Perez

Life and work

Perez was born to Judah and Tamar after Judah failed to give Tamar his son Shelah in marriage as promised; Tamar disguised herself and conceived by Judah himself, a scheme Judah later admitted was more righteous than his own conduct toward her (Genesis 38:6-26). When Tamar went into labor, she was carrying twins (Genesis 38:27).

During the delivery, one twin put out a hand, and the midwife tied a scarlet thread around it, declaring, 'This one came out first.' But the hand was drawn back, and his brother emerged first instead. The midwife exclaimed, 'What a breach you have made for yourself!' and he was named Perez, meaning 'breach' or 'breakthrough' (Genesis 38:28-29). His twin, marked by the scarlet thread, was named Zerah (Genesis 38:30).

Perez himself has no further narrative in Scripture, but his descendants became prominent: his line (the Perezites) is counted among Judah's clans (Numbers 26:20-21), and he became the direct ancestor of Boaz, Jesse, and David (Ruth 4:18-22), and, through Matthew's genealogy, of Jesus (Matthew 1:3). The book of Ruth closes by invoking his name as a blessing on Boaz's house (Ruth 4:12).

Extra-biblical evidence

No extra-biblical source attests to Perez individually; he is known only from the Genesis narrative and the genealogies built on it.

Scripture references

• Genesis 38:27-30 — Birth account; named for the 'breach' in his breech-twin birth
• Ruth 4:12,18-22 — Named as ancestor in the genealogy leading to David
• Matthew 1:3 — Named in Jesus's genealogy