6557. Perets
Lexical Summary
Perets: Perez

Original Word: פֶרֶץ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Perets
Pronunciation: PEH-rets
Phonetic Spelling: (peh'-rets)
KJV: Perez, Pharez
NASB: Perez
Word Origin: [the same as H6556 (פֶּרֶץ - breach)]

1. Perets, the name of two Israelites

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 Origin
from 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.
2. Hope for the marginalized: Tamar, a wronged widow, becomes an ancestress of kings, illustrating the Lord’s regard for the oppressed.
3. Call to courageous rebuilding: the post-exilic Perezites model faith that steps into risk for the sake of God’s dwelling place.
4. Anticipation of Christ’s victory: like Perez’s unexpected arrival, the Savior’s triumph bursts through grave and guilt.

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 wāp̄ereṣ
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman'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
HEB: וְאוֹנָ֛ן וְשֵׁלָ֖ה וָפֶ֣רֶץ וָזָ֑רַח וַיָּ֨מָת
NAS: and Shelah and Perez and Zerah
KJV: and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah:
INT: and Onan and Shelah and Perez and Zerah died

Genesis 46:12
HEB: וַיִּהְי֥וּ בְנֵי־ פֶ֖רֶץ חֶצְר֥וֹן וְחָמֽוּל׃
NAS: And the sons of Perez were Hezron
KJV: And the sons of Pharez were Hezron
INT: become the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul

Numbers 26:20
HEB: מִשְׁפַּ֙חַת֙ הַשֵּׁ֣לָנִ֔י לְפֶ֕רֶץ מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַפַּרְצִ֑י
NAS: of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family
KJV: of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family
INT: the family of the Shelanites of Perez the family of the Perezites

Numbers 26:21
HEB: וַיִּהְי֣וּ בְנֵי־ פֶ֔רֶץ לְחֶצְרֹ֕ן מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת
NAS: The sons of Perez were: of Hezron,
KJV: And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron,
INT: become the sons of Perez Hezron the family

Ruth 4:12
HEB: בֵֽיתְךָ֙ כְּבֵ֣ית פֶּ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־ יָלְדָ֥ה
NAS: be like the house of Perez whom
KJV: be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar
INT: may your house the house of Perez whom bore

Ruth 4:18
HEB: וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ תּוֹלְד֣וֹת פָּ֔רֶץ פֶּ֖רֶץ הוֹלִ֥יד
NAS: are the generations of Perez: to Perez
KJV: Now these [are] the generations of Pharez: Pharez
INT: now these are the generations of Perez to Perez was born

Ruth 4:18
HEB: תּוֹלְד֣וֹת פָּ֔רֶץ פֶּ֖רֶץ הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־
NAS: of Perez: to Perez was born
KJV: of Pharez: Pharez begat
INT: are the generations of Perez to Perez was born Hezron

1 Chronicles 2:4
HEB: לּ֖וֹ אֶת־ פֶּ֣רֶץ וְאֶת־ זָ֑רַח
NAS: bore him Perez and Zerah.
KJV: bare him Pharez and Zerah.
INT: his daughter-in-law bore Perez and Zerah all

1 Chronicles 2:5
HEB: בְּנֵי־ פֶ֖רֶץ חֶצְר֥וֹן וְחָמֽוּל׃
NAS: The sons of Perez [were] Hezron
KJV: The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul.
INT: the sons of Perez Hezron and Hamul

1 Chronicles 4:1
HEB: בְּנֵ֖י יְהוּדָ֑ה פֶּ֧רֶץ חֶצְר֛וֹן וְכַרְמִ֖י
NAS: of Judah [were] Perez, Hezron,
KJV: of Judah; Pharez, Hezron,
INT: the sons of Judah Perez Hezron Carmi

1 Chronicles 9:4
HEB: (מִן־ בְּנֵי־ פֶ֖רֶץ ק) בֶּן־
NAS: from the sons of Perez the son
KJV: of the children of Pharez the son
INT: Benjamin of Bani of Perez the sons of Judah

1 Chronicles 27:3
HEB: מִן־ בְּנֵי־ פֶ֗רֶץ הָרֹ֛אשׁ לְכָל־
NAS: [He was] from the sons of Perez, [and was] chief
KJV: Of the children of Perez [was] the chief
INT: at the sons of Perez chief of all

Nehemiah 11:4
HEB: מַהֲלַלְאֵ֖ל מִבְּנֵי־ פָֽרֶץ׃
NAS: of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez;
KJV: of the children of Perez;
INT: of Mahalalel of the sons of Perez

Nehemiah 11:6
HEB: כָּל־ בְּנֵי־ פֶ֕רֶץ הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם
NAS: the sons of Perez who lived
KJV: All the sons of Perez that dwelt
INT: All the sons of Perez dwelt Jerusalem

15 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6557
15 Occurrences


p̄ā·reṣ — 1 Occ.
p̄e·reṣ — 6 Occ.
lə·p̄e·reṣ — 1 Occ.
pā·reṣ — 2 Occ.
pe·reṣ — 4 Occ.
wā·p̄e·reṣ — 1 Occ.

6556
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