Genesis 38:28 - When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This came out first.”
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What does "Genesis 38:28" mean?
This verse from Genesis 38:28 is part of the story of Tamar and Judah, and it describes a chaotic birth of twins. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"When she travailed": This means when Tamar was in labor.
"one put out a hand": During the labor, one of the babies (inside Tamar) extended a hand out of the birth canal before the rest of its body. This was unusual.
"the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand": The midwife, likely accustomed to recognizing the firstborn by the head emerging first, marked the hand with a scarlet thread to identify this baby as the one that came out first. The scarlet thread was a common marker and symbol (often associated with blood and life). This was important because the firstborn son had certain rights and privileges.
"saying, 'This came out first.'": The midwife declared that this child, marked with the scarlet thread, was the firstborn. This established the order of birth in her mind.
In essence, the verse describes an attempt to establish the birth order of twins. One baby's hand emerged first, so the midwife marked it with a scarlet thread to designate that baby as the firstborn.
However, the story continues in verse 29, where the hand is withdrawn, and the other twin emerges fully first. This leads to a change in the established birth order and sets up a complex narrative about lineage and destiny. The child that was meant to be first was not, resulting in the famous line "How have you broken out?", marking his name Pharez.
Genesis 38:28 - When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This came out first.”
What does "Genesis 38:28" mean?
This verse from Genesis 38:28 is part of the story of Tamar and Judah, and it describes a chaotic birth of twins. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"When she travailed": This means when Tamar was in labor.
"one put out a hand": During the labor, one of the babies (inside Tamar) extended a hand out of the birth canal before the rest of its body. This was unusual.
"the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand": The midwife, likely accustomed to recognizing the firstborn by the head emerging first, marked the hand with a scarlet thread to identify this baby as the one that came out first. The scarlet thread was a common marker and symbol (often associated with blood and life). This was important because the firstborn son had certain rights and privileges.
"saying, 'This came out first.'": The midwife declared that this child, marked with the scarlet thread, was the firstborn. This established the order of birth in her mind.
In essence, the verse describes an attempt to establish the birth order of twins. One baby's hand emerged first, so the midwife marked it with a scarlet thread to designate that baby as the firstborn.
However, the story continues in verse 29, where the hand is withdrawn, and the other twin emerges fully first. This leads to a change in the established birth order and sets up a complex narrative about lineage and destiny. The child that was meant to be first was not, resulting in the famous line "How have you broken out?", marking his name Pharez.