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Perez פֶּ֫רֶץ

Male Tribe of Judah H6557 7 books

Son of Judah, ancestor of David and Jesus

Who is Perez in the Bible?

Perez was the son of Judah and Tamar, born under unusual circumstances described in Genesis 38.29. His name, meaning "breach" or "breaking forth," comes from the fact that he emerged first during a twin birth, ahead of his brother Zerah. Perez became the ancestor of a prominent clan within the tribe of Judah (Numbers 26.20-21) and is listed in the genealogy of King David (Ruth 4.12, 18; 1 Chronicles 2.4-5). Most significantly, Perez appears in the ancestral line of Jesus Christ itself (Matthew 1.3; Luke 3.33), making him a crucial figure in God's plan of salvation and the establishment of the Messianic line through Judah.

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.

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In Scripture

7 biblical books ; 4 with study content
Genesis 2 verses
  • Genesis 38:29

    "But when he pulled his hand back and his brother came out, she said, “You have broken out first!” So he was named Perez."

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  • 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: Hezron and Hamul."

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Numbers 2 verses
  • Numbers 26:20

    "These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah."

  • Numbers 26:21

    "And these were the descendants of Perez: the Hezronite clan from Hezron and the Hamulite clan from Hamul."

Ruth 2 verses
  • Ruth 4:12

    "And may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.”"

  • Ruth 4:18

    "Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,"

1 Chronicles 5 verses
  • 1 Chronicles 2:4

    "Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all."

  • 1 Chronicles 2:5

    "The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul."

  • 1 Chronicles 4:1

    "The descendants of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal."

  • 1 Chronicles 9:4

    "Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah."

  • 1 Chronicles 27:3

    "He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army commanders for the first month."

Nehemiah 2 verses
  • Nehemiah 11:4

    "while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem.) From the descendants of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez;"

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  • Nehemiah 11:6

    "The descendants of Perez who settled in Jerusalem totaled 468 men of valor."

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Matthew 1 verse
  • Matthew 1:3

    "Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram."

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Names & Aliases

Form Language Script Transliteration Meaning
Named Hebrew פֶּ֫רֶץ pereṣ Perets , the name of two Israelites
Group Hebrew פַּרְצִי — —
Greek Greek Φάρες — —