Who was Perez in the Bible?

Perez was the son of Judah and Tamar, born from an unusual circumstance where Tamar disguised herself to secure her right to an heir (Genesis 38). He became an ancestor of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ, as listed in the genealogies (Matthew 1:3, Luke 3:33).

Why is Perez important in the Bible?

Perez is crucial because his lineage leads directly to King David and Jesus Christ, fulfilling God's promises. His birth story highlights God's providence working through flawed human situations to advance His redemptive plan.

What is the story of Perez's birth?

Perez and his twin brother Zerah were born to Tamar after she tricked her father-in-law, Judah, into fulfilling his duty to provide her an heir. During birth, Zerah's hand emerged first, but Perez actually came out first, earning his name which means 'breaking out' (Genesis 38:27-30).

Perez

Both TestamentsEgypt & WildernessMaleSon

Perez, son of Judah and Tamar, was an ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ.

Perez

Biography

Perez was the firstborn twin son of Judah and Tamar, whose birth is dramatically recounted in Genesis 38:27-30. During delivery, his brother Zerah extended a hand first, prompting the midwife to tie a scarlet thread around it. But Perez broke through ahead, earning his name, which means "breach" or "breakthrough." His conception came through Tamar's bold deception of Judah, who had failed to provide her his youngest son as husband according to levirate custom. Despite these irregular circumstances, Perez became the progenitor of the most important clan within Judah. His descendants, the Perezites, produced Boaz, Jesse, King David, and ultimately Jesus Christ (Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:3; Luke 3:33). The book of Ruth concludes with a genealogy tracing the Davidic line directly through Perez.

Significance

Perez holds extraordinary theological significance as a key link in the Messianic lineage. His story demonstrates God's sovereign ability to bring blessing from the most unlikely and morally complicated situations. Born from Judah's encounter with Tamar, a narrative rife with deception and scandal, Perez nevertheless became the ancestor through whom God's promises to Judah were fulfilled (Genesis 49:10). His inclusion in both Matthew's and Luke's genealogies of Jesus underscores that the Messiah's lineage was marked by grace rather than human merit. Perez's very name, meaning "breakthrough," foreshadows the breaking through of God's redemptive purposes despite every human obstacle, a fitting ancestor for the One who would breach the barrier between God and humanity.

Verse Appearances (15)

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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Perez

Biography

Significance

Verse Appearances (15)

Genesis

Numbers

Ruth

1 Chronicles

Nehemiah

Matthew

Luke

References