²⁷ When the time came for her to give birth, it was discovered that she was going to have twins. ²⁸ While she was in labor, one of them put out an arm; the midwife caught it, tied a red thread around it, and said, “This one was born first.” ²⁹ But he pulled his arm back, and his brother was born first. Then the midwife said, “So this is how you break your way out!” So he was named Perez.^{[a] 30} Then his brother was born with the red thread on his arm, and he was named Zerah.^[b]