Lexical Summary Perets: Perez Original Word: פֶרֶץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Perez, Pharez The same as perets; Perets, the name of two Israelites -- Perez, Pharez. see HEBREW perets NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom parats Definition son of Judah and Tamar NASB Translation Perez (15). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. פֶ֫רֶץ proper name 1. person, masculine son of Judah and Tamar, φαρες; — ׳פ Genesis 46:12 +, מָּ֑רֶץ Genesis 38:29 3t.; — Genesis 38:29; Genesis 46:12 (twice in verse); Numbers 26:20,21; Ruth 4:12,18 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 2:4,5; 1 Chronicles 4:1; 1 Chronicles 9:4; 1 Chronicles 27:9; Nehemiah 11:4,6 2. location in a. עֻזָּה ׳פ near Jerusalem 2 Samuel 6:8 2Chronicles 13:11. b. הַר מְּרָצִים Isaiah 28:21, perhaps = ׳בַּעַל פ q. v. p. Isaiah 12:8. — compare רִמֹּן מָּ֑רֶץ. p.942. Topical Lexicon Birth Narrative and Theological Motifs of Breakthrough Perez first appears in Genesis 38:29. Tamar’s second twin “broke out” ahead of his brother, and she exclaimed, “How you have broken out!”. The surprise reversal embodies a recurring biblical theme: God often advances His purposes through unexpected means (compare Joseph’s rise in Genesis 50:20). The name thus memorializes divine initiative that overcomes human obstruction, a motif echoed in Micah 2:13, where “the One who breaks open will go up before them.” Genealogical Centrality within Israel Perez becomes a foundational forefather in the tribe of Judah. Jacob’s migration list includes him and his sons Hezron and Hamul (Genesis 46:12). The genealogy in Ruth culminates: “Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron…” (Ruth 4:18-22), establishing the legal lineage from Judah to David. 1 Chronicles reiterates the family tree (1 Chronicles 2:4-5; 4:1), underscoring the clan’s prominence. Because Old Testament inheritance, leadership, and covenant promises flow along genealogical lines, Perez’s placement affirms Judah’s royal destiny. Perez in Tribal Censuses and Military Organization During Israel’s wilderness journey the clans of Perez are tallied twice (Numbers 26:20-21). Their numbers—larger than those of Zerah, the twin who appeared first—confirm the prophetic hint of Genesis 38. Later, David organizes “Zerahites and Perezites” for military duty; the commander over the first month’s division was “from the sons of Perez” (1 Chronicles 27:3). The clan’s strength served national security and royal administration. Post-Exilic Reconstitution of the Perezite Line After the Babylonian captivity, members of Judah’s Perez line spearheaded Jerusalem’s resettlement. Nehemiah lists “468 valiant men” of Perez dwelling in the city (Nehemiah 11:4, 6). Their willingness to repopulate the ruined capital mirrors their ancestor’s reputation for “breaking through,” now expressed in courageous restoration of covenant life. Messianic Trajectory from Perez to Jesus Christ Scripture traces a straight path from Perez to the Messiah. David, the climax of Old Testament royal hope, descends from Perez; Matthew 1:3 and Luke 3:33 both preserve his name in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Thus the infant who startled Tamar’s midwife ultimately foreshadows the greater “breakthrough” of redemption accomplished in the incarnation, cross, and resurrection. Spiritual and Pastoral Reflections 1. Divine sovereignty overcomes human sin: the sordid circumstances of Tamar and Judah cannot thwart God’s promise. Key Old Testament Occurrences Genesis 38:29; Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:20-21; Ruth 4:12, 18; 1 Chronicles 2:4-5; 1 Chronicles 4:1; 1 Chronicles 9:4; 1 Chronicles 27:3; Nehemiah 11:4, 6 Forms and Transliterations וָפֶ֣רֶץ ופרץ לְפֶ֕רֶץ לפרץ פֶ֔רֶץ פֶ֕רֶץ פֶ֖רֶץ פֶ֗רֶץ פֶּ֔רֶץ פֶּ֖רֶץ פֶּ֣רֶץ פֶּ֧רֶץ פָּ֔רֶץ פָּֽרֶץ׃ פָֽרֶץ׃ פרץ פרץ׃ Faretz Feretz lə·p̄e·reṣ leFeretz ləp̄ereṣ pā·reṣ p̄ā·reṣ pāreṣ p̄āreṣ Paretz pe·reṣ p̄e·reṣ pereṣ p̄ereṣ Peretz vaFeretz wā·p̄e·reṣ wāp̄ereṣLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 38:29 HEB: וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ פָּֽרֶץ׃ NAS: for yourself! So he was named Perez. KJV: was called Pharez. INT: was called his name Perez Genesis 46:12 Genesis 46:12 Numbers 26:20 Numbers 26:21 Ruth 4:12 Ruth 4:18 Ruth 4:18 1 Chronicles 2:4 1 Chronicles 2:5 1 Chronicles 4:1 1 Chronicles 9:4 1 Chronicles 27:3 Nehemiah 11:4 Nehemiah 11:6 15 Occurrences |
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