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Perez

biblical_person theological_term standard

Perez is the son of Judah and Tamar and an important ancestor in the tribe of Judah and the line leading to David and Jesus.

At a Glance

A son of Judah and Tamar whose descendants became an important clan in Judah and whose name appears in the biblical genealogy of David and Jesus.

Key Points

Description

Perez is a biblical proper name, not a theological term. In Genesis 38 he is identified as the son of Judah and Tamar and the child who emerges first in the twin birth account. The Old Testament later treats Perez as an important ancestor within the tribe of Judah, and biblical genealogies connect him to David and to Jesus Christ. His significance is therefore genealogical and redemptive-historical rather than doctrinal in the strict sense. A sound dictionary entry should identify him clearly, note his place in Scripture’s lineage records, and avoid speculative expansion beyond what the biblical text states.

Biblical Context

Perez first appears in the Judah-Tamar narrative in Genesis 38. The chapter uses his birth to mark a turning point in the family line of Judah, from which the royal line later emerges. In later books, Perez stands for a significant Judahite clan and a link in the ancestry of David.

Historical Context

In the ancient Near Eastern setting, family descent and clan identity were central to inheritance, tribal standing, and royal legitimacy. Perez’s appearance in genealogies reflects that biblical history is anchored in real family lines, not abstract ideas. His name became associated with an important Judahite lineage.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In Jewish biblical memory, Perez became part of the recognized Judahite ancestry. The genealogical emphasis in Ruth and Chronicles shows that Israel preserved clan and lineage records carefully, especially where royal and messianic expectations were involved.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew פֶּרֶץ (Perets), commonly understood as related to the idea of a “breach” or “breaking out,” reflecting the naming comment in Genesis 38:29.

Theological Significance

Perez matters because Scripture places him in the line of Judah that leads to David and, in the New Testament genealogies, to Jesus. His story underscores God’s providence in working through complicated and morally mixed family situations without endorsing the sin or disorder present in them.

Philosophical Explanation

As a proper-name entry, Perez is not a philosophical concept. His significance is historical and genealogical: a real person whose place in the biblical record helps establish continuity in God’s covenant dealings with Israel.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not treat Perez as a doctrinal category or as a moral ideal. His inclusion in Scripture’s genealogy does not approve every detail of the Genesis 38 narrative. The emphasis is on God’s providential preservation of the promised line, not on endorsing the circumstances of his birth.

Major Views

There is little interpretive dispute about Perez’s identity. Discussion mainly concerns the redemptive-historical importance of his place in Judah’s line and in the genealogies of David and Jesus.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Perez should be handled as a biblical person and genealogical ancestor, not as a separate doctrine or theological abstraction. Claims beyond the biblical record should be avoided.

Practical Significance

Perez reminds readers that God can bring his purposes forward through broken human circumstances. He also shows the importance Scripture places on names, families, and covenant lineage in salvation history.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Perez

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