Genesis 38 29

Genesis 38:29 kjv

And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.

Genesis 38:29 nkjv

Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, "How did you break through? This breach be upon you!" Therefore his name was called Perez.

Genesis 38:29 niv

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.

Genesis 38:29 esv

But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, "What a breach you have made for yourself!" Therefore his name was called Perez.

Genesis 38:29 nlt

But then he pulled back his hand, and out came his brother! "What!" the midwife exclaimed. "How did you break out first?" So he was named Perez.

Genesis 38 verses

Genesis 38 29 meaning

Genesis 38:29 describes the surprising birth of Perez. During the birth of Tamar's twins, one brother (Zerah) first put out his hand and was marked, but then withdrew it. His twin, Perez, then unexpectedly broke forth first. The verse highlights this "breach" or "breaking forth," which becomes the meaning and origin of Perez's name, signifying a significant deviation from expected birth order and establishing a new precedent. This event underscores divine sovereignty in the unfolding lineage, particularly concerning the ancestry of the Messiah.

Genesis 38 29 Context

Genesis chapter 38 serves as an interruption to the main narrative of Joseph, preceding his rise in Egypt. This chapter focuses on Judah, a son of Jacob, and details a series of events involving him, his three sons (Er, Onan, and Shelah), and his daughter-in-law, Tamar. Judah's first two sons, Er and Onan, die because of their wickedness. When Judah fails to provide the third son, Shelah, for Tamar through levirate marriage, Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute to conceive from Judah himself. Judah unknowingly has relations with her, pledging his staff and signet as a guarantee for payment. When Tamar's pregnancy is discovered, Judah initially condemns her but then acknowledges her righteousness over his own (Gen 38:26). The climax of the chapter is the birth of twins, Zerah and Perez. The unusual birth sequence, where Perez surprisingly emerges first despite Zerah's initial hand prominence, is critical to Gen 38:29. This entire episode highlights God's sovereignty in preserving the lineage through Judah, even through scandalous and unexpected means, emphasizing His commitment to His covenantal promises despite human failures. It challenges the human expectation of strict primogeniture by showing a 'breaker' gaining prominence, a theme significant for the unfolding Messianic line.

Genesis 38 29 Word analysis

• But as he drew back his hand:

  • "But as" (ויהי - va'yehi): Often introduces a significant event or transition, indicating a new development.
  • "he drew back" (השיב - heshib): From the root "שוב" (shuv), meaning to return, turn back, or withdraw. This emphasizes a deliberate or impactful withdrawal of the hand, which had already been marked by the midwife, making Perez's subsequent birth even more astonishing. It's an act of retreat after an initial attempt to emerge.
  • "his hand" (ידו - yado): Specifically referring to Zerah's hand, which the midwife had marked with a scarlet thread (Gen 38:28) as the firstborn. The withdrawal creates suspense and a divine opening for the unexpected.

• behold, his brother came out:

  • "behold" (והנה - ve'hinneh): An interjection of surprise or attention, drawing the reader's focus to an unexpected and momentous event. It often signals divine intervention or a divinely orchestrated turning point. Here, it underscores the miraculous or unusual nature of the birth order.
  • "his brother" (אחיו - achiv): Refers to Perez, who emerges immediately after Zerah's hand withdrawal. The twin relationship is highlighted, but their individual destinies are now set to diverge by this unique birth.
  • "came out" (יצא - yatza): To go out, emerge, or come forth. This is the act of birth itself, but here it is uniquely framed as a bursting forth, breaking past his twin who had already staked a claim.

• and she said, "What a breach you have made for yourself!"

  • "she said" (ותאמר - vato'mer): Refers to the midwife, who immediately recognized the significance of the unusual birth and gave the baby his name. Her insight or recognition confirms the extraordinary nature of the event.
  • "What a breach you have made for yourself!" (מה פרצת עליך - mah parats'ta alekha): This is the crucial statement.
    • "breach" (פרצת - parats'ta): From the root "פרץ" (peretz), meaning to break through, burst forth, or make a breakthrough. It implies a forceful or unexpected breakthrough, a breaking down of a barrier or a surging forward. This isn't just coming out; it's a "breaking forth." The midwife uses it as a exclamation of awe at this unusual way of birth, almost like a forceful, unpredicted emergence. The word implies overcoming an obstacle, a bursting through established norms.
    • "for yourself" (עליך - alekha): Meaning "upon you" or "for yourself," implying that the breach was an active, almost deliberate action by the child himself, or that this breakthrough belongs to him, setting his identity.

• So his name was called Perez.

  • "So his name was called" (ויקרא שמו - vayikra shemo): This formula establishes the naming of the child. The name is intrinsically linked to the event, a common Hebrew practice where names reflect circumstances, character, or prophecy.
  • "Perez" (פרץ - Peretz): The name directly derived from the verb "פרץ" (paratz), meaning "to break forth" or "breach." This name signifies the remarkable and unusual manner of his birth and foreshadows his prominent lineage as the "breaker." It marks him as one who breaks through human expectation and establishes a new order, literally the one who "breaks forth" to initiate the primary line for the Messiah.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out": This sequence emphasizes the sudden and unexpected reversal of primogeniture. Zerah's temporary preeminence is overturned by divine providence, showcasing that God's plan is not confined by human markers or expectations. The "behold" underlines divine involvement in this switch.
  • "What a breach you have made for yourself! So his name was called Perez": This phrase directly links the action ("breach") to the resulting identity (name "Perez"). The "breach" is not merely a physical act of birth but a powerful theological statement about divine sovereignty overturning natural order. It sets Perez apart as one who comes into prominence through an unconventional and forceful breaking-through, making him the legitimate, though unexpected, ancestor in the Davidic and ultimately Messianic line.

Genesis 38 29 Bonus section

The story of Perez's birth directly subverts the deeply ingrained cultural significance of the firstborn in ancient Israel. The scarlet thread placed on Zerah's hand clearly designated him as the rightful firstborn. Yet, Perez, the one who "breaks through," supersedes him. This is a recurring theme in the biblical narrative where God bypasses the firstborn for the younger (e.g., Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph's sons Ephraim over Manasseh, David over his older brothers), highlighting God's elective choice over natural law or human custom. This serves as a significant theological statement: lineage, favor, and kingship are ultimately determined by divine decree, not human convention. Furthermore, the inclusion of Tamar, a Canaanite woman who used unconventional means, and Perez, the result of Judah's illicit union, in the messianic line of Matthew and Luke, reinforces God's inclusive plan that extends beyond strict legalism and purity. It emphasizes grace and God's ability to work through imperfection to accomplish His perfect will. The episode challenges the reader to look beyond surface appearances and conventional wisdom to discern God's hand at work.

Genesis 38 29 Commentary

Genesis 38:29, though short, is pivotal. It closes the tumultuous narrative of Judah and Tamar with an event that, on the surface, is a mere birth anomaly, but prophetically foreshadows God's ways. The midwife's exclamatory "breach!" highlights not just a physical act of breaking forth but a divine "breaching" of established human order—specifically, the tradition of primogeniture. Zerah, initially marked as the firstborn, yields to Perez, signifying that God’s chosen lineage might not follow conventional lines but through surprising, even scandalous, means. This episode underscores several profound truths: God's sovereignty works through unexpected and seemingly disorderly circumstances; His purposes for salvation lineage persist despite human moral failures (Judah's promiscuity, Tamar's deception); and the Messianic line would feature individuals like Perez, who break forth from societal expectations or disadvantage. Perez's name echoes in later biblical passages, notably Micah 2:13 ("the Breaker will go up before them"), suggesting that this 'breach' is not an isolated event but a foundational concept in God's redemptive history. It reassures that God is not limited by human conventions or moral failures when fulfilling His promises, and often chooses the unexpected path to display His power and wisdom.