עֲזוּבָה (a.zu.vah)
a.zu.vah
Azubah
N:N-F-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-F-P
Word Overview
The name Azubah means "forsaken" or "abandoned." It appears in the Hebrew Bible as a proper noun for two distinct women connected to the tribe of Judah during the era of the Divided Monarchy. The first is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 2:18 as the wife of Caleb, son of Hezron, and mother of his children Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.
A second woman with this name is recorded as the daughter of Shilhi and the wife of King Asa of Judah. She is noted as the mother of King Jehoshaphat in 1 Kings 22:42 and 2 Chronicles 20:1. The recurrence of a name meaning "forsaken" for prominent women in these genealogies offers a striking linguistic detail, though the texts do not elaborate on the personal circumstances behind their naming.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Azubah carries a heavy weight, meaning "forsaken" or "abandoned." In the biblical record, it appears for two women in the lineage of Judah. One was the wife of Caleb, and the other was the mother of King Jehoshaphat. These names remind us that human history is filled with complex stories, where titles and genealogies often hide personal pain or social stigma.
Yet Scripture does not erase these women. It records their names alongside kings and heroes, preserving their place in God’s unfolding plan. This shows that no one is too broken or forgotten to be part of the covenant community. Your own experiences of loss or isolation do not disqualify you from God’s love or His future for you.
When we read these ancient names, we are invited to trust that God sees those who feel unseen. He brings life out of abandonment and purpose out of pain. You are held by a God who remembers every name and values every person in His story.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [was] Azubah2×
- Azubah2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֲזוּבָ֖ה2×
- עֲזוּבָ֥ה1×
- עֲזוּבָ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 2:18
Caleb the son of Hezron became the father of children by Azubah his wife, and by Jerioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.
This verse identifies Azubah as Caleb’s wife, showing that a woman with this name was integrated into the tribal leadership of Judah despite her name's meaning.
-
I Kings 22:42
Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
Here Azubah is named as the mother of King Jehoshaphat, linking her directly to one of Judah’s more faithful monarchs and highlighting her royal status.
-
II Chronicles 20:31
So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign. He reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
This parallel account reiterates Azubah’s identity as Jehoshaphat’s mother, reinforcing her significance in the historical narrative of the kingdom.