28
While she was giving birth,וַיְהִי בְלִדְתָּהּone put outוַיִּתֶּןa hand,יָדand the midwifeוַ הַמְיַלֶּדֶתtookתִּקַּחand tiedוַתִּקְשֹׁרa scarlet threadשָׁנִיon his hand,עַל יָדוֹsaying,לֵאמֹר“This oneזֶהcame outיָצָאfirst.”רִאשֹׁנָה
Genesis 38:28
Study it in the app“While she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.””
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 38:28, word by word
- While she was giving birthיְהִיyehi
happen
For something to occur or take place; many stories open with this word.
Where else “yehi” appears- While she was giving birthלִדְתָּlidta
bear
To bring a child into the world, giving birth after pregnancy.
Where else “lidta” appears- one put outיִּתֶּןyiten
put
To place something somewhere.
Where else “yiten” appears- a handיָדyad
hand
The part of the body with which one takes, gives and works; also what one does.
Where else “yad” appears- tookתִּקַּחtikach
take
To grasp something in the hand to carry or use it.
Where else “tikach” appears- and tiedתִּקְשֹׁרtikshor
bind
To knot something fast; or be joined to another.
Where else “tikshor” appears- a scarlet threadשָׁנִיshani
scarlet
Scarlet, crimson; thread dyed that color.
Where else “shani” appears- sayingאמֹרmor
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “mor” appears- came outיָצָאyatsa
go out
To go out of a place.
Where else “yatsa” appears- firstרִאשֹׁנָהrishona
first
What comes ahead in order or in time; the first.
Where else “rishona” appears
The context
27When the time of her giving birth came, look, there were twins in her womb.
28 · This verse (above)
29But as he drew back his hand, look, his brother came out; and she said, “What a breach you have broken for yourself!” So he called his name Perez.
To study Genesis 38 in a group
1. What it says
What did Tamar do, and what did Judah say when he learned of it (vv. 14-26)?
2. What it means
What does it mean that Judah admits, “She is more righteous than I” (v. 26)?
3. How I live it
How can you honestly admit your own mistake when it is shown to you?