son of Machir and grandson of Manasseh, is mentioned in several genealogical lists in the Old Testament. In Num.26.29-30, he is identified as the ancestor of the Gileadite clans, which included Iezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Shemida, and Hepher. These clans are also mentioned in Jos.17.1-2, where they are described as receiving an inheritance in the land of Canaan. In Num.27.1 and Jos.17.3, Gilead's great-granddaughters, the daughters of Zelophehad, appeal to Moses for the right to inherit their father's property in the absence of male heirs. This incident leads to a change in the inheritance laws, allowing daughters to inherit property when there are no male heirs (Num.27.2-11). In 1Ch.2.21-23 and 1Ch.7.14-17, Gilead is mentioned in the genealogies of Manasseh, confirming his role as a significant ancestor of the tribe. The repeated mentions of Gilead in these genealogical lists highlight the importance of family lineage and tribal identity in ancient Israelite society.
6 verses: 1 Chronicles 2:21, 1 Chronicles 7:14, 1 Chronicles 7:17, Joshua 17:3, Numbers 26:30, Numbers 27:1
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Where does Gilead appear in the Bible?
Gilead is referenced in 76 verses across 18 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- 1 Chronicles 2:22
- 1 Chronicles 5:9
- 1 Chronicles 5:10
- 1 Chronicles 5:16
- 1 Chronicles 6:80
- 1 Chronicles 27:21
- 1 Kings 4:13
- 1 Kings 4:19
- 1 Kings 17:1
- 1 Samuel 13:7
- 2 Kings 10:33
- 2 Samuel 2:9
- 2 Samuel 17:26
- 2 Samuel 24:6
- Amos 1:3
- Amos 1:13
- Deuteronomy 2:36
- Deuteronomy 3:10
- Deuteronomy 3:12
- Deuteronomy 3:13
- Deuteronomy 3:15
- Deuteronomy 3:16
- Deuteronomy 4:43
- Genesis 31:21
Showing the first 24 of 76.
Open all 76 references in ProtosWhat else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Gilead.
Common questions
How many people in the Bible are called Gilead?
Gilead refers to 2 different entries in the Bible: Gilead in Judges; Gilead, son of Machir.
How many times does the Bible mention Gilead?
Gilead appears in 76 verses across 18 books, most often in Judges, which accounts for 14 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Gilead?
Judges, Joshua, 1 Chronicles, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Genesis, Jeremiah, 1 Kings, and 10 more.
Where can I read every verse about Gilead?
This page lists 24 of them. Protos carries all 76, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
