Jidlaf

Son of Nahor

The patriarchsPatriarchc. 2000 BC

Jidlaf was one of the eight sons of Nahor and Milcah. He is mentioned in the genealogy in Genesis as part of Abraham's extended family. He is a lesser-known biblical figure, but his place in the genealogy links him to the lineage of the patriarchs.

Family

Key events

Mentioned in Nahor's Genealogy

Jidlaf is mentioned as one of eight sons born to Milcah by Nahor, Abraham's brother. This genealogy was reported to Abraham after the binding of Isaac.

22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel."
וְאֶת־כֶּ֣שֶׂד וְאֶת־חֲז֔וֹ וְאֶת־פִּלְדָּ֖שׁ וְאֶת־יִדְלָ֑ף וְאֵ֖ת בְּתוּאֵֽל׃ ‬

Family Ties to Abraham

As a son of Nahor, Abraham's brother, Jidlaf was part of the wider family circle that connected the patriarchs. This connection was important for marriage alliances in the patriarchal era.

20Some time later Abraham was told, "Milcah too has borne sons to your brother Nahor:
וַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵי֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיֻּגַּ֥ד לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר הִ֠נֵּה יָלְדָ֨ה מִלְכָּ֥ה גַם־הִ֛וא בָּנִ֖ים לְנָח֥וֹר אָחִֽיךָ׃ ‬
21Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram,
אֶת־ע֥וּץ בְּכֹר֖וֹ וְאֶת־בּ֣וּז אָחִ֑יו וְאֶת־קְמוּאֵ֖ל אֲבִ֥י אֲרָֽם׃ ‬
22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel."
וְאֶת־כֶּ֣שֶׂד וְאֶת־חֲז֔וֹ וְאֶת־פִּלְדָּ֖שׁ וְאֶת־יִדְלָ֑ף וְאֵ֖ת בְּתוּאֵֽל׃ ‬
23Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
וּבְתוּאֵ֖ל יָלַ֣ד אֶת־רִבְקָ֑ה שְׁמֹנָ֥ה אֵ֙לֶּה֙ יָלְדָ֣ה מִלְכָּ֔ה לְנָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֥י אַבְרָהָֽם׃ ‬

Part of Milcah's Descendants

Milcah, Jidlaf's mother, bore eight sons to Nahor. These sons formed the foundation for several Aramaic tribes and peoples in the Mesopotamian region.

20Some time later Abraham was told, "Milcah too has borne sons to your brother Nahor:
וַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵי֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיֻּגַּ֥ד לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר הִ֠נֵּה יָלְדָ֨ה מִלְכָּ֥ה גַם־הִ֛וא בָּנִ֖ים לְנָח֥וֹר אָחִֽיךָ׃ ‬
21Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram,
אֶת־ע֥וּץ בְּכֹר֖וֹ וְאֶת־בּ֣וּז אָחִ֑יו וְאֶת־קְמוּאֵ֖ל אֲבִ֥י אֲרָֽם׃ ‬
22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel."
וְאֶת־כֶּ֣שֶׂד וְאֶת־חֲז֔וֹ וְאֶת־פִּלְדָּ֖שׁ וְאֶת־יִדְלָ֑ף וְאֵ֖ת בְּתוּאֵֽל׃ ‬
23Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
וּבְתוּאֵ֖ל יָלַ֣ד אֶת־רִבְקָ֑ה שְׁמֹנָ֥ה אֵ֙לֶּה֙ יָלְדָ֣ה מִלְכָּ֔ה לְנָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֥י אַבְרָהָֽם׃ ‬

Connection to Rebekah's Family

Jidlaf's brother Bethuel became the father of Rebekah, who later became Isaac's wife. Thus, Jidlaf was Rebekah's uncle and connected to the ongoing patriarchal history.

23Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
וּבְתוּאֵ֖ל יָלַ֣ד אֶת־רִבְקָ֑ה שְׁמֹנָ֥ה אֵ֙לֶּה֙ יָלְדָ֣ה מִלְכָּ֔ה לְנָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֥י אַבְרָהָֽם׃ ‬
15Before he had finished speaking, there came Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor. She had her jar on her shoulder.
וַֽיְהִי־ה֗וּא טֶרֶם֮ כִּלָּ֣ה לְדַבֵּר֒ וְהִנֵּ֧ה רִבְקָ֣ה יֹצֵ֗את אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֻלְּדָה֙ לִבְתוּאֵ֣ל בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֔ה אֵ֥שֶׁת נָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֑ם וְכַדָּ֖הּ עַל־שִׁכְמָֽהּ׃ ‬
24She answered, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son whom Milcah bore to Nahor."
וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו בַּת־בְּתוּאֵ֖ל אָנֹ֑כִי בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלְדָ֖ה לְנָחֽוֹר׃ ‬

Mentioned in the Bible (1)