Genesis 38:28

There was a working woman there with Tamar, and that woman helped Tamar while she had her babies. The 1st baby started to be born. His arm came out. And that working woman, she tied a bit of red string around that baby’s arm, and she said, “This baby is first.”

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first,

In Context

27Later on, the time came for Tamar to have her baby. At that time, Tamar found out that she had 2 babies inside her.

29But then, that baby pulled his arm back in, and the 2nd baby came out. Then that working woman was shocked, because that 2nd baby came out before his brother. She talked to that 2nd baby, and she said, “You pushed really hard, and you came out first. It’s like you broke out through a wall.” So they named that baby Perez. That name means break out.

Read all of Genesis 38

Matthew Henry on Genesis 38:25-30

Birth of Phares and Zarah. ( b. c. 1714.) 24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. 25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff. 26 And Judah acknowledged them, and… Read the whole commentary →

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Study Genesis 38:28