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Who is Perez in the Bible?

2 min read
TAMAR GIVING BIRTH TO PHAREZ AND ZARAH

Credit: Wellcome Collection gallery | CC BY 4.0

Perez was a son of Judah and became an essential link in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

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When going through the genealogy of Jesus Christ, you will come upon the name of Perez.

Little is known about him, but what is interesting is how the Lord chose him for the passing on of the covenant blessing.

He appears in the book of Genesis, and is a son of Judah and Tamar, who tricked Judah (the father of her deceased husband) into having sexual intercourse.

Later Judah realized the deception, and nearly punished Tamar. However, he had mercy on Tamar and accepted the twin sons as his own.

It is interesting to see such an unusual situation form part of Jesus' genealogy. Perez became an ancestor of King David, and thus of Jesus himself. It certainly isn't "perfect" or "pure," but reminds us of God's mercy and how everyone has a part to play in salvation history, even those who make mistakes.

God can turn our mistakes to work for his divine plan, finding light in the darkness.