And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
GENESIS 38:28KJVWhat does Genesis 38:28 mean?
Genesis 38:28 describes how, during Tamar’s labor, one of the twins put out his hand first, so the midwife tied a scarlet thread around it to mark him as the firstborn. The midwife did this because it was important to know which child came out first, as birth order affected inheritance and family status.
In this scene, Tamar is giving birth to twins after her unusual relationship with Judah. The midwife is present to help with the delivery and to witness which child is born first. The act of tying a scarlet thread is a practical way to identify the firstborn, showing the importance placed on birth order in ancient families.
The Hebrew behind Genesis 38:28
- The word for “travailed” is יָלַד (yalad), which means to give birth or be in labor. This emphasizes Tamar’s active role in the childbirth process.
- The word for “hand” is יָד (yad), a common word for hand, but here it highlights the unusual situation where the baby’s hand appears before the rest of the body.
- The word for “thread” is שָׁנִי (shani), meaning scarlet or crimson thread. The color is significant, making the mark clearly visible and memorable.
- The word for “first” is רִאשׁוֹן (rishon), meaning first or chief, underlining the importance of identifying the firstborn among the twins.
Why Genesis 38:28 matters
- Genesis 38:28 clears up any confusion about how the midwife could know which twin was the firstborn, showing the practical step taken to mark the child.
- The verse highlights the importance of birth order in ancient Israelite society, especially for inheritance rights and family lineage.
- This moment sets up the surprising twist in the story, where the child with the thread does not actually come out first, which has implications for the family line of Judah and the story’s outcome.