And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.
GENESIS 38:29KJVWhat does Genesis 38:29 mean?
Genesis 38:29 describes how, during the birth of Tamar’s twins, the second child unexpectedly came out first after the first baby’s hand had already appeared. Because of this surprising turn, the midwife exclaimed about the breach, and the boy was named Pharez, meaning “breach” or “breakthrough.”
In this scene, Tamar is giving birth to twins, and the midwife is present. The first baby’s hand comes out, but then it is drawn back, and the other twin is actually born first. The midwife’s words and the naming of Pharez highlight the unusual and dramatic nature of his birth, which sets the stage for his role in the family line.
The Hebrew behind Genesis 38:29
- "forth" (פָּרַץ, parats): This word means to break through or burst out. It emphasizes the suddenness and forcefulness of Pharez’s birth, which was unexpected and out of the normal order.
- "breach" (פֶּרֶץ, perets): This noun comes from the same root as "forth" and means a break or gap. The midwife uses it to describe what happened, marking the birth as an event that broke the expected sequence.
- "Pharez" (פֶּרֶץ, Perets): The name given to the child directly reflects the event, as it literally means “breach” or “breakthrough.” The naming ties the child’s identity to the unusual circumstances of his birth.
Why Genesis 38:29 matters
- Genesis 38:29 clarifies why the child was named Pharez, directly linking his name to the dramatic and unexpected way he entered the world.
- The verse highlights the theme of reversal and surprise in the family line, which is a recurring idea in Genesis, where the expected order is often upended.
- Understanding this birth story helps explain the significance of Pharez in later genealogies, especially since he becomes an ancestor of King David and, according to the New Testament, Jesus.