What is the meaning of Genesis 38:28? And as she was giving birth – Tamar—Judah’s widowed daughter-in-law—has reached full term with twins (Genesis 38:27). – The narrative reminds us that twins often signal a turning point in Scripture, as with Esau and Jacob in Genesis 25:24-26. – God’s providence is at work in the line of Judah even during a morally messy episode (Romans 8:28). one of them put out his hand – The baby’s hand appears first, an unusual occurrence that immediately draws attention to questions of inheritance and family order (compare Hosea 12:3, where Jacob grasped Esau’s heel). – By allowing this moment to be recorded, the Spirit underscores how human expectations of “first” can quickly shift, a pattern seen again when Jacob blessed Ephraim above Manasseh (Genesis 48:17-19). so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it around his wrist – Midwives in the ancient Near East marked a firstborn during complicated deliveries to settle future disputes over birthright (see Deuteronomy 21:17 for the legal weight of the firstborn share). – Scarlet is a vivid, unmistakable color; it later appears as a sign of protection and covenant in Exodus 12:13 (Passover blood) and Joshua 2:18-21 (Rahab’s scarlet cord). – The deliberate tying shows human attempts to preserve order, yet God is about to overturn it. “This one came out first,” she announced – The declaration seems final, but moments later Perez pushes past his brother, and the midwife exclaims, “How have you broken out?” (Genesis 38:29). – Scripture often highlights God’s surprising choice of the younger over the elder: Isaac over Ishmael (Genesis 17:19-21), Jacob over Esau (Romans 9:12-13), David over his brothers (1 Samuel 16:10-12). – Perez, the child who actually emerges first, becomes an ancestor of King David and of Christ Himself (Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:3), illustrating that divine purpose, not human custom, ultimately governs redemptive history. summary Genesis 38:28 captures a dramatic moment where human hands try to manage succession through a scarlet thread, yet God soon rearranges the outcome. The verse highlights the tension between cultural expectations of the firstborn and God’s sovereign freedom to advance His promises through unexpected channels—preparing the way for the Messiah to come through Perez rather than the marked child, Zerah. |
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