Perez is a figure mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. He was the son of Judah and Tamar, and the twin brother of Zerah. Perez’s story is recounted in Genesis chapter 38.
To summarize, Judah had three sons – Er, Onan and Shelah. Judah arranged for his oldest son Er to marry a woman named Tamar. However, Er was wicked and died young. As was custom at the time, Judah then gave Tamar to his second son Onan. But Onan also died. Judah was reluctant to give Tamar to his third son Shelah until he was older. In the meantime, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and tricked Judah into sleeping with her, resulting in her becoming pregnant with twins. She gave birth to Perez and Zerah. Perez is described as the firstborn, having broken out of the womb before Zerah (Genesis 38:27-30).
There are a few key things the Bible reveals about Perez:
- He was an ancestor in the messianic line – Perez is mentioned in the genealogies of Jesus Christ. Both Matthew 1:3 and Luke 3:33 list Perez as an ancestor.
- He was born into unusual circumstances due to Judah’s sins, but God worked through the situation.
- His name means “breach” or “breakthrough” referring to his birth.
- He had a twin brother named Zerah, but Perez was the firstborn.
- He was the father of Hezron and Hamul (Genesis 46:12).
- His descendants the Perezites were numbered among the tribes of Israel (Numbers 26:20-21).
Beyond his birth narrative, the Bible does not provide any other biographical details about Perez’s life. But he stands out as a key figure in the genesis of the 12 tribes of Israel. Perez’s name is invoked several times in genealogies to demonstrate he was an ancestor to important biblical figures like David, Solomon and Jesus. Despite unusual beginnings, God used him in His divine plan.
The Story of Perez’s Birth
The account of Perez’s birth is told in Genesis chapter 38, taking place between the stories of Joseph and Joseph’s brothers in Egypt. It centers on Judah, one of Jacob’s twelve sons who would represent the tribe of Judah. Judah marries a Canaanite woman named Shua and has three sons – Er, Onan and Shelah (Genesis 38:1-5).
When Er grows up, Judah arranges for him to marry a woman named Tamar. However, Er is wicked and dies prematurely. Following custom at the time, Judah gives Tamar to his second son Onan so that she can have a child to carry on Er’s line. But Onan does not fulfill his duty and also dies. Judah is reluctant to give Tamar to his third son Shelah until he grows up, so sends her back to her father’s household for a time (Genesis 38:6-11).
After a long period of time, Judah’s wife Shua passes away. When Judah has finished the time of mourning, he goes to shear sheep at Timnah. Tamar realizes Shelah is grown up but she has not been given to him as a wife. So she disguises herself with a veil and sits by the road on the way to Timnah. Judah sees her but does not recognize her due to the disguise and assumes she is a prostitute (Genesis 38:12-15).
Judah solicits her services, promising her a young goat as payment. But Tamar insists he give her his seal, cord and staff as pledge until the goat can be delivered. After they sleep together, she leaves and removes her disguise. Judah tries to deliver the goat to recover his pledge, but cannot find her. Three months later, word reaches Judah that Tamar is pregnant from prostitution. Outraged, he orders for her to be burned. But when brought out, she reveals she is pregnant by the owner of the seal, cord and staff. Judah realizes they belong to him and that he is the father. He admits she is more righteous than himself, since he failed to give her to Shelah (Genesis 38:16-26).
When it comes time for Tamar to give birth, she has twins. As the first baby emerges, the midwife ties a scarlet thread around his hand. But the baby draws back and the second child breaks out first. The midwife declares “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he is named Perez. His brother with the scarlet thread is then born and named Zerah (Genesis 38:27-30).
This unusual account highlights several important themes – the need to provide offspring through levirate marriage, the consequences of sin, the sovereignty of God to work good despite human failings, and Perez’s role as an ancestor to the messianic line.
Perez in Biblical Genealogies
While Perez’s birth account is the main Biblical story about him, he is also mentioned in several important genealogies:
- 1 Chronicles 2:3-15 – Records the lineage from Judah to David, going through Perez and his descendants.
- Ruth 4:18-22 – Perez is mentioned in the genealogy of David.
- Nehemiah 11:4-6 – The descendants of Perez who settled in Jerusalem after the exile are listed.
- Matthew 1:3 and Luke 3:33 – Both mention Perez in the genealogy of Jesus from Abraham and David.
Perez’s inclusion in these lists, particularly the messianic genealogies, indicate his importance in the continuity of the tribe of Judah and the line of the Messiah. Despite being born from a deceitful encounter, God worked through Judah’s sins and used Perez as part of His divine plan.
The Meaning of Perez’s Name
The name Perez means “breach” or “breakthrough” in Hebrew. It comes from the root word paratz which means to break through or burst forth. It refers to the circumstances of Perez’s birth:
And it came to pass, when she travailed, that one put out a hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, Wherefore hast thou made a breach for thyself? Therefore his name was called Perez.” (Genesis 38:27-29)
Perez “broke through” and was born first before his brother Zerah, who had initially emerged with the scarlet thread tied to his hand. Perez’s breach birth gained him precedence as the firstborn. The name Perez was symbolic of his arrival and position.
The Messianic Connection
While the circumstances of Perez’s birth were unrighteous, God demonstrated His sovereignty by working through Judah’s sins and using Perez as part of His redemptive plan. The fact that Perez is mentioned repeatedly in the lineage of Jesus Christ has great significance:
- It testifies to God’s grace in contrast to human failings.
- It shows God can use anyone and any situation for His purposes.
- It illustrates God’s faithfulness across generations to send the Messiah.
- It connects Jesus to the promised line of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Judah.
Despite less than ideal origins, Perez became an important link in the genealogical chain that brought the Messiah into the world. This emphasizes God’s miraculous work through history to redeem humanity through Jesus.
Descendants and Legacy
While the Bible does not provide many details about Perez’s life, it does record some of his descendants:
- His son Hezron became a leader of one of the clans of Judah (Genesis 46:12).
- Hamul was another son who led a clan (Genesis 46:12, Numbers 26:21).
- The Perezites were numbered among the tribes descended from Jacob (Numbers 26:20-21).
- Some of his descendants settled in Jerusalem after the exile (Nehemiah 11:4-6).
Beyond his notable ancestors, Perez seems to have faded into history. Yet his legacy lived on powerfully through the messianic lineage. Despite the unusual circumstances of his birth, God orchestrated history across centuries to bring redemption through Perez’s line. In God’s providence, even someone born from sinful origins can become part of His divine plan.
Lessons from Perez’s Life
When studying Perez’s life, here are some key lessons that emerge:
- God works powerfully despite human sin – What should have been a righteous continuation of lineage became a tale of deception and sin. Yet amazingly, God worked through it all to bring about His purposes.
- God’s plans stand firm – Nothing from Tamar and Judah’s deception to Perez’s breach birth could disrupt God’s plans to bring the Messiah through their line.
- God shows grace to sinners – There is hope even when we fail. Despite Judah’s hypocrisy and sin, God gave him Perez through whom the Messiah came.
- God exalts the humble – Tamar was lowly but took bold and clever action to obtain offspring. God saw her plight and worked through her.
Ultimately, Perez represents God’s faithfulness and grace to fulfill His promises despite human shortcomings and frailty. His lineage encourages us that there is always hope in God’s plans.
In conclusion, Perez was born into unusual circumstances but became an important link in the ancestry of Jesus Christ. His breach birth gained him precedence and his name became symbolic. Despite human failings, God orchestrated history across generations to use Perez in His divine plan to redeem humanity through Jesus.