Zerah
malePatriarchalMeaning: “Dawning; brightness”
A son of Judah and Tamar, the twin of Perez, who put out his hand first at birth and had a scarlet thread bound on it.
Biography
Zerah (also spelled Zarah, and Zara in the New Testament) was a son of Judah by Tamar and the twin brother of Perez. At their birth, Zerah put out his hand first, and the midwife bound a scarlet thread on it, saying, "This came out first" — but he drew it back, and Perez was born ahead of him (Genesis 38:28–30).
His descendants
Though Perez carried the messianic line, Zerah founded a notable clan of Judah, the Zarhites (Numbers 26:20). His descendant Achan brought trouble on Israel at Jericho (Joshua 7:1), and Zerah is named among the ancestors of Jesus as "Zara" in Matthew's genealogy (Matthew 1:3).
Life Timeline
Born to Judah and Tamar, twin of Perez
On the Bible timeline
Zerah belongs to the The Patriarchs era (c. 2100 – 1800 BC).
- c. 2091 BCThe Call of Abraham
- c. 1898 BCJoseph Sold into Egypt
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Zerah
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Zerah appears.
People they appear with
Scripture Appearances
2 verses in 2 booksGenesis1 verse
Genesis 38:30
And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.
Matthew1 verse
Matthew 1:3
And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
Frequently asked about Zerah
Who was Zerah in the Bible?
A son of Judah and Tamar, the twin of Perez, who put out his hand first at birth and had a scarlet thread bound on it.
What does the name Zerah mean?
The name Zerah means “Dawning; brightness”.
Who were Zerah's parents?
Zerah was the child of Judah, Tamar.
Where does Zerah appear in the Bible?
Zerah is mentioned 2 times across 2 books: Genesis, Matthew.
What can we learn from Zerah?
The story of Zerah touches on themes of genealogies, genealogy, human nature of christ, the, judah, the tribe of — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Zerah's life.
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