“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.”
Genesis 38 recounts the story of Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar. In this particular verse, Tamar is giving birth to twins, and as the first child is about to be born, he puts his hand out of the womb. However, he pulls his hand back, and his brother is born first. The midwife, noticing this, takes a scarlet thread and ties it around the hand of the child who had initially reached out, signifying that he was the first to attempt to come out.
This verse is significant within the broader narrative of Genesis 38 because it demonstrates the fulfillment of a prophecy and highlights the importance of lineage and birthright.
To understand the context and significance of this verse, we need to explore the events leading up to it. Judah had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er married Tamar, but he was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and as a result, God put him to death. According to the custom of levirate marriage, it was then the responsibility of the next brother, Onan, to father a child with Tamar to continue the family line. However, Onan acted deceitfully, preventing Tamar from conceiving a child, and God also put him to death.
After the deaths of two of her husbands, Tamar remained childless and was left in a vulnerable position. Judah promised Tamar that she would marry his youngest son, Shelah, once he grew older. However, Judah did not fulfill this promise. Recognizing that she was being neglected, Tamar took matters into her own hands to secure her future.
Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and waited for Judah by the roadside. Judah, unaware of Tamar’s identity, slept with her, and she became pregnant. When her pregnancy became known, Judah was informed, and he pronounced judgment on Tamar, not realizing that he was the father. Tamar then revealed the items Judah had given her as pledges and revealed that he was the father of her child. Judah acknowledged his wrongdoing and declared that Tamar was more righteous than he was.
Returning to Genesis 38:28, as Tamar was giving birth, the first child extended his hand outside the womb, almost as if he wanted to be born first. However, he withdrew his hand, and his brother was born before him. The midwife, perceiving this unusual occurrence, tied a scarlet thread around the hand of the child to indicate that he was the first to attempt to emerge.
This event carries symbolic and prophetic significance. The scarlet thread becomes a sign of the child’s priority and serves as a reminder of his attempt to be born first. Later in the narrative, this child, named Perez, becomes an ancestor of King David and ultimately part of the lineage of Jesus Christ.
The scarlet thread also carries symbolic connections to other passages in the Bible. Scarlet is often associated with royalty and authority. In the Old Testament, scarlet threads were used in various ceremonial rituals, and in the New Testament, a scarlet robe was placed on Jesus during his mock trial before his crucifixion (Matthew 27:28). The scarlet thread in Genesis 38:28 can be seen as a foreshadowing of the royal lineage that would come through Perez, culminating in the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, Genesis 38:28 portrays the birth of Perez, the child who almost emerged first from the womb but was ultimately born second
. The midwife’s act of tying a scarlet thread around his hand symbolizes his attempted birthright and highlights his significance within the lineage of Judah and ultimately within the lineage leading to Jesus Christ. This verse underscores the themes of lineage, birthright, and God’s sovereign purposes in fulfilling His promises.
