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 (Genesis 38:29). Perez became the ancestor of a prominent clan within the tribe of Judah (Numbers 26:20-21). He is mentioned in the genealogy of King David (Ruth 4:12,18;1 Chronicles 2:4-5) and is an ancestor of several notable figures, including Hezron, Caleb, and Nahshon (1 Chronicles 2:5,9,10). The descendants of Perez were among those who settled in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (Nehemiah 11:4,6). Most significantly, Perez is listed in the genealogies of Jesus Christ in bothMatthew 1:3andLuke 3:33, highlighting his important role in the lineage of the Messiah.
Perez
JudahEnglishA man from the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.38.29.