Caleb
maleConquestMeaning: “Dog; or wholehearted”
One of the twelve spies who, with Joshua, urged Israel to trust God and enter Canaan; rewarded for wholehearted faith, he claimed Hebron at eighty-five.
Biography
Caleb of the tribe of Judah is celebrated for a single, towering virtue: he "wholly followed the LORD." One of only two of his generation permitted to enter the Promised Land, he is a model of lifelong, undiminished faith.
The faithful spy
Sent with eleven others to scout Canaan, Caleb alone with Joshua brought back a believing report, stilling the people: "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it" (Numbers 13:30). When the nation rebelled, God promised that Caleb, who "had another spirit," would inherit the land (Numbers 14:24).
"Give me this mountain"
Forty-five years later, at eighty-five, Caleb was as vigorous as ever. He claimed the hill country of Hebron — the land of the fearsome Anakim — saying, "give me this mountain… if so be the LORD will be with me… I shall be able to drive them out" (Joshua 14:12).
A wholehearted legacy
Scripture repeatedly sums up his life: "he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel" (Joshua 14:14). He gave his daughter Achsah in marriage and a blessing of springs of water (Joshua 15:16–19), leaving a legacy of bold, persevering faith.
Life Timeline
Brings back a faithful report from spying out Canaan
Promised an inheritance for following God wholly
Claims Hebron at age eighty-five
On the Bible timeline
Caleb belongs to the The Exodus & Wilderness era (c. 1446 BC (early) / 1260 BC (late)).
- c. 1446 BC (early) / 1260 BC (late)The Exodus from Egypt
- c. 1446 BCThe Law Given at Sinai
- c. 1406 BCThe Conquest of Canaan
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Caleb
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Caleb appears.
People they appear with
Places in their story
Scripture Appearances
27 verses in 5 booksNumbers9 verses
Numbers 13:6
Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
Numbers 13:30
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
Numbers 14:6
And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
Numbers 14:24
But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
Numbers 14:30
Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. sware: Heb. lifted up my hand
Numbers 14:38
But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.
Numbers 26:65
For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
Numbers 32:12
Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.
Numbers 34:19
And the names of the men are these: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
Deuteronomy1 verse
Deuteronomy 1:36
Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD. wholly: Heb. fulfilled to go after
Joshua9 verses
Joshua 14:6
Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.
Joshua 14:13
And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
Joshua 14:14
Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.
Joshua 15:13
And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron. the city: or, Kirjatharba
Joshua 15:14
And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
Joshua 15:16
And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
Joshua 15:17
And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
Joshua 15:18
And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?
Joshua 21:12
But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
Judges6 verses
Judges 1:12
And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
Judges 1:13
And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
Judges 1:14
And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?
Judges 1:15
And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.
Judges 1:20
And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.
Judges 3:9
And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. deliverer: Heb. saviour
1 Samuel2 verses
1 Samuel 25:3
Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
1 Samuel 30:14
We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.
Frequently asked about Caleb
Who was Caleb in the Bible?
One of the twelve spies who, with Joshua, urged Israel to trust God and enter Canaan; rewarded for wholehearted faith, he claimed Hebron at eighty-five.
What does the name Caleb mean?
The name Caleb means “Dog; or wholehearted”.
What did Caleb do in the Bible?
Caleb served as spy, military leader, of the tribe of Judah.
Who were Caleb's children?
Caleb's children include Achsah.
Where does Caleb appear in the Bible?
Caleb is mentioned 27 times across 5 books: Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel.
What can we learn from Caleb?
The story of Caleb touches on themes of caleb, othniel, achsah, anakim, the — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Caleb's life.
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