Kejadian 38:29

38:29 But then he drew back his hand, and his brother came out before him. ¹  She said, “How you have broken out of the womb!” ²  So he was named Perez. ³ 

Kejadian 38:1

Judah and Tamar

38:1 At that time Judah left ⁴  his brothers and stayed ⁵  with an Adullamite man ⁶  named Hirah.

1 Tawarikh 14:11

14:11 So they marched against Baal Perazim and David defeated them there. David said, “Using me as his instrument, ⁷  God has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So that place is called Baal Perazim. ⁸ 

[38:29]  ¹ tn Heb “Look, his brother came out.” By the use of the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”), the narrator invites the reader to view the scene through the midwife’s eyes. The words “before him” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[38:29]  ² tn Heb “How you have made a breach for yourself!” The Hebrew verb translated “make a breach” frequently occurs, as here, with a cognate accusative. The event provided the meaningful name Perez, “he who breaks through.”

[38:29]  ³ sn The name Perez means “he who breaks through,” referring to Perez reaching out his hand at birth before his brother was born. The naming signified the completion of Tamar’s struggle and also depicted the destiny of the tribe of Perez who later became dominant (Gen 46:12 and Num 26:20). Judah and his brothers had sold Joseph into slavery, thinking they could thwart God’s plan that the elder brothers should serve the younger. God demonstrated that principle through these births in Judah’s own family, affirming that the elder will serve the younger, and that Joseph’s leadership could not so easily be set aside. See J. Goldin, “The Youngest Son; or, Where Does Genesis 38 Belong?” JBL 96 (1977): 27-44.

[38:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “went down from.”

[38:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “and he turned aside unto.”

[38:1]  ⁶ tn Heb “a man, an Adullamite.”

[14:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “by my hand.”

[14:11]  ⁸ sn The name Baal Perazim means “Lord of outbursts” in Hebrew.