Genesis 38:28

28 At birth, one boy put out his hand, and the midwife took it and tied a red thread on his hand, saying, "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's more righteous than I am, because I didn't allow her to marry my son Shelah." Judah never knew her intimately again.

27 When she gave birth, she discovered she had twins in her womb.

28 At birth, one boy put out his hand, and the midwife took it and tied a red thread on his hand, saying, "This one came out first."

29 As soon as he pulled his hand back, his brother came out, and she said, "You've burst out on your own." So he was named Perez.

30 Afterward, his brother with the red thread on his hand came out, and he was named Zerah.