Genesis 38:28

28 As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand, and the midwife took it and tied a scarlet [thread] around it, announcing, "This one came out first."

Genesis 38:28 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 38:28

And it came to pass when she travailed
Her birth throes came strong and quick upon her: that [the one] put out [his] hand;
which showed that she was like to have a difficult and dangerous time of it; that the birth was not like to be according to the usual and natural order, which may be considered as a correction for her sin: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying,
this came out first;
she tied this to his wrist, that she might know whose hand it was, and so which was the firstborn; which, to know was a matter of consequence, since to the firstborn there were some special and peculiar privileges.

Genesis 38:28 In-Context

26 Judah recognized [them] and said, "She is more in the right than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah." And he did not know her intimately again.

27 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb.

28 As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand, and the midwife took it and tied a scarlet [thread] around it, announcing, "This one came out first."

29 But then he pulled his hand back, and his brother came out. Then she said, "You have broken out [first]!" So he was named Perez.

30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet [thread] tied to his hand, came out, and was named Zerah.