1 Chronicles 2:4 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 2:4 mean?

1 Chronicles 2:4 states that Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, gave birth to two sons for him, named Pharez and Zerah, and that Judah had a total of five sons. This verse summarizes a key part of Judah’s family line, highlighting Tamar’s unusual but important role in his genealogy.

This verse appears in a genealogy listing the descendants of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. The chronicler is writing to the people of Israel, recording their tribal and family origins. By mentioning Tamar and her sons, the verse points out a significant and somewhat unexpected branch in Judah’s lineage, which later becomes important in the history of Israel.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 2:4

• תָּמָר (Tamar, transliterated "Tamar") is the name of Judah’s daughter-in-law. Her mention is notable because women are rarely named in Old Testament genealogies, signaling her unique role.
• פָּרֶץ (Pharez, transliterated "Pharez") and זֶרַח (Zerah, transliterated "Zerah") are the names of Tamar’s sons. These names are important because Pharez becomes an ancestor of King David.
• חָמֹשׁ (five, transliterated "chamesh") is the word for "five," emphasizing the total number of Judah’s sons and showing the completeness of his family line.

Why 1 Chronicles 2:4 matters

• This verse highlights Tamar’s unusual place in Judah’s family, showing that God’s purposes can work through unexpected people and situations.
• By listing Pharez and Zerah, the chronicler points to the line that will eventually lead to King David and, in Christian tradition, to Jesus.
• The verse connects to the wider passage by showing the full count of Judah’s sons, which is important for understanding tribal inheritance and the structure of Israel’s tribes.