When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easily missed is the startling word choice "behold," which signals that this isn't just a mundane delivery, but a divinely orchestrated moment. The text draws our attention to the twin birth not just as a biological fact, but as a significant event, hinting at the complex and surprising ways God's purposes unfold, even amidst human sin and struggle.
When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following Judah's deception by his daughter-in-law Tamar, and his subsequent acknowledgment of her righteousness, this verse marks the unexpected outcome of her pregnancy. The narrative has just revealed Judah's shame and Tamar's clever exposure of his wrongdoing, leading to Judah's repentance and the acknowledgment of Tamar's greater integrity. Now, as Tamar goes into labor, the very twins within her become a sign of both their parents' flawed actions and God's continued, albeit mysterious, work.
The lineage of Jesus isn't a Hallmark movie. It's messy, complicated, and filled with people who made serious mistakes.
Genesis 38 lays bare the brokenness within Judah's family. Judah himself engages in incest with his daughter-in-law Tamar, who then conceives twins. This is far from the picture of purity many might expect for the ancestors of the Messiah.
Yet, this is precisely where God's grace shines brightest. As Calvin notes, this isn't to glorify the family's sin but to highlight Christ's redemptive work. Christ came not to save the righteous but sinners. By tracing Jesus' lineage through such flawed individuals, the Bible emphasizes that salvation is God's sovereign choice, not earned by human merit. It's a powerful reminder that no one is beyond God's reach or His plan for redemption.
Why twins? This isn't just a biological detail; it's a divine setup for an incredible story of divine election.
The birth of twins, Pharez and Zerah, from the union of Judah and Tamar is more than a narrative coincidence. It's a pivotal moment in salvation history.
As the account unfolds, one twin, Zerah, emerges first, marked with a scarlet thread. But then, his brother Pharez forcefully breaks forth, taking the primary position. This dramatic birth foreshadows a divine reordering. Pharez, the one who 'breaks forth,' ultimately becomes the ancestor through whom the Messianic line continues. This highlights God's sovereignty in choosing not necessarily the firstborn or the expected, but the one He has ordained. It's a testament to His ability to work through unexpected circumstances and individuals to bring about His perfect plan.
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Understand the original words
ledah · Hebrew Noun
A word describing the moment of childbirth or the physical, painful process of bringing forth life. Theologically, it is often used metaphorically to describe the intense struggle or agony associated with bringing forth something new or the judgment of God upon humanity.
This verse is part of a dramatic and morally complex narrative about Judah and his daughter-in-law, Tamar. The birth of twins, Perez and Zerah, signifies the continuation of Judah's line under extraordinary and ethically challenging circumstances, ultimately leading to the lineage of King David and Jesus.
c. 1800 BC
Judah's separation from brothers
Judah, one of Jacob's sons, leaves his brothers to settle near Adullam, in Canaanite territory. He marries a Canaanite woman, Shua, a departure from the family's established customs.
c. 1799 BC
Birth and death of Er and Onan
Judah's first two sons, Er and Onan, are born. Er marries Tamar but dies childless due to wickedness. Onan marries Tamar but also dies childless after refusing to produce offspring for his brother.
c. 1798 BC
Judah's deception of Tamar
Judah tells Tamar to remain a widow, promising her his third son, Shelah, when he grows up. However, he neglects to give her to Shelah, effectively abandoning her.
c. 1786 BC— this verse
Tamar's deception of Judah
After Judah's wife dies and he goes to shear sheep, Tamar, disguised as a prostitute, seduces Judah to conceive a child, since Shelah was not given to her.
c. 1785 BC
Discovery of Tamar's pregnancy
Tamar is found to be pregnant. Judah, unaware he is the father, orders her to be brought out and burned for adultery.
c. 1785 BC
Birth of Perez and Zerah
During her labor, Tamar gives birth to twins, Perez and Zerah. This event highlights the lineage from which Judah, and ultimately Jesus, would descend.
This passage also describes a difficult and complex birth, with twins struggling within the womb, mirroring the unusual circumstances surrounding Tamar's delivery and highlighting a pattern of divine intervention in births.
Matthew 1:3This verse places Tamar within the lineage of Jesus, directly connecting her story to the unfolding plan of salvation and demonstrating how God works through unexpected and even scandalous circumstances.
Romans 5:20The concept of 'where sin increased, grace abounded all the more' finds a profound illustration in this narrative, as Tamar's actions, though sinful, ultimately led to the birth of an ancestor of the Messiah.
1 Corinthians 1:27This passage speaks to God choosing the weak and lowly to shame the strong, which resonates with Tamar's position as a marginalized woman whose actions, though morally questionable, were used by God in His sovereign plan.
calvinGenesis 38:1-30: "And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah."
Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.
Et dixit Jehudah ad Thamar nurum suam, Mane vidua in domo patris tui, donec crescat Selah filius meus: dicebat…
gillGenesis 38:27: "And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb."
And it came to pass in the time of her travail,.... When her time to bring forth was come, and her pains were on her, and her midwife with her: that, behold, twins were in her womb; which the midwife could discover before the birth of either.
What's easily missed is the startling word choice "behold," which signals that this isn't just a mundane delivery, but a divinely orchestrated moment. The text draws our attention to the twin birth not just as a biological fact, but as a significant event, hinting at the complex and surprising ways God's purposes unfold, even amidst human sin and struggle.
Following Judah's deception by his daughter-in-law Tamar, and his subsequent acknowledgment of her righteousness, this verse marks the unexpected outcome of her pregnancy. The narrative has just revealed Judah's shame and Tamar's clever exposure of his wrongdoing, leading to Judah's repentance and the acknowledgment of Tamar's greater integrity. Now, as Tamar goes into labor, the very twins within her become a sign of both their parents' flawed actions and God's continued, albeit mysterious, work.
Following Judah's deception by his daughter-in-law Tamar, and his subsequent acknowledgment of her righteousness, this verse marks the unexpected outcome of her pregnancy. The narrative has just revealed Judah's shame and Tamar's clever exposure of his wrongdoing, leading to Judah's repentance and the acknowledgment of Tamar's greater integrity. Now, as Tamar goes into labor, the very twins within her become a sign of both their parents' flawed actions and God's continued, albeit mysterious, work.
"When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb." — What's easily missed is the startling word choice "behold," which signals that this isn't just a mundane delivery, but a divinely orchestrated moment. The text draws our attention to the twin birth n…
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Last reviewed October 2026