Perez פֶּ֫רֶץ
Son of Judah, ancestor of David and Jesus
Biography
Perez was the son of Judah and Tamar, born in unusual circumstances described in Genesis 38. He was the twin brother of Zerah and was named Perez (meaning "breach" or "breaking forth") because he broke out first during the delivery (Gen.38.29). Perez became the ancestor of a prominent clan within the tribe of Judah (Num.26.20-21). He is mentioned in the genealogy of King David (Rut.4.12,18; 1Ch.2.4-5) and is an ancestor of several notable figures, including Hezron, Caleb, and Nahshon (1Ch.2.5,9,10). The descendants of Perez were among those who settled in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (Neh.11.4,6). Most significantly, Perez is listed in the genealogies of Jesus Christ in both Mat.1.3 and Luk.3.33, highlighting his important role in the lineage of the Messiah.
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Er Tribe of JudahSon of JudahJudah's firstborn son, killed by God for his wickedness.View full profile →
- Onan Tribe of JudahSon of JudahSon of JudahView full profile →
- Shelah Tribe of JudahSon of JudahJudah's youngest son and his descendantsView full profile →
- Zerah Tribe of JudahJudah's sonSon of Judah, twin of PerezView full profile →
In Scripture
7 biblical books ; 4 with study contentGenesis 2 verses
- Genesis 38:29
"As he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out, and she said, “Why have you made a breach for yourself?” Therefore his name was called Perez."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 46:12
"The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul."
Study Genesis →
Numbers 2 verses
- Numbers 26:20
"The sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites."
- Numbers 26:21
"The sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites."
Ruth 2 verses
- Ruth 4:12
"Let your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the offspring which Yahweh will give you by this young woman.”"
- Ruth 4:18
"Now this is the history of the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron,"
1 Chronicles 5 verses
- 1 Chronicles 2:4
"Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five."
- 1 Chronicles 2:5
"The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul."
- 1 Chronicles 4:1
"The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal."
- 1 Chronicles 9:4
"Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Perez the son of Judah."
- 1 Chronicles 27:3
"He was of the children of Perez, the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month."
Nehemiah 2 verses
- Nehemiah 11:4
"Some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of Perez;"
Study Nehemiah → - Nehemiah 11:6
"All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men."
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Matthew 1 verse
- Matthew 1:3
"Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram."
Study Matthew →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | פֶּ֫רֶץ | H6557 |
| Group | Hebrew | פַּרְצִי | H6558 |
| Greek | Greek | Φάρες | G5329 |