Shelah
malePatriarchalMeaning: “Petition; sprout”
The third and youngest son of Judah, withheld from Tamar despite the levirate custom; ancestor of the Shelanite clan of Judah.
Biography
Shelah was the third and youngest son of Judah by the daughter of Shua. After his two elder brothers Er and Onan died, Judah was supposed to give Shelah to the widowed Tamar so she could bear an heir — but, fearing for his last son, Judah delayed, telling Tamar to remain a widow "till Shelah my son be grown" (Genesis 38:11), and never fulfilled the promise. This default is what drove Tamar to her bold course of action. Shelah nonetheless became the head of a recognized clan of Judah, the Shelanites (Numbers 26:20; 1 Chronicles 4:21).
Life Timeline
Withheld from Tamar by his father Judah
On the Bible timeline
Shelah belongs to the The Patriarchs era (c. 2100 – 1800 BC).
- c. 2091 BCThe Call of Abraham
- c. 1898 BCJoseph Sold into Egypt
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Shelah
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Shelah appears.
People they appear with
Scripture Appearances
11 verses in 3 booksGenesis6 verses
Genesis 10:24
And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber. Salah: Heb. Shelah
Genesis 38:5
And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.
Genesis 38:11
Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.
Genesis 38:14
And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. an open: Heb. the door of eyes, or, of Enajim
Genesis 38:26
And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
Genesis 46:12
And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.
Numbers1 verse
Numbers 26:20
And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.
1 Chronicles4 verses
1 Chronicles 1:18
And Arphaxad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber.
1 Chronicles 1:24
Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,
1 Chronicles 2:3
The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him.
1 Chronicles 4:21
The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were, Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,
Frequently asked about Shelah
Who was Shelah in the Bible?
The third and youngest son of Judah, withheld from Tamar despite the levirate custom; ancestor of the Shelanite clan of Judah.
What does the name Shelah mean?
The name Shelah means “Petition; sprout”.
Who were Shelah's parents?
Shelah was the child of Judah.
Where does Shelah appear in the Bible?
Shelah is mentioned 11 times across 3 books: Genesis, Numbers, 1 Chronicles.
What can we learn from Shelah?
The story of Shelah touches on themes of shelah, salah, shem, genealogy — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Shelah's life.
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