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Genesis 38:28
ESV And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.”
NIV As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, 'This one came out first.'
NASB Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, that one baby put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, 'This one came out first.'
CSB As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand, and the midwife took it and tied a scarlet thread around it, announcing, "This one came out first."
NLT While she was in labor, one of the babies reached out his hand. The midwife grabbed it and tied a scarlet string around the child’s wrist, announcing, 'This one came out first.'
KJV And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.

What does Genesis 38:28 mean?

In an era where birth order was all important, a quick-thinking midwife ties a red thread around the tiny wrist that first emerges during Tamar's delivery (Genesis 38:27). Had she not done so, they never would have known which of the twins was technically the first to arrive.

As with their ancestors Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:23–26), these twins will be born in odd circumstances and an innate rivalry. The younger (Genesis 38:29) will be the one to carry on the family legacy, while the older does not.
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