Genesis 38:30

30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah.^[a]

Read Chapter Compare

PREVIOUS Genesis 38:29 NEXT Genesis 39:1

Genesis 38:30 in Other Translations

KJV

30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

ESV

30 Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.

NLT

30 Then the baby with the scarlet string on his wrist was born, and he was named Zerah.

MSG

30 Then his brother came out with the red thread on his hand. They named him Zerah (Bright).

CSB

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

Genesis 38:30 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 38:30

And afterward came out his brother that had the scarlet
thread upon his hand
By which it was known that he so far came out first; which confirms the remarkable birth of his brother, who notwithstanding got the start of him: and his name was called Zarah;
not from "rising", or his coming forth like the rising sun, as is usually observed; but rather from his return, or drawing back his hand, and as it were returning to his mother's womb; and so, according to Hillerus ^F12, Zarah, by a transposition of letters, comes from (rzx) "Chazar", to return: but Jarchi thinks he had his name from the refulgent appearance of the scarlet thread on his wrist.

FOOTNOTES:

F12 Onomastic. Sacr. p. 372.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Genesis 38:30 In-Context

28 As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, “This one came out first.”

29 But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, “So this is how you have broken out!” And he was named Perez.

30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah.

Cross References 2

1. ver 28
2. Genesis 46:12; 1 Chronicles 2:4; Nehemiah 11:24

Footnotes 1

[a]. "Zerah" can mean "scarlet" or "brightness."