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The name Hezron means “enclosure.” In the Bible, Hezron refers to both a town and more than one individual. Joshua 15:25 lists a walled town named Kerioth-Hezron, also called Hazor, which translates as “castle.” Several individuals also bear the name Hezron.
The Genesis account introduces us to Hezron, the son of Reuben (Genesis 46:9), who followed Jacob from Canaan to Egypt. This Hezron is also mentioned in Exodus 6:14, and his clan is appears in Numbers 26:6 under the tribe of Reuben in the census of the Israelites.
Another Hezron is one of the sons of Perez. This would make him a grandson of Judah and a relative of Reuben’s Hezron. He is first mentioned in a list of family members in Genesis 46:12, “The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez and Zerah (but Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.”
Hezron’s lineage under Judah is further highlighted in the Israelites’ census: “The descendants of Perez were: through Hezron, the Hezronite clan; through Hamul, the Hamulite clan” (Numbers 26:21). Thus, both Hezrons were a significant part of Israel’s early growth as a people group.
Hezron son of Reuben was instrumental in furthering the tribe of Reuben. But it is Hezron son of Judah who takes the spotlight due to his place in the messianic genealogy. We read of him in Matthew’s account:
Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab. (Matthew 1:3–4a)
From there, the line leads to King David (verse 6).Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab. (Matthew 1:3–4a)
We also read of Hezron in Luke’s account:
The son of Amminadab, the son of Ram,
the son of Hezron, the son of Perez,
the son of Judah. (Luke 3:33)
So, in both Joseph’s genealogy (in Matthew) and Mary’s genealogy (in Luke), Hezron shows up. He is an ancestor of Jesus the Messiah through his son Ram (cf. 1 Chronicles 2:9).the son of Hezron, the son of Perez,
the son of Judah. (Luke 3:33)
As one of the links in the chain from Abraham to Jesus, Hezron represents the long-term faithfulness of God. God’s plan may seem to move forward slowly, but it is sure to come to pass. Even seemingly random details can serve as puzzle pieces in God’s overall strategy. The redemption arc from Abraham to Jesus included numerous individuals whom God worked through, including Hezron. The genealogies in Matthew and Luke affirm God’s purposeful work in human history and the fulfillment of the messianic promise.
