The name Jerah, which is understood to mean “moon” or “new moon,” appears in the genealogical records of the post-flood world. He is identified in Scripture as one of the thirteen sons of Joktan, who was a descendant of Shem through Arphaxad, Salah, and Eber.
Jerah is mentioned in the record of the nations found in Genesis 10:26 and 1 Chronicles 1:20. These passages situate him among the patriarchs who formed the early tribal foundations of the earth following the dispersion. While the text provides limited narrative detail regarding the specific actions of his life, his place within this lineage highlights the rapid expansion of the families of the sons of Noah. As part of the line of Joktan, Jerah is associated with the peoples who settled in the regions of the Arabian Peninsula.
His presence in the holy record serves as a stark reminder of the sovereignty of God over the history of all nations. Before the rise of great empires, God meticulously documented the names and the offspring of those who populated the world. Jerah represents one of the many threads in the tapestry of human history that eventually leads to the wider narrative of the covenant. Though he is but a name in a long list, he is part of the objective history that the Lord has chosen to preserve for our instruction, proving that every man stands within the sight and the sovereign plan of the Almighty.