Zerah

Zerah is a Hebrew name meaning "dawning, shining" (or "sunrise"), and it appears several times in the Old Testament. Most prominently, Zerah is the son of Judah and Tamar, and the twin of Perez, as described in Genesis 38:28–30. According to the biblical account, during Tamar's childbirth, Zerah's hand emerged first, and the midwife tied a scarlet thread around his wrist, but Perez ultimately emerged before him. This narrative associates Zerah with the scarlet thread, and he is later mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:3).

Biblical Figures

Another Zerah is an Edomite chief, the second son of Reuel and grandson of Esau and Basemath (Genesis 36:13, 17). Additionally, the Bible refers to a Zerah from the tribe of Simeon, and to the ancestor of Achan: "Achan is the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah" (Joshua 7:1). These references highlight the name's recurrence among different lineages in the Hebrew Bible.

Cultural Significance

The name Zerah, meaning "dawning," symbolizes new beginnings or light. Its use in the genealogy of Jesus has given it significance in Christian tradition. The related name Zarah and the Biblical Hebrew form Zerach are variants.

• Meaning: "dawning, shining" or "sunrise"
• Origin: Hebrew
• Type: First name
• Usage regions: English Bible