Boy Old Testament Rare
Zohar
white; bright; dryness
צֹ֫חַר tso.char
Zohar (Hebrew: צֹ֫חַר, tso.char) means “white; bright; dryness”, by traditional interpretation. Two men in scripture bear the name; the best attested belongs to the Patriarchal period. In 2025 it was given to 21 children in the United States. Use is rising. Appears in the same passages as Abida.
Which Zohar?
Two men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Zohar
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Zohar
father of Ephron
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 6 across 4 books
- Bearers
- 2 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 21 | Rising |
| All-time total | 323 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 27 in 2007 | Its highest year on record |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 23:8 |
| Last appears | 1 Chronicles 4:24 |
| Cross-references | 53 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Shaul co-occurrence Appears with Shaul in 1 Chronicles 4.
- Zerah co-occurrence Appears with Zerah in 1 Chronicles 4.
- Jachin co-occurrence Appears with Jachin in 1 Chronicles 4.
- Jamin co-occurrence Appears with Jamin in 1 Chronicles 4.
- Jemuel co-occurrence Appears with Jemuel in 1 Chronicles 4.
- Ohad co-occurrence Appears with Ohad in Exodus 6.
- Ephron co-occurrence Appears with Ephron in Genesis 23.
- Simeon co-occurrence Appears with Simeon in 1 Chronicles 4.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.23.8;
father of: Ephron (H6085)
§ Zohar = "tawny"
1) a Judaite, son of Ashur by wife Helah
2) father of Ephron the Hittite
3) one of the sons of Simeon; also 'Zerah'
Zohar was the father of Ephron the Hittite, from whom Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah as a burial site.
The biblical story
Zohar was a Hittite man who lived in the region of Hebron during the time of Abraham. He was the father of Ephron, a prominent Hittite who owned the cave of Machpelah and the surrounding field. When Abraham's wife Sarah died, he sought to purchase a burial site for her. Abraham approached the Hittites and requested to buy the cave of Machpelah from Ephron, son of Zohar. The Hittites offered to give the land to Abraham for free, but he insisted on paying the full price. Ephron agreed to sell the cave and the field for 400 shekels of silver. Abraham's purchase of this property, which became the burial site for Sarah, Abraham himself, and later the patriarchs and matriarchs, is significant as it represents the first piece of land owned by the Israelites in Canaan. Zohar's mention in this narrative highlights his role as the father of Ephron and a witness to this important transaction.
Key verses
Zohar appears in 2 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,
Genesis 23:8 -
And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
Genesis 25:9
Show all 2 references
Genesis (2)
- Genesis 23:8
- Genesis 25:9