Lexical Summary Kezib: Kezib Original Word: כְּזִיב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Chezib From kazab; falsified; Kezib, a place in Palestine -- Chezib. see HEBREW kazab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kazab Definition a place in the plain of Judah NASB Translation Chezib (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs כְּזִיב proper name, of a location in plain of Judah Genesis 38:5, ᵐ5 Ξασβι, = אַכְזִיב 1 see below Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Genesis 38:5 records the sole use of כְּזִיב (Chezib): “Then she gave birth to another son and named him Shelah, and it was at Chezib that she gave birth to him” (Berean Standard Bible). The verse situates the birthplace of Judah’s third son during his sojourn “at Adullam” (Genesis 38:1), adding a precise geographical note to the family narrative that later affects the line of promise. Geographical Setting 1. Location in the Shephelah. Chezib lay in the low-hills southwest of Bethlehem, within the tribal allotment Judah later received (Joshua 15:44, where the cognate name Achzib appears). The site is usually identified with Khirbet ʿAin el-Kezbeh or nearby Tell el-Beideh, several kilometers west of Adullam. Historical Background 1. Judah’s clan in transition. After the selling of Joseph, Judah withdrew from his brothers and established ties with Adullamite allies (Genesis 38:1-2). Chezib marks the third stage of that relocation: every son—Er, Onan, and Shelah—receives a birthplace tied to Judah’s new surroundings (38:3-5). Theological Themes and Spiritual Lessons 1. Covenant lineage under threat. Shelah’s birth at Chezib frames the tension in Genesis 38: Tamar’s hope for an heir from Judah remains unfulfilled because Judah later withholds Shelah. The place-name thus becomes the setting of both covenant promise and temporary delay. Archaeological Insights Sparse excavations at candidate sites reveal Iron Age pottery, terrace agriculture, and fortification remnants consistent with lowland Judahite towns. The modest size corroborates the narrative of a pastoral clan settling among Canaanite villages before the unified monarchy. Absence of extensive remains fits Micah’s depiction of an insignificant town whose promised help “shall be deceptive.” Ministerial Applications 1. Faithfulness in obscurity. Like Chezib, many believers labor in unnoticed contexts; yet God records their service and weaves it into His larger story. Summary Chezib, though mentioned only once, anchors Genesis 38 in real geography, advances Judah’s genealogical narrative, and provides enduring lessons on God’s sovereign fidelity amid human shortcomings. Forms and Transliterations בִכְזִ֖יב בכזיב ḇiḵ·zîḇ ḇiḵzîḇ vichZivLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 38:5 HEB: שֵׁלָ֑ה וְהָיָ֥ה בִכְזִ֖יב בְּלִדְתָּ֥הּ אֹתֽוֹ׃ NAS: him Shelah; and it was at Chezib that she bore KJV: Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare INT: Shelah become Chezib bore 1 Occurrence |
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