Zerah זֶ֫רַח
Son of Judah, twin of Perez
Who is Zerah in the Bible?
Zerah was the son of Judah and Tamar and the twin brother of Perez, born during the events recorded in Genesis 38:30. Though Zerah put his hand out first during delivery and had a scarlet thread tied around his wrist by the midwife, his brother Perez was actually born first, which affected the line of inheritance and messianic lineage. Zerah's descendants, known as Izrahites, are mentioned throughout Old Testament genealogies and included Achan, the man whose sin of taking devoted things from Jericho brought judgment on Israel during the conquest (Joshua 7:1, 7:18). Members of Zerah's family also settled in Jerusalem after the exile, as noted in 1 Chronicles 9:6 and Nehemiah 11:24. Zerah's story illustrates themes of divine providence and how birth order, human actions, and divine will intersected in shaping Israel's tribal history.
Biography
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 1 Chronicles 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.
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Er Tribe of JudahSon of JudahJudah's firstborn son, killed by God for his wickedness.View full profile →
- Onan Tribe of JudahSon of JudahSon of JudahView full profile →
- Shelah Tribe of JudahSon of JudahJudah's youngest son and his descendantsView full profile →
- Perez Tribe of JudahSon of JudahSon of Judah, ancestor of David and JesusView full profile →
Offspring
- Zabdi MaleOverseer of King David's wine cellarsView full profile →
- Ethan Tribe of JudahSon of ZerahSon of Zerah; grandson of Judah.View full profile →
- Heman Tribe of JudahSon of ZerahGrandson of Judah through Zerah.View full profile →
- Calcol Tribe of JudahSon of ZerahSon of Zerah, grandson of JudahView full profile →
- Dara Tribe of JudahSon of ZerahSon of Zerah, grandson of JudahView full profile →
In Scripture
8 biblical books ; 5 with study contentGenesis 2 verses
- Genesis 38:30
"Then his brother came out with the scarlet thread around his wrist, and he was named Zerah."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 46:12
"The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul."
Study Genesis →
Numbers 1 verse
- Numbers 26:20
"These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah."
Joshua 5 verses
- Joshua 7:1
"The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 7:18
"And he had the family of Zabdi come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 7:24
"Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen and donkeys and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned, and brought them to the Valley of Achor."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 22:20
"Was not Achan son of Zerah unfaithful regarding what was set apart for destruction, bringing wrath upon the whole congregation of Israel? Yet it was not only Achan who perished because of his sin!’”"
Study Joshua → - Joshua 7:17
"He had the clans of Judah come forward, and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward, and the family of Zabdi was selected."
Study Joshua →
1 Chronicles 5 verses
- 1 Chronicles 2:4
"Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all."
- 1 Chronicles 2:6
"The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara—five in all."
- 1 Chronicles 9:6
"From the Zerahites: Jeuel and 690 relatives."
- 1 Chronicles 27:11
"The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division."
- 1 Chronicles 27:13
"The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division."
Nehemiah 1 verse
- Nehemiah 11:24
"Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah son of Judah, was the king’s agent in every matter concerning the people."
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1 Kings 1 verse
- 1 Kings 4:31
"He was wiser than all men—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread throughout the surrounding nations."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | זֶ֫רַח | zeraḥ | Zerach , the name of three Israelites, also of an Idumaean and an Ethiopian prince |
| Group | Hebrew | זַרְחִי | — | — |
| Group | Hebrew | יִזְרָ֑ח | — | — |
| Group | Hebrew | אֶזְרָחִי | — | — |
| Greek | Greek | Ζαρά | — | — |