Zara
Pronounced ZAR-uh
- Meaning
- "Dawn; Sunrise; Brightness"
- Origin
- Hebrew (Zerah)
Zara (Zerah) means "dawn," "sunrise," or "brightness" in Hebrew. In the Bible, Zerah was one of the twin sons of Judah and Tamar. During birth, Zerah's hand emerged first, and the midwife tied a scarlet thread around it to identify the firstborn. However, Zerah's twin Perez pushed ahead and was born first — an unexpected reversal that mirrors many biblical stories where God upends human expectations. Zerah is included in the genealogy of Jesus through the line of Judah (Matthew 1:3). The scarlet thread tied around Zerah's wrist has been interpreted by many theologians as a symbol pointing to redemption — the scarlet thread that runs throughout Scripture, from Rahab's window to the blood of Christ.
Spiritual meaning
Zara's name — 'dawn' — speaks of new beginnings and the light that breaks through darkness. The scarlet thread of her birth story points to the crimson thread of redemption woven through all of Scripture.
Related verses (KJV)
"And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah."
Genesis 38:30 (KJV) →"And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar."
Matthew 1:3 (KJV) →