Pharez

Pharez is the English transliteration of the Hebrew name Perez, used in some translations of the Bible such as the King James Version (KJV). The name derives from the Hebrew root meaning "breach, burst forth." This etymology comes from the dramatic narrative of his birth: according to Genesis 38, Perez was the twin son of Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar.

Biblical Account

In the Book of Genesis, following the death of his sons Er and Onan, Judah did not give Tamar his third son Shelah in marriage. To secure her right to offspring, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and became pregnant by Judah. When her pregnancy was revealed, Judah at first condemned her, but then recognized his own signet, cord, and staff, confessing, "She is more righteous than I" (Genesis 38). During birth, Zerah's hand emerged first, and the midwife tied a crimson thread on it, but Zerah withdrew, and Perez was born first. Hence the name Perez, meaning "breach" or "bursting forth"—he had broken through his brother's claim to be firstborn.

Historical and Cultural Significance

Perez is significant as an ancestor of King David, as recorded in Ruth 4:18-22 and elaborated in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. The Perez-to-David lineage established this name's importance within the tribe of Judah. In later Jewish tradition and some Ethiopian sources, Perez is reputed to have become a king of Persia, though this is not biblical. The spelling "Pharez" occurs in the KJV and has been used historically primarily in religious contexts; it reflects the Greek Phares of the Septuagint (which uses "Phares") adapted into Latin.

Notable Bearers

While Pharez is not a common given name today, it appears in biblical genealogy lists as the son of Judah and Tamar. Because he is considered a patriarch of the line of David, the name has been used rarely as a first name primarily among devout Christians or in homage to biblical heritage. Notable individuals bearing the name in history include 19th-century English Nonconformist minister Pharez Nichols, and in modern times it may be given as an unusual biblical revival choice.

Related Names

Variants include Phares, used in some versions like the Latin Vulgate via Greek, and Peretz, the modern Hebrew form used in Israel today as a given name or surname. In older English versions, the KJV uses "Pharez" uniformly, while modern translations prefer "Perez." The name shares its stem with "perez" in biblical Hebrew, used verbatim in contexts describing a breach.

• Meaning: "breach, burst forth"
• Origin: Hebrew, used in English Bible translations
• Type: First name, primarily Old Testament character
• Usage regions: English-speaking Christian communities (religious use)