The name Arah (or Aroach) likely derives from a root meaning 'wayfarer' or 'traveler.' It is the name of several individuals in the Old Testament, including a son of Ulla from the tribe of Asher and a clan leader whose descendants returned from Babylonian exile.
The clan of Arah appears prominently in the post-exilic lists of Ezra and Nehemiah. Despite decades of captivity in Babylon, this family preserved their tribal identity and genealogical records, enabling their return to the Promised Land. This tenacious preservation of identity amid exile mirrors Israel's theological identity — a people who know who they are because they know whose they are.