Who was Zaza in the bible?

Zaza is named once in Scripture as an Israelite in a genealogical record. The name is described in a lexicon summary as meaning “prominent.”

Zaza in Scripture

Zaza appears in a line of descent recorded in 1 Chronicles 2, where several connected family branches are listed in close succession. The immediate context sets out a sequence that includes Appaim, Ishi, Sheshan, and Ahlai:

“The son of Appaim: Ishi. The son of Ishi: Sheshan. The son of Sheshan: Ahlai.” (1 Chronicles 2:31, WEB)

The record then turns to another branch, identifying Jada as “the brother of Shammai,” and naming Jada’s sons. In that branch, Jonathan is introduced alongside his brother Jether, and a brief note is added about Jether’s death without descendants:

“The sons of Jada the brother of Shammai: Jether and Jonathan; and Jether died without children.” (1 Chronicles 2:32, WEB)

Zaza is introduced as one of Jonathan’s sons. The verse names Jonathan’s two sons in parallel and then places them within the larger family grouping by stating whose sons they were counted as:

“The sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel.” (1 Chronicles 2:33, WEB)

Within this textual setting, Zaza is presented as (1) a son of Jonathan, and (2) part of the genealogical house identified in the same sentence: “These were the sons of Jerahmeel.” The narrative flow of the chapter segment continues immediately after Zaza’s mention by returning to Sheshan and describing his household situation—specifically, that Sheshan had daughters rather than sons—and then introducing an Egyptian servant named Jarha:

“Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha.” (1 Chronicles 2:34, WEB)

The record adds that Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to Jarha, and that their line continued through a son named Attai:

“Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant as wife; and she bore him Attai.” (1 Chronicles 2:35, WEB)

Finally, the surrounding context continues that descent, moving from Attai to Nathan to Zabad:

“Attai became the father of Nathan, and Nathan became the father of Zabad,” (1 Chronicles 2:36, WEB)

Read in order, these verses place Zaza inside a broader genealogical section that (a) traces one line through Appaim → Ishi → Sheshan, (b) traces another through Jada’s sons Jether and Jonathan (with Zaza as one of Jonathan’s sons), and (c) continues with details about Sheshan’s daughters and the line that proceeds through Jarha and Attai. Zaza’s role in the text is confined to his placement in Jonathan’s family and the summary identification: “These were the sons of Jerahmeel.”

Name and Meaning

The name is written in Hebrew as זָזָא, transliterated zaza’ and pronounced “zaw-zaw’.” A lexicon derivation summary suggests it is probably from the root of H2123 and conveys the sense “prominent,” and it also notes a component word ziyz (זִיז) described as “fulness of the breast,” along with the idea of “a moving” creature.

Observation

Zaza is remembered in Scripture through a concise genealogical identification: “The sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel.” (1 Chronicles 2:33, WEB)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Zaza in the Bible?

Zaza is named as an Israelite. In 1 Chronicles 2:33, he is listed as a son of Jonathan and among the sons of Jerahmeel.

What does the name Zaza mean?

Zaza means “prominent.”

How many times does Zaza appear in the Bible?

Zaza appears 1 time in the Bible.

Where is Zaza mentioned?

Zaza is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 2:33.

Explore Further

If you found this page about Zaza 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).