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Perez

Perez Son of Judah and Tamar, Ancestor of David and Christ

Old Testamentc. 1875 BC View journey on map

About Perez

Perez was the firstborn of the twins Tamar bore to Judah, named for the breach he made coming out before his brother. Through him ran the line to Boaz, to Jesse, to David, and the genealogy of Matthew names him among the forebears of Christ.

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Perez's Character Traits

Breaker-throughAncestor of DavidNamed in Matthew

Perez's Life Timeline

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  1. Birthc. 1875 BC

    Perez breaks through first; the midwife says: how hast thou broken forth.

    GEN 38:29

  2. Into Egyptc. 1876 BC

    Perez goes down into Egypt with two sons, Hezron and Hamul.

    GEN 46:12

  3. The line to Davidc. 1100 BC

    The book of Ruth traces Boaz, Jesse and David from Perez.

    RUT 4:18

Who is linked to Perez

Who is linked to Perez
  • parent of
  • sibling of
  • spouse of
  • covenant with
  • master of
  • in conflict with

Perez's Key Relationships

Judah
JudahFamily

Father - who did not know he was, until the pledge was shown.

Tamar
TamarFamily

Mother - who obtained him at the cost of her name.

Zerah
ZerahFamily

Twin - whose hand came out first, and was born second.

Perez's Key Locations

Canaan
Canaan

Where he was born.

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Bethlehem
Bethlehem

The town of the line that came from him, down to David.

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Spiritual Lessons from Perez

The Line Runs Through the Scandal

Perez was conceived in the worst chapter of his father's life, by a woman the family had wronged and then judged. Ruth 4 and Matthew 1 both trace the royal line straight through him without softening a word of it. Grace does not wait for a respectable place to enter the story.

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