Introduction:
Zara, also known as Zerah, is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament. He is primarily recognized as one of the twin sons of Judah and Tamar. His account is significant in the genealogical records of the tribes of Israel and holds importance in the lineage of Jesus Christ.

Biblical Account:
Zara's birth is recorded in the Book of Genesis. Tamar, his mother, was initially married to Judah's son Er, who died without leaving offspring. Following the levirate marriage custom, Tamar was then given to Onan, Judah's second son, who also died. After a series of events, Tamar disguised herself and conceived twins by Judah, her father-in-law. The account of Zara's birth is found in Genesis 38:27-30 :

"When the time came for Tamar to give birth, there were twins in her womb. And as she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it around his wrist. 'This one came out first,' she announced. But when he pulled his hand back and his brother came out, she said, 'You have broken out first!' So he was named Perez. Then his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his wrist, and he was named Zerah."

Genealogical Significance:
Zara is listed in the genealogies of the tribes of Israel, specifically in the lineage of Judah. His descendants, known as the Zerahites, are mentioned in several passages, including Numbers 26:20 and 1 Chronicles 2:4, 6. The genealogical records highlight the importance of Zara's lineage in the history of Israel.

Role in the Lineage of Jesus:
While Zara himself is not directly in the line of Jesus, his twin brother Perez is. The genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew includes Perez, underscoring the significance of this family line in the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel and the coming of the Messiah.

Symbolism and Themes:
The account of Zara and his brother Perez is rich with themes of redemption, divine providence, and the unexpected ways in which God's purposes are fulfilled. The scarlet thread tied around Zara's wrist has been interpreted by some as a symbol of redemption and the bloodline leading to Christ.

Conclusion:
Zara's account, though brief, is an integral part of the biblical narrative, illustrating the complexities of family dynamics and God's sovereign plan. His mention in the genealogies serves as a reminder of the intricate tapestry of God's work throughout history.ZARA

za'-ra (Zara): the King James Version (Matthew 1:3) = Greek form of ZERAH (which see).

2196. Zara -- Zerah, an Israelite
... 2195, 2196. Zara. 2197 . ... NASB Word Usage Zerah (1). Zerah. Of Hebrew origin
(Zerach); Zara, (ie Zerach), an Israelite -- Zara. see HEBREW Zerach. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2196.htm - 6k2214. zara -- loathsome thing
... 2213, 2214. zara. 2215 . loathsome thing. Transliteration: zara Phonetic Spelling:
(zaw-raw') Short Definition: loathsome. ... 2213, 2214. zara. 2215 . ...
/hebrew/2214.htm - 6k

2232. zara -- to sow, scatter seed
... 2231, 2232. zara. 2233 . to sow, scatter seed. Transliteration: zara Phonetic
Spelling: (zaw-rah') Short Definition: sow. ... 2231, 2232. zara. 2233 . ...
/hebrew/2232.htm - 6k

2235. zeroa' -- vegetable
... pulse Or zerason {zay-raw-ohn'}; from zara'; something sown (only in the plural),
ie A vegetable (as food) -- pulse. see HEBREW zara'. 2234, 2235. ...
/hebrew/2235.htm - 5k

2221. zerua -- a sowing, thing sown
... Word Origin from zara Definition a sowing, thing sown NASB Word Usage sowing (1),
things sown (1). sowing, thing that is sown. ... see HEBREW zara'. 2220, 2221. ...
/hebrew/2221.htm - 6k

2220. zeroa -- arm, shoulder, strength
... Or (shortened) zroao {zer-o'-ah}; and (feminine) zrowpah {zer-o-aw'}; or zrowah
{zer-o-aw'}; from zara'; the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg ...
/hebrew/2220.htm - 6k

3157. Yizreel -- "God sows," two Israelites, also two cities in ...
... Word Origin from zara and el Definition "God sows," two Isr., also two cities in
Isr., also a valley in N. Isr. NASB Word Usage Jezreel (36). ... see HEBREW zara'. ...
/hebrew/3157.htm - 6k

2233. zera -- a sowing, seed, offspring
... Word Origin from zara Definition a sowing, seed, offspring NASB Word Usage carnally*
(1), child (1), children (3), descendant (3), descendants (105), descent (1 ...
/hebrew/2233.htm - 6k

4218. mizra -- place of sowing
... Word Origin from zara Definition place of sowing NASB Word Usage sown fields (1).
thing sown. From zara'; a planted field -- thing sown. see HEBREW zara'. ...
/hebrew/4218.htm - 6k

2235a. zeroa -- vegetable
... vegetable. Transliteration: zeroa Short Definition: vegetables. Word Origin from
zara Definition vegetable NASB Word Usage vegetables (1). 2235, 2235a. ...
/hebrew/2235a.htm - 5k

2235b. zereon -- vegetable
... vegetable. Transliteration: zereon Short Definition: vegetables. Word Origin from
zara Definition vegetable NASB Word Usage vegetables (1). 2235a, 2235b. ...
/hebrew/2235b.htm - 5k

Behold, did not Achar the Son of Zara Transgress in the Accursed ...
... Canon III. Behold, did not Achar the son of Zara transgress in the accursed
thing? Behold, did not Achar [129] the son of Zara ...
/.../canonical epistle of gregory thaumaturgus/canon iii behold did not.htm

Matt. I. 1
... 3. "And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar." [116] "What doest thou, O man, putting
us in remembrance of a history that contains an unlawful intercourse ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily iii matt i 1.htm

Whether Christ's Genealogy is Suitably Traced by the Evangelists?
... Urias. He also mentions the brothers of Judas and Jechonias, and also Phares
and Zara. But Luke mentions none of these. Therefore ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christs genealogy is suitably.htm

Innocent the Third (Ad 1198-1216)
... the Venetians proposed that, instead of the money which could not be raised, the
Crusaders should give them their help against the city of Zara, in Dalmatia ...
/.../chapter xiii innocent the third.htm

Innocent iii
... The crusaders, unwilling to disperse and unable to insist, allowed themselves to
be diverted, first to an attack upon Zara, a nest of pirates in the Adriatic ...
/.../medley/the church and the empire/chapter ix innocent iii.htm

Essential Character of the Work of Jesus.
... [Footnote 5: Talm. of Jerusalem, Sanhedrim, xiv.16; Aboda zara, ii.2; Shabbath,
xiv.4; Talm. of Babylon, Sanhedrim, 43 a, 67 a; Shabbath, 104 b, 116 b. Comp. ...
/.../renan/the life of jesus/chapter xxviii essential character of.htm

Matthew's Genealogy of Jesus Christ
... of David, the son of Abraham.2. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and
Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3. And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/matthews genealogy of jesus christ.htm

Roman Catechism, 1566.
... divines, viz., Leonardo Marini (afterwards Archbishop of Lanciano), Egidio Foscarari
(Bishop of Modena), Muzio Calini (Archbishop of Jadera-Zara, in Dalmatia ...
/.../ 26 roman catechism 1566.htm

Both Covenants were Prefigured in Abraham, and in the Labour of ...
... But after this had been done, and he had drawn back his hand, his brother Phares
came forth the first; then, after him, Zara, upon whom was the scarlet line ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxv both covenants were prefigured.htm

Whether it is Credible that the Men of the Primitive Age Abstained ...
... "Judah," he says, "begat Pharez and Zara;" yet neither were these twins the
first-born of Judah, but before them he had begotten three other sons. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 15 whether it is credible.htm

Zara (1 Occurrence)
...ZARA. za'-ra (Zara): the King James Version (Matthew 1:3) = Greek form of ZERAH
(which see). Multi-Version Concordance Zara (1 Occurrence). ...
/z/zara.htm - 6k

Zaphon (4 Occurrences)

/z/zaphon.htm - 8k

Zaraces

/z/zaraces.htm - 6k

Zerah (22 Occurrences)
... (2.) A son of Tamar (Genesis 38:30); called also Zara (Matthew 1:3). (3.) A Gershonite
Levite (1 Chronicles 6:21, 41). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ZERAH. ...
/z/zerah.htm - 19k

Zareth-shahar (1 Occurrence)
... It is identified with the ruins of Zara, near the mouth of the Wady Zerka Main,
on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea, some 3 miles south of the Callirrhoe. ...
/z/zareth-shahar.htm - 7k

Zarethshahar (1 Occurrence)
... It is identified with the ruins of Zara, near the mouth of the Wady Zerka Main,
on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea, some 3 miles south of the Callirrhoe. ...
/z/zarethshahar.htm - 7k

Nebuzaradan (16 Occurrences)
... neb-u-zar-a'-dan, -zar'-a-dan (nebhuzar'adhan equals Assyrian Nabu-zara-iddina,
"Nebo has given seed"; Nebouzardan): Nebuchadnezzar's general at the siege of ...
/n/nebuzaradan.htm - 13k

Thamar (1 Occurrence)
... Thamar (1 Occurrence). Matthew 1:3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar;
and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; (KJV DBY WBS). ...
/t/thamar.htm - 6k

Esrom (2 Occurrences)
... Esrom (2 Occurrences). Matthew 1:3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar;
and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; (KJV DBY WBS). ...
/e/esrom.htm - 7k

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