Perez was the son of Judah and Tamar, and his birth carries significant theological and genealogical weight in the Bible. Though his origin was marked by scandal, God used Perez as a critical link in the Messianic line.
The story is found in Genesis 38. Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, posed as a prostitute and conceived twins by him after Judah failed to give her his youngest son according to custom. Genesis 38:27–29 records the unusual birth:
“So it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand… then his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, ‘How did you break through? This breach be upon you!’ Therefore his name was called Perez.”
“Perez” means “breach” or “breakthrough,” signifying his surprising emergence. Despite the irregular and sinful circumstances of his conception, Perez is treated with honor in Scripture.
He became the forefather of an important clan in Judah. Ruth 4:18–22 lists his descendants down to King David:
“Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron… and Jesse begot David.”
This same genealogy is echoed in Matthew 1:3 in the lineage of Jesus Christ:
“Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar…”
This shows that God can redeem even the most complicated family histories. The story of Perez teaches that God’s purposes are not thwarted by human sin. Through grace, He brings about His plan, even from a lineage the world might reject.
Perez’s life is a powerful example of God’s ability to bring breakthrough and blessing out of brokenness, and his place in both David’s and Christ’s genealogies confirms God’s providential sovereignty in redemptive history.
