What was the relationship between Judah and Jesus?
Matthew names Judah in the genealogy of Jesus. The Letter to the Hebrews says that our Lord arose from Judah. Matthew 1:2-3; Luke 3:33; Hebrews 7:14
They are connected in 2 ways:
1. Ancestor of Jesus
What the Bible says
Matthew 1:2
Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Judas and his brethren.
Hebrews 7:14
For it is evident that our Lord sprung out of Juda: in which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
2. The lion of Judah
Jacob compared Judah to a lion and announced that the scepter would never depart from him. The Book of Revelation calls Jesus the lion of the tribe of Judah. Genesis 49:9-10; Revelation 5:5
What the Bible says
Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not be taken away from Juda, nor a ruler from his thigh, till he come that is to be sent, and he shall be the expectation of nations.
Revelation 5:5
And one of the ancients said to me: Weep not; behold the lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
What the Church teaches
On December 17, the Mass reads Jacob’s blessing of Judah together with the genealogy of Jesus.
Lectionary, December 17: Gn 49, 2.8-10; Matthew 1:1-17 · Catechism of the Catholic Church