Kenaz

Biblical Record

In the Old Testament, "Kenaz" does not refer to a single individual. Several people bear this name.

• Kenaz, grandson of Esau: He was the son of Eliphaz, the son of Esau (Genesis 36:11). His name also appears in the list of the chiefs of Edom (Genesis 36:15, 42; 1 Chronicles 1:36, 53).
• Kenaz, father of Othniel: The judge Othniel is introduced as "the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother" (Joshua 15:17; Judges 1:13; 3:9, 11). First Chronicles 4:13 records, "And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah." Nothing is recorded about the deeds of this Kenaz himself.
• Kenaz, grandson of Caleb: First Chronicles 4:15 lists Kenaz as a son of Elah, the son of Caleb.

Separately, Caleb is called "the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite" (Numbers 32:12; Joshua 14:6, 14). Genesis 15:19 mentions "the Kenizzites" as one of the peoples inhabiting the land that was to be given to the descendants of Abraham.

Significance Within the Bible

The name Kenaz appears both in the genealogy of Edom and in the family of Caleb within the tribe of Judah. For this reason, some interpreters hold that Caleb's family was originally a line descended from Kenaz and connected with Edom, which was later incorporated into the tribe of Judah. The name Kenaz does not appear in the New Testament.

Interpretations and Debates

• The relationship between Othniel and Caleb: The Hebrew expression rendered "Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother" can be read in two ways. If Kenaz is taken to be Caleb's younger brother, Othniel is Caleb's nephew. If "younger brother" is taken to modify Othniel, then Othniel himself is Caleb's younger brother. Translations and commentators differ on this point.
• The meaning of "Kenezite": Some take Kenaz to be the name of Caleb's ancestor, while others take the term to refer to a clan, the Kenizzites.
• Distinction from later tradition: The Biblical Antiquities of Pseudo-Philo, a later Jewish work, is reported to contain an account portraying Kenaz as the leader who succeeded Joshua. This material, however, is not found in the Old Testament text.

In the Korean Church

Sermons or Sunday school lessons devoted specifically to Kenaz are rare. He is usually mentioned in connection with Othniel in Judges 3 or with Caleb, one of the twelve spies. In such contexts, teachers sometimes point out that Caleb "the Kenezite" was used by God within the community of Israel because of his faith.