Caleb

Biblical Account

Caleb was a man of the tribe of Judah and the son of Jephunneh. Scripture calls him "the Kenezite" (Numbers 32:12; Joshua 14:6).

• The spies: When Moses sent twelve spies, one from each tribe, to search out the land of Canaan, Caleb represented the tribe of Judah (Numbers 13:6). Most of the other spies feared the inhabitants of the land and reported, "we were in our own sight as grasshoppers" (Numbers 13:33). Caleb stilled the people and said, "Let us go up at once, and possess it" (Numbers 13:30). Together with Joshua, he tore his clothes and declared that the land was good (Numbers 14:6-9).
• The promise: God declared that because Caleb "had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully," he would enter the land (Numbers 14:24). Of the Exodus generation, only Joshua and Caleb entered Canaan (Numbers 14:30; 26:65; Deuteronomy 1:36).
• The request for Hebron: After the conquest, Caleb, now eighty-five years old, recalled the time he had spied out the land at the age of forty and asked for the hill country that had been promised to him (Joshua 14:6-12). Joshua blessed him and gave him Hebron (Joshua 14:13-14). There Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak (Joshua 15:13-14).
• Othniel and Achsah: Caleb promised to give his daughter Achsah in marriage to whoever captured Kirjath-sepher (Debir). Othniel the son of Kenaz took the city and received Achsah as his wife. Achsah asked her father for springs of water and received them (Joshua 15:15-19; Judges 1:12-15). Othniel later became a judge (Judges 3:9).

Significance in Scripture

The Old Testament repeatedly records that Caleb "wholly followed the LORD" (Numbers 32:12; Joshua 14:8-9, 14). This description stands in contrast to the generation that died in the wilderness because of unbelief. First Samuel 25:3 identifies Nabal as being "of the house of Caleb," and 1 Samuel 30:14 mentions "the south of Caleb." These passages are understood to indicate that his descendants settled in the southern part of Judah.

Caleb's name does not appear in the New Testament. However, because Hebrews 3–4 and 1 Corinthians 10 cite the disobedience of the wilderness generation as a warning, preachers frequently mention Caleb alongside these passages as a contrasting example.

Interpretation and Debated Points

• "The Kenezite": Kenaz appears both as the name of a descendant of Esau (Genesis 36:11) and as the name of a people in the land of Canaan (Genesis 15:19). Some interpreters therefore hold that Caleb's family originally came from outside Israel and was incorporated into the tribe of Judah, while others regard Kenaz as the name of a clan within the tribe of Judah.
• Caleb in 1 Chronicles: Opinions also differ on whether Caleb (Chelubai) the son of Hezron, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 2, is the same person as Caleb the son of Jephunneh (1 Chronicles 4:15).
• Meaning of the name: Some sermons interpret the name as a symbol of loyalty, noting its similarity in sound to the Hebrew word for "dog," while others explain it as meaning "wholehearted." The text itself, however, does not explain the meaning of the name.
• "Give me this mountain": This verse is commonly read as an example of faith that continues to take on new challenges even in old age. Others, however, caution against using it as a basis for seeking personal success or possessions, emphasizing that Caleb's request rested on a promise God had already made (Joshua 14:9, 12).

In the Korean Church

In Sunday school, the story of the twelve spies is a frequent subject. Lessons typically show the great cluster of grapes (Numbers 13:23) and the "grasshoppers" report, contrasting the fearful spies with the faith of Joshua and Caleb.

In preaching to adults, "give me this mountain" (Joshua 14:12) is often used as a sermon text for the New Year, church anniversaries, building projects, and commitments to missions. Caleb's declaration that at eighty-five he was still "as strong this day" (Joshua 14:11) is cited as a model of faith in old age. Some churches also use the name "Caleb" for adult or senior fellowship groups and mission societies.