1. Genealogical Background

Zera, also spelled Zerah, is a name that appears multiple times in the Bible, associated with different individuals and lineages. The name Zera means "rising" or "dawning" in Hebrew, and it is found in several genealogical contexts.

2. Zera, Son of Judah

One of the most notable mentions of Zera is as a son of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, and his daughter-in-law Tamar. This Zera is a twin brother to Perez. The account of their birth is recorded 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 around his wrist, and he was named Zerah."

Zera's lineage is significant in the genealogical records of the tribes of Israel. His descendants are mentioned in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 2:4 and are part of the broader narrative of the tribe of Judah.

3. Zera, the Cushite King

Another Zera mentioned in the Bible is Zera the Cushite, who led a vast army against King Asa of Judah. This event is recorded in 2 Chronicles 14:9-15 : "Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and they came as far as Mareshah. So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah."

King Asa, relying on the LORD, prayed for divine intervention, and God granted him victory over Zera's forces. This victory is seen as a testament to God's power and faithfulness to those who trust in Him.

4. Zera, the Family of the Tribe of Judah

The descendants of Zera, son of Judah, are also referred to as the Zerahites. They are listed among the families of the tribe of Judah in the census taken during the wilderness period, as recorded in Numbers 26:20 : "The descendants of Judah by their clans were: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah."

5. Zera in the Lineage of Jesus

Zera's significance extends into the New Testament, where he is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 1:3 , the genealogy lists: "Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram." This inclusion highlights the importance of Zera's lineage in the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through Jesus Christ.

6. Other Mentions

Zera is also mentioned in the context of the tribe of Simeon. In 1 Chronicles 4:24 , Zera is listed as a descendant of Simeon: "The descendants of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul." This Zera is distinct from the son of Judah and represents another family line within the tribes of Israel.

7. Theological Significance

The various mentions of Zera in the Bible underscore the importance of genealogies in the biblical narrative, reflecting God's providence and the unfolding of His covenant promises through specific family lines. Zera's inclusion in the lineage of Jesus Christ emphasizes the continuity of God's plan from the Old Testament to the New Testament, showcasing the fulfillment of prophecy and the establishment of the Messiah's earthly heritage.2234. zera -- a seed
... zera. 2235 . a seed. Transliteration: zera Phonetic Spelling: (zer-ah') Short
Definition: seed. ... seed. (Aramaic) corresponding to zera'; posterity -- seed. ...
/hebrew/2234.htm - 6k

2233. zera -- a sowing, seed, offspring
... 2232, 2233. zera. 2234 . a sowing, seed, offspring. Transliteration: zera Phonetic
Spelling: (zeh'-rah) Short Definition: descendants. ... zera. 2234 . ...
/hebrew/2233.htm - 6k

Paul Before his Conversion.
... Moses and the prophets. [348] As the reasoning from the singular or rather
collective sperma(zera)in Gal. 3:16, the allegorical ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 30 paul before his.htm

The Annunciation of Jesus the Messiah, and the Birth of his ...
... He would follow, all unconscious of it, the truer manly feeling of R. Eliezar,
[722] R. Jochanan, and R. Zera, [723] according to which a man would not like to ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the annunciation of.htm

Appendices
... days 731. THE DYNASTY OF SAPE. Yukin-zera or Khinziros, 3 years 730 Pulu
(Pul or Poros), called Tiglath-pileser III. in Assyria, 2 ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

The Barren Fig-Tree;
... 'And he brought his household, man by man, and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son
of Zabdi, the son of Zera, of the tribe of Judah, was taken' (Joshua 7:17,18). ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the barren fig-tree.htm

Zera (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Zera (1 Occurrence). 1 Chronicles 1:44 Bela died,
and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place. ...
/z/zera.htm - 6k

Seed (337 Occurrences)
... sed (Old Testament always for zera`, Aramaic (Daniel 2:43) zera`, except in Joel
1:17 for perudhoth (plural, the Revised Version (British and American) "seeds ...
/s/seed.htm - 41k

Talmud
... DIVISION AND CONTENTS OF THE MISHNA (AND THE TALMUD) 1. Zera`im, "See ds" 2.
Mo`edh, "Feasts" 3. Nashim, "Women" 4. Neziqin, "Damages" 5. Kodhashim, "Sacred ...
/t/talmud.htm - 37k

Zerah (22 Occurrences)

/z/zerah.htm - 19k

Zer (1 Occurrence)

/z/zer.htm - 7k

Carnal (11 Occurrences)
... kar'-nal: In the Old Testament there is an expression which indicates sexual
intercourse shikhebhath zera`, "lying of seed," (Leviticus 18:20; Leviticus 19:20 ...
/c/carnal.htm - 13k

Time (7245 Occurrences)
... The first is the winter (choreph), and this is the seed-time (zera`), especially
the first part of it called yoreh, or the time of the early rain; the second ...
/t/time.htm - 21k

Quotations
... He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is
Christ." The Hebrew word "seed" as applied to offspring (zera`) is singular. ...
/q/quotations.htm - 40k

Sodomite (1 Occurrence)
... He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is
Christ." The Hebrew word "seed" as applied to offspring (zera`) is singular. ...
/s/sodomite.htm - 101k

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