Joseph arrived, and things got heated. Sent by his father to check on his 10 brothers grazing flocks far from home, Joseph’s presence riled the boys. Years of animosity boiled over into a decision to slay the son of Rachel—the fatherly favorite, the spoiled dreamer.

Before they acted, Reuben deceitfully convinced his brothers to cast him into a pit instead, to die by other means. This would afford Reuben time to rescue Joseph secretly and return him to his father. Reuben, the eldest, should have stood up to his brothers. He should have stood up for Joseph, for his father, for the law. Instead, he attempted to meet conspiracy with conspiracy. It didn’t work.

Meanwhile Judah, the fourth oldest, was conflicted. Joseph was his brother, their brother, their own flesh and blood. It seems he didn’t want that blood on his head. He sensed an opportunity when knowledge came of an approaching band of Ishmaelite traders. It’s here the Bible records the first words of Judah:

“What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh …” (Genesis 37:26-27).

“And his brethren were content,” verse 27 concludes. But Joseph was not content. For a meager 20 pieces of silver, just two pieces for each brother, he was enslaved. But thanks to Judah’s intervention, he was alive.

Reuben, whose scheme was unknown to his brothers, wasn’t around when this transaction took place. Later, when he returned to discover what had happened, he was distressed. He conspired with his brothers, including Judah, by telling a treacherous lie to their father about Joseph’s death.

Like Reuben, Judah should have done more to stand up for what was right, to honor his father and protect Joseph. While this account exposes some of Judah’s flaws, it also shows his nerve to at least say something in a tense situation. There is a hint of a quality here worth exploring: Judah’s boldness.

More Than a Name

In God’s Church today, we use Judah’s name extensively, usually in the context of the tribe of Judah, the line of Judah, the house of Judah and the lion of Judah.

The tribe of Judah was renowned for its boldness. As the tribe grew, it became an indomitable force within Israel. “From Numbers 2:3 we learn that in the wilderness Judah was assigned to take the lead in all marches,” wrote Gerald Flurry. “This was an impressive position of honor. Judah led Israel into the Promised Land, a type of the Kingdom of God. Judah received the first lot in the Promised Land” (Philadelphia Trumpet, August 2025).

Some of the boldest biblical personalities stem from the line of Judah: Caleb, David and, of course, Jesus Christ. Mr. Flurry continued: “Caleb, a great-grandson of Judah and one of the original 12 spies, had skill and mighty strength as a warrior (Joshua 14:11). And of course, the greatest Jewish warrior of all time was King David. There is no doubt he fought like a lion.

“In Revelation 5:5, Jesus Christ is called ‘the Lion of the tribe of Juda.’ There is something in Judah’s lionlike qualities that God loves. Studying the Jews’ lionlike qualities also helps us to better see the qualities of the real Lion of Judah—Jesus Christ.”

That lionlike comparison takes us back to Judah the man.

Repeating Reputation

Late in life, Jacob, who became Israel, called his sons together to reveal the fate of each of them and their descendants. His discourse in Genesis 49 is compelling: The sons received candid, sometimes inglorious evaluations. Their father clearly showed that traits they exhibited in their lifetime would remain apparent in their future lineage.

For many reasons, Jacob’s words to Judah stand out: “Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?” (verses 8-9).

Verse 10 then contains deep historic and prophetic significance. Judah, the fourth-oldest and fourth son of Leah, received the scepter promise—a promise of kingly office and royal power. In Judah was established the promised kingly line culminating in Jesus Christ. He received one side of the two-part promise made to Abraham and reconfirmed with Isaac and Jacob. That is the promise of grace, which portends salvation for humanity. What an honor for Judah! (There is much more to this verse that pertains to God’s Church today, which you can learn about in Gerald Flurry’s book The New Throne of David.)

Joseph’s sons received the other part of the promise, the birthright portion. You can learn all the interesting details about that in Herbert W. Armstrong’s book The United States and Britain in Prophecy.

Back to this lion connection: Jacob’s words teach us a lot about what Judah was like as a person. Clearly, he was bold. That quality has lived on in his lineage. “The Jews are descendants of the tribe of Judah,” Mr. Flurry wrote. “God has used this tribe in a special way. … The emblem Judah was inspired to use for its standard was a powerful lion. Historically, and even in our time, the Jewish people have exhibited many lionlike qualities. They can be ferocious and bold like a lion!” (ibid).

Judah, the man, was far from perfect. He made some horrendous mistakes in the years after selling his brother. But he did grow and came to possess the boldness he became known for. We find more evidence of that boldness by returning to the story of Joseph.

Another Brother

By the time we pick up the story with more dialogue from Judah, a lot had changed in Joseph’s life. The beloved son of Jacob, sold as a slave, had patiently endured trial and test, had faithfully followed God’s direction in his life and, astonishingly, had risen to become second in command of Egypt.

Egypt and the greater region was in the throes of a terrible famine. Joseph had prepared the people for this adversity. Famished people from near and far traveled to Egypt to trade for grain and supplies. Among them were Joseph’s brothers.

On their first visit, the 10 brothers unknowingly encountered and bowed down before Joseph. Wise to who they were, Joseph inquired of his family. He learned about another brother, Benjamin, who remained at home. Not only did he keep his own identity secret, Joseph accused the 10 of being spies. He demanded that they verify their story by returning with the younger lad. It was a clever ruse that caused the brothers to recall their shameful history with Joseph. Consternation gripped them, as it did Jacob when his sons returned home. Actually, there was one exception: Simeon did not return, because Joseph had imprisoned him as incentive for the others to return.

Jacob, still pained by losing Joseph, did not want Benjamin, his other son born of Rachel, to join the next expedition to Egypt. But later, when the first round of supplies from Egypt had dwindled, he had to instruct his sons to return for more.

From this point it is clear that Judah had become the family’s spokesman. He said to his father, “… The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you” (Genesis 43:3-5).

Jacob was annoyed that the boys had even mentioned Benjamin. They explained that they had no choice.

Judah then addressed Jacob’s conundrum with a bold proposition: “… Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever” (verses 8-9).

It was Judah who stood up. Acutely aware of the dire situation the whole family was in if they didn’t obtain food, Judah took responsibility. Even while demonstrating respect for his father’s love for Benjamin, he put his life on the line.

Take This Cup

Upon their return to Egypt, the brothers were invited to Joseph’s house. They were treated to an extravagant meal. They were reunited with Simeon. And Joseph laid eyes on Benjamin. This was an overwhelming emotional experience for him. However, to perpetuate his ploy, he maintained his composure.

Later Joseph commanded the steward of his house to fill his brothers’ sacks with food, to give them as much as they could carry, and to return their money in their sacks. But there was a catch: Joseph told the steward to plant his own silver cup in Benjamin’s sack.

The next morning the brothers loaded up and set out on their journey back to Canaan. On Joseph’s instructions, his steward chased after them, stopped them, asked why they had repaid Joseph’s kindness with such evil, and accused them of stealing Joseph’s cup. Perplexed, the brothers didn’t believe the allegations and questioned why he would think they would so insult the second in command of Egypt. Confident in their innocence, they said, “If you find his cup with any one of us, let that man die. And all the rest of us, my lord, will be your slaves” (Genesis 44:9; New Living Translation). The steward proclaimed that all would be set free except the one who stole the cup. He would become a slave.

They quickly tore open their sacks. The steward searched from the oldest to the youngest. Sure enough the cup was in Benjamin’s sack—right where it had been planted.

The brothers ripped their clothes. They knew what this meant—for them, for their father, for Benjamin. They loaded up again and somberly returned back to Egypt to face Joseph.

Desperate, they bowed before this mighty Egyptian magistrate, who asked them if they failed to realize how powerful he was. Again it was Judah who spoke up: “… What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found” (verse 16).

Judah took ownership. He demonstrated a repentant attitude. He didn’t pin the blame on Benjamin.

But Joseph did hold Benjamin accountable, and only Benjamin. “And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father” (verse 17).

This became a crucible moment for Judah. He had boldly declared himself responsible for the life of Benjamin to his father. And now his word was tested.

Boldness With Humility

Judah approached Joseph and said, “… Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh” (Genesis 44:18).

The 16 verses that follow relate Judah’s heartfelt, sincere, pragmatic and bold explanation of their family circumstances. He quoted his father and explained the grief he had sustained because of Joseph’s death. Read the entire passage.

Judah concluded, “My lord, I guaranteed to my father that I would take care of the boy. I told him, ‘If I don’t bring him back to you, I will bear the blame forever.’ So please, my lord, let me stay here as a slave instead of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn’t bear to see the anguish this would cause my father!” (verses 32-34; nlt).

The dominant biblical figure throughout this entire story is Joseph, so our natural inclination is to think on these circumstances from his perspective. But God devoted considerable space in this chapter to share Judah’s innermost thoughts. Judah spoke earnestly, without realizing he was addressing the brother he had callously sold into slavery 22 years earlier.

It is apparent that Judah had matured. His boldness had been fortified with humility. He demonstrated a love for his family that was not evident when he was younger. That was a change that Joseph yearned for and could now discern.

Overwhelmed by Judah’s humble and bold plea, he could not conceal his true identity any longer. He cried aloud and proclaimed to his brothers: “I am Joseph!”

A Family Trait Today

Examining the origins of boldness within the tribe of Judah is fascinating. It is crucial that this trait be manifest in us. Moreover, we have a living example to follow who is of that tribe!

“The people doing God’s Work today must understand this deeply: Our Leader is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He is strong. He is fearless. And this Lion must live within us!” Mr. Flurry wrote (ibid).

We need to acknowledge our need for this quality. “Now, we are all cowards, let’s be honest,” Mr. Flurry writes. “But when I am following Jesus Christ, I can get pretty bold. I know where that boldness comes from, and I can handle anything through Jesus Christ who strengthens me” (How to Be an Overcomer).

We are doing the very Work of God today. We are in a situation where, to a world snared by fear, we can be an example of boldness.

“We are out in the vanguard of mankind, leading the way to the Promised Land! We are going to lead the world with Christ throughout the Millennium and then lead with God the Father and Jesus Christ for all eternity!” (op cit).

Though they don’t know it, this world needs us to be bold. And as we develop this quality, we are growing in a family characteristic—a trait synonymous with Judah.

“Those who follow that Lion today are learning and preparing to help Jesus Christ lead and serve mankind,” Mr. Flurry concluded. “Let’s take advantage of every opportunity to prepare to be kings and priests under the Lion of the tribe of Judah!”