Judah is most famous for being the ancestor of King David and of Jesus Christ. Judah was not the oldest son and did wrong things as a grown man (Genesis 38). Despite that, God chose Judah to continue the lineage of King David and of the Messiah (see 1 Chronicles 2:1–17; 3:1–24; and Genesis 49:8–12; Matthew 1:1–16; Luke 3:23–34).
Judah was the fourth son of Jacob's twelve sons (Genesis 35:23; 1 Chronicles 2:1). Leah was happy to have her fourth son. She named him Judah, which means "praise" (Genesis 29:35).
Judah had five sons:
Er
Onan
Shelah
Perez
Zerah
Bathshua, a woman from Canaan, was the mother of Er, Onan, and Shelah (Genesis 38:1–5; 1 Chronicles 2:3). Perez and Zereh were twins. Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law, was their mother (Genesis 38:27–30; 1 Chronicles 2:4).
God killed Judah's first two sons, Er and Onan, in Canaan because of their disobedience (Genesis 46:12). Judah later moved his family to Egypt with his father and brothers (Exodus 1:1–2).
Judah acted recklessly with Tamar but he took responsibility for Benjamin's safety in Egypt (Genesis 38:6–30). He also interceded with Joseph for his brothers (Genesis 44:14–34). When Jacob gave his dying blessing, he granted Judah a leadership role. Future kings of Israel would come from Judah's descendants (see Genesis 49:10).
Passages for Further Study
Genesis 29:35; 37:26–27; 38:1–30; 43:1–10; 44:14–34; 46:28; 49:8–12; Ruth 4:12; 1 Chronicles 2:3–4; 5:2; Psalm 108:8