Rephah
Who was Rephah in the Bible?
Rephah was a descendant of Ephraim within the Egypt and Wilderness era, listed as a son of Beriah in the genealogical records of the Tribe of Ephraim.
Rephah is a biblical figure mentioned in the genealogical records of the Tribe of Ephraim, documented specifically in the book of 1 Chronicles. His place in the biblical narrative is confined to the genealogical lists that helped establish the heritage and land rights of the northern tribes. He lived during the era associated with the Egypt and Wilderness, contributing to the lineage that would eventually produce the military leader Joshua.
His identification is primarily as the son of Beriah, a significant figure in Ephraimite history. While the biblical text provides little information regarding his personal actions or character, his inclusion in the chronicler's record serves to validate the continuity of the Ephraimite line through periods of tribal growth and settlement in the Promised Land.
Background and Family
Rephah appears in the genealogical record of 1 Chronicles 7:25, a section dedicated to the descendants of Ephraim, the son of Joseph. According to the text, Rephah was the son of Beriah. His family context is one of both struggle and expansion; his father, Beriah, was born to Ephraim following a period of great mourning after his other sons were slain by the men of Gath. Rephah’s siblings include Resheph and a sister named Sheerah, who is noted in the biblical record for her architectural contributions in building Upper and Lower Beth-horon.
Major Life Events
The biblical text does not record any specific biographical events, speeches, or actions attributed to Rephah. His presence in the scripture is purely genealogical. He represents a generational link in the lineage of Ephraim during the transition toward the Egypt and Wilderness period. As the son of Beriah, he belongs to a line that successfully repopulated the Ephraimite territory after the family's earlier tragedies.
Relationship to Other Biblical Figures
Rephah’s primary importance in the text is his relationship to his father, Beriah, and his son, Resheph (who is listed alongside him or as his immediate successor in the lineage). More broadly, he is a direct ancestor of Telah, Tahan, and eventually Joshua the son of Nun, the successor to Moses. By establishing Rephah’s place in the family tree, the chronicler connects the prominent leadership of Joshua back to the patriarchal roots of the tribe of Ephraim through Beriah.
Spiritual Significance
Though Rephah is a minor figure, his inclusion in the 1 Chronicles genealogy signifies the importance of every individual in the covenant community of Israel. In the post-exilic context in which 1 Chronicles was compiled, names like Rephah served to provide the returning exiles with a sense of identity and historical grounding. He represents the survival of the house of Ephraim and the fulfillment of God’s promise to multiply the descendants of Joseph despite historical setbacks and the eventual division of the kingdom.
Rephah serves as a genealogical link in the lineage of the tribe of Ephraim. His significance lies in the preservation of the tribal record, ensuring that the ancestry of later leaders, such as Joshua, remained intact and verifiable for the nation of Israel. To the original readers of Chronicles, Rephah was proof of God's continued faithfulness to the house of Joseph throughout the generations of the Egypt and Wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Rephah's father?
Rephah was the son of Beriah, a descendant of Ephraim.
What tribe did Rephah belong to?
Rephah belonged to the Tribe of Ephraim.
In which book of the Bible is Rephah mentioned?
Rephah is mentioned only once in the Bible, in 1 Chronicles 7:25.
Who were Rephah's siblings?
Rephah's siblings included Resheph and his sister Sheerah.
What is Rephah's connection to Joshua?
Rephah is an ancestor of Joshua (the son of Nun), appearing earlier in the same genealogical line recorded in 1 Chronicles 7.
Family & Relationships
Parents
Beriah, Son of EphraimFather1 Chronicles 7:23Inferred
No verse names Beriah and Rephah together; the son link is carried from the surrounding genealogy and is not stated in Scripture.Evidence: 1 Chronicles 7:23
Extended family
TelahGrandson1 Chronicles 7:25Inferred
1 Chronicles 7:25 names Telah and Rephah in the same verse but does not state a grandfather tie between them; the link rests on the surrounding narrative.Evidence: 1 Chronicles 7:25
Connected Figures
Family
Father · 1 Chronicles 7:23
A son born to the patriarch Ephraim in his old age, named to commemorate a period of family tragedy following the death of his older brothers.
Brother · 1 Chronicles 7:25
Resheph was a member of the tribe of Ephraim.
Sister · 1 Chronicles 7:24–25
Sheerah was a prominent female descendant of Ephraim who gained historical renown for founding three significant cities in ancient Israel.
Egypt and WildernessFirst: 1 Chronicles 7:244 versesCity builderEphraim
Grandson · 1 Chronicles 7:25
Telah was an Ephraimite who lived during the Egypt and Wilderness period and is listed in the genealogical records of the tribe of Ephraim in 1 Chronicles.
Categories
Mentions by Book
- 1 Chronicles3
Scripture References
All 3 indexed verses, in canonical order, from the Berean Standard Bible.
1 Chronicles · 3
- 1 Chronicles 7:23Partial
And again he slept with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. So he named him Beriah, because tragedy had come upon his house.
Cited as evidence on a family card; added so References, Key Verses and Mentions by Book share one index.
- 1 Chronicles 7:24Partial
His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth-horon, as well as Uzzen-sheerah.
Cited as evidence on a family card; added so References, Key Verses and Mentions by Book share one index.
- 1 Chronicles 7:25
Additionally, Rephah was his son, Resheph his son, Telah his son, Tahan his son,