Meaning & History
Zarah is a male name used in some English translations of the Bible, serving as a form of Zerah. Zerah itself means "dawning" or "shining" in Hebrew, and appears in the Old Testament as the name of a son of Judah and twin of Perez (see Genesis 38:29-30). The spelling Zarah appears in certain Bible versions, such as the King James Version, where the name is rendered as "Zarah" in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles (e.g., 1 Chronicles 2:4). The name ultimately traces its root to Judah, meaning "praise," who was the fourth son of Jacob and the founder of the tribe of Judah.
The name Zarah is distinct from the more common female given name Zara or Sarah, though it shares a similar spelling. While Zarah has biblical male origins, it is sometimes used as a variant spelling for Sarah in Latin and Arabic traditions, where it is considered a female name derived from the Latin Sara or Arabic Zahara meaning "flower" or "brightness." In the biblical context, however, Zarah remains specifically masculine.
Etymology and Overview of Zerah
The parent name Zerah (Hebrew: דַּה ֽ כוּ ּ ְ ) is derived from a Semitic root meaning "to rise" or "to shine," often associated with the dawning light. In biblical genealogy, Zerah is listed as one of the twin sons of Judah by his daughter-in-law Tamar (Genesis 38:30). The name is linked to the Hebrew word zerach, which carries connotations of brightness, proffering a symbolic meaning of radiance or sunrise.
Notable Bearers and Biblical References
The only significant bearer of this name in biblical context is Zerah (or Zarah), the son of Judah. In the Old Testament narrative, Zerah and his twin brother Perez were born under unusual circumstances; during childbirth, Zerah first put out his hand, which the midwife marked with a scarlet thread, before Perez emerged first (Genesis 38:28-30). This account later became part of the lineage leading to King David, as Perez's line continued, while Zerah’s descendants are also noted later, such as the Zerahites in the tribe of Judah.
Related Names
Sources: Wiktionary — Zarah