Genesis 38:25-30

25 As she was being brought out, she sent her father-in-law [this message]: "I am pregnant by the man to whom these items belong." And she added, "Examine them. Whose signet ring, cord, and staff are these?"
26 Judah recognized [them] and said, "She is more in the right[a] 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.[b]
30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet [thread] tied to his hand, came out, and was named Zerah.[c]

Genesis 38:25-30 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 38

This chapter is wholly taken up with matters relating to Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, from whom the Jews have their name, and from whom Christ sprung: it treats of his marriage with a Canaanitess, his children by her, their character and end, Ge 38:1-11; of his incest with his daughter-in-law, though unknown by him, Ge 38:12-23; of his resentment against her, when he heard she was with child, and his confusion when he found it was by himself, Ge 38:24-26; and of the birth of twins by her, named Pharez and Zarah, Ge 38:27-30.

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Or more righteous
  • [b]. Breaking Out
  • [c]. Brightness of Sunrise; perhaps related to the scarlet thread
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