Who was Zara in the bible?

Zara (Greek Ζαρά, a form of the Hebrew-origin name Zerah) appears in the New Testament genealogy of Jesus Christ as one of the sons born to Judah through Tamar.

Zara in Scripture

Zara is mentioned once, within Matthew’s opening genealogy that traces descent “of Jesus Christ.” The setting is introduced at the start of the chapter:

Matthew 1:1: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

The genealogy proceeds by naming fathers and sons in sequence. It first places Judah within the line descending from Abraham:

Matthew 1:2: “Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.”

Within that line, Zara appears together with a sibling, and their mother is named:

Matthew 1:3: “Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram.”

In this verse, Zara (spelled “Zerah” in the cited translation) is identified as a son of Judah, and Tamar is identified as the mother “by” whom Judah became the father of “Perez and Zerah.” The genealogy then continues, tracing the line onward through Perez rather than through Zara, moving from Perez to Hezron to Ram.

The surrounding verses continue the same genealogical pattern, providing the immediate continuation of the line after Ram:

Matthew 1:4: “Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon.”

Matthew 1:5: “Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.”

Matthew 1:6: “Jesse became the father of King David. David became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife.”

Within this chapter’s presentation, Zara’s role is as a named figure in the genealogical record: he is one of Judah’s sons “by Tamar,” and he appears at the point where the genealogy connects the patriarchal line (from Abraham through Judah) to the generations that culminate in “King David,” and ultimately, as stated in the chapter’s opening, to “Jesus Christ.”

Name and Meaning

In Greek script the name is written Ζαρά, transliterated Zara and pronounced dzar-ah’. The name is described as being of Hebrew origin (from H02226) and is identified in the lexicon gloss as the same name as Zerah.

Observation

Matthew includes Zara in a tightly structured list that links “Judah” to “Perez and Zerah by Tamar,” placing his name within “the genealogy of Jesus Christ” (Matthew 1:1–3).

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Zara in the Bible?

Zara is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Zerah. In Matthew 1:3, Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar.

What does the name Zara mean?

Zara means Zerah.

How many times does Zara appear in the Bible?

Zara appears 1 time.

Where is Zara mentioned?

Zara is mentioned in Matthew 1:3.

Explore Further

If you found this page about Zara interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.

Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).