Lexical Summary
Zerach: Zerah
Original Word:זֶרַח
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Zerach
Pronunciation:ZE-rahk
Phonetic Spelling:(zeh'-rakh)
KJV: Zarah, Zerah
NASB:Zerah
Word Origin:[the same asH2225 (זֶרַח - rising)]
1. Zerach, the name of three Israelites, also of an Idumaean and an Ethiopian prince
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Zarah, Zerah
The same aszerach; Zerach, the name of three Israelites, also of an Idumaean and an Ethiopian prince -- Zarah, Zerah.
see HEBREWzerach
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
zarachDefinitionthree Isr., also an Edomite, also an Ethiopian
NASB TranslationZerah (21).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. (on form compare Lg
BN 77, and Anm.) —
, son of Judah and TamarGenesis 38:30;Genesis 46:12 (both J),1 Chronicles 2:4 (all ),1 Chronicles 2:6; as head of a familyNumbers 26:20;Joshua 7:1 (both Psalms),Joshua 7:18;Joshua 7:24 (JE),Joshua 22:20 (P)1 Chronicles 9:6 (L ),Nehemiah 11:24 (compare SmListen 7).
:
Genesis 36:13,17 (both P) =1 Chronicles 1:37.
Genesis 36:33 (P) =1 Chronicles 1:44 ( = ?).
L , Levites:
(variant reading )1 Chronicles 6:6.
(variant reading )1 Chronicles 6:26.
, )Numbers 26:13 (P),1 Chronicles 4:24 (variant reading ) (=Genesis 46:10;Exodus 6:15, compare DiNumbers 26:13).
, , foe of king Asa 2 Chron 14:8.
Topical Lexicon
OverviewZerah (Hebrew זֶרַח, Strong’s 2226) designates several persons and a foreign commander in the Old Testament. The name, which evokes the rising of light at dawn, threads through patriarchal, tribal, royal, and post-exilic narratives, linking Genesis to Nehemiah. His appearance in diverse settings highlights the reliability of biblical history, God’s covenantal dealings with Israel, and timeless lessons in holiness and hope.
Zerah among the Edomites
Genesis 36 twice names Zerah as a chief in Edom: “These were the sons of Reuel son of Esau: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah” (Genesis 36:13). His clan helped establish Edom’s early structure (Genesis 36:17), and his son Jobab later became king in Bozrah (Genesis 36:33;1 Chronicles 1:44). The placement underscores the historical kinship—and later hostility—between Jacob and Esau’s houses. Zerah’s family contributed to Edom’s political rise, yet Israel’s records preserve it to demonstrate God’s faithful tracking of all nations descending from Abraham.
Zerah in the Line of Judah
Tamar bore Judah twin sons, Perez and Zerah (Genesis 38:30; 46:12;1 Chronicles 2:4). Although Perez carried the royal and messianic line, Scripture dignifies Zerah with equal genealogical detail, showing that every branch of Judah mattered in covenant history.Numbers 26:20 records the Zerahite clan at the plains of Moab, and1 Chronicles 9:6 counts them among Jerusalem’s early settlers, highlighting their endurance from Egypt to exile and restoration.
The Scarlet Thread and Messianic Implications
At birth “his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and he was named Zerah” (Genesis 38:30). The scarlet thread, marking the first-appearing twin who was nevertheless second in full emergence, foreshadows the paradox that priority in God’s plan is not always tied to natural order (compareRomans 9:12-13). It anticipates later reversals—David over his brothers, and ultimately the Messiah, rejected yet exalted.
From Zerah to Achan: Lessons in Covenant Fidelity
Generations later Joshua identifies “Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah” (Joshua 7:1). Achan’s theft at Jericho defiled the nation, revealing how one descendant’s unfaithfulness could imperil the whole covenant community. The narrative warns that heritage alone cannot shield from judgment; obedience must accompany lineage.
Zerahite Clans and Wisdom Tradition
1 Chronicles 2:6 lists Zerah’s five notable descendants—Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara—figures associated with music and wisdom (compare1 Kings 4:31). Their reputation helps frame Solomon’s greatness and attests to the cultural contributions of the Zerahites beyond mere census numbers.
Zerah among Simeon, Levi, and the Post-Exilic Community
A namesake appears in the tribe of Simeon (Numbers 26:13;1 Chronicles 4:24) and twice in the Levitical line (1 Chronicles 6:21, 41), showing the popularity of the name across tribal lines. After the exile “Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah son of Judah, was the king’s agent” (Nehemiah 11:24), illustrating that Zerah’s lineage still carried administrative weight in restored Jerusalem.
Zerah the Cushite: A Foreign Adversary Overcome
2 Chronicles 14:9 records “Zerah the Cushite” who invaded Judah with a vast army. King Asa cried to the Lord and witnessed a decisive victory (2 Chronicles 14:11-15). The episode contrasts pagan aggression with divine deliverance, reaffirming that God defends His people regardless of the foe’s size or origin.
Ministry and Devotional Application
1. Genealogy and Grace: Zerah’s account confirms that God remembers individuals and families across centuries. Modern believers can trust His detailed care for every generation.
2. Purity in Community: The Achan incident warns congregations to guard corporate holiness, for hidden sin can hinder communal blessing.
3. Hope in Reversals: The scarlet-thread birth teaches that apparent setbacks may conceal God’s sovereign advancement.
4. Dependence on God: Asa’s triumph over Zerah the Cushite encourages reliance on the LORD rather than numbers or might.
Key References
Genesis 36:13, 17, 33; 38:30; 46:12
Numbers 26:13, 20
Joshua 7:1, 18, 24; 22:20
1 Chronicles 1:37, 44; 2:4, 6; 4:24; 6:21, 41; 9:6
2 Chronicles 14:9
Nehemiah 11:24
Forms and Transliterations
וָזֶ֖רַח וָזָ֑רַח וזרח זֶ֔רַח זֶ֖רַח זֶ֗רַח זֶ֜רַח זֶ֡רַח זֶ֣רַח זֶ֤רַח זֶ֥רַח זָ֑רַח זָֽרַח׃ זרח זרח׃ לְזֶ֕רַח לזרח lə·ze·raḥ leZerach ləzeraḥ vaZarach vaZerach wā·zā·raḥ wā·ze·raḥ wāzāraḥ wāzeraḥ zā·raḥ Zarach zāraḥ ze·raḥ Zerach zeraḥ
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
