Zerah Summary
STEPBible TIPNR
Zerah, son of Judah and Tamar, was the twin brother of Perez and ancestor of Achan.
son of Judah and Tamar (GEN 38:30)
Lineage: God › Adam › Seth › Enos › Cainan › Mahalaleel › Jared › Enoch › Methuselah › Lamech › Noah › Shem › Arphaxad › Cainan › Salah › Eber › Peleg › Reu › Serug › Nahor › Terah › Abraham › Isaac › Jacob › Judah › Zerah
Names
-
en
Zerah
same as Zarah
- en Zara · Also called
-
en
Zarah
· Also called east; brightness
-
en
Zerah
· Also called · H2226 · GEN 38:30 dawning, shining or flashing [red or scarlet] light
-
en
Mahol
· Also called · H4235 none · 1KI 4:31 place of round dancing
-
he
זָֽרַח
zerach · H2226 · GEN 38:30 dawning, shining or flashing [red or scarlet] light
-
he
מָחוֹל
machol · H4235 · 1KI 4:31 place of round dancing
- he זֶ֫רַח · H2226I
- he זַרְחִי · H2227G
- he יִזְרָ֑ח · H3155
- he אֶזְרָחִי · H0250
- el Ζαρα Zara · GEN 38:30
- el Μαλ Mal · none · 1KI 4:31
- el Ζαρά · G2196
- bg Зара
Mentioned in (19)
SDA Books
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Conditional birth estimate
Conditional birth bounds under generation assumptions; not attested parental ages, biological limits or a lifespan.
The anchors give incompatible conditional intervals. This calculation establishes no birth year.
Below are relatives with a selected birth year, the generations separating them, and the interval allowed by each anchor. Each relative’s page shows available dates and sources. The overall estimate uses the intersection of the allowed intervals.
| Relative / anchor year | Generations | Conditional interval |
|---|---|---|
| Jacob · 1835 BC Ancestor |
2 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1795 BC – 1745 BC |
| Isaac · 1895 BC Ancestor |
3 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1835 BC – 1760 BC |
| Rebekah · 1876 BC Ancestor |
3 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1816 BC – 1741 BC |
| Abraham · 1995 BC Ancestor |
4 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1915 BC – 1815 BC |
| Sarah · 1985 BC Ancestor |
4 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1905 BC – 1805 BC |
| Terah · 2125 BC Ancestor |
5 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2000 BC – 1475 BC |
| Nahor · 2156 BC Ancestor |
6 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2006 BC – 1376 BC |
| Haran · 2056 BC Ancestor |
6 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1906 BC – 1276 BC |
| Serug · 2186 BC Ancestor |
7 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2011 BC – 1276 BC |
| Reu · 2218 BC Ancestor |
8 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2018 BC – 1178 BC |
| Peleg · 2248 BC Ancestor |
9 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2023 BC – 1078 BC |
| Eber · 2282 BC Ancestor |
10 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2032 BC – 982 BC |
| Salah · 2312 BC Ancestor |
11 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2037 BC – 882 BC |
| Arphaxad · 2347 BC Ancestor |
13 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2022 BC – 657 BC |
| Shem · 2447 BC Ancestor |
14 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2097 BC – 627 BC |
| Noah · 2948 BC Ancestor |
15 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2573 BC – 998 BC |
| Lamech · 3130 BC Ancestor |
16 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2730 BC – 1050 BC |
| Methuselah · 3317 BC Ancestor |
17 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2892 BC – 1107 BC |
| Enoch · 3382 BC Ancestor |
18 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2932 BC – 1042 BC |
| Jared · 3544 BC Ancestor |
19 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3069 BC – 1074 BC |
| Mahalaleel · 3609 BC Ancestor |
20 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3109 BC – 1009 BC |
| Cainan · 3679 BC Ancestor |
21 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3154 BC – 949 BC |
| Cain · 4004 BC Ancestor |
21 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3479 BC – 1274 BC |
| Enos · 3769 BC Ancestor |
22 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3219 BC – 909 BC |
| Adam · 4004 BC Ancestor |
22 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3454 BC – 1144 BC |
| Eve · 4005 BC Ancestor |
22 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3455 BC – 1145 BC |
| Seth · 3874 BC Ancestor |
23 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3299 BC – 884 BC |
Descendants (4)
Belonged to (1)
Zerah Article
STEPBible TIPNR
Zerah was the son of Judah and Tamar, and the twin brother of Perez. His birth is recorded in Genesis 38, where it is noted that he put out his hand first during delivery, and the midwife tied a scarlet thread on his wrist. However, his brother Perez was actually born first, breaking out before him.
Zerah's descendants are mentioned in various genealogies throughout the Old Testament. Most notably, Achan, the man who sinned by taking the devoted things during the conquest of Jericho, was from the tribe of Judah and the family of Zerah. The descendants of Zerah are also mentioned among those who lived in Jerusalem after the exile. In 1Chronicles 27, it is recorded that Shamhuth, from the clan of Zerah, was in charge of the fifth division of David's army.
His descendants the Izrahites or Ezrahites included very wise men (1Ki 4:31). Ethan is also credited with composing Psalm 89 (Psalm 1Ki 89:1). Another notable Ezrahite was Heman, who was a singer and musician in the time of David and is mentioned as the author of Psalm 88 (Psalm 1Ki 88:1; 1Ch 6:33).
Zerah is also included in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1, highlighting his significance in the lineage of the Messiah.
Zerah 2 Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
A son of Tamar (Gen. 38:30); called also Zara (Matt. 1:3).
Sources: BibleData (CC BY 4.0, Zerah_3) · STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0, Zerah@Gen.38.30-Mat) · Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0, zerah_2984)