Ruth 4:18 — Word Study
WLCוְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ תּוֹלְד֣וֹת פָּ֔רֶץ פֶּ֖רֶץ הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־ חֶצְרֽוֹן׃
BSANow these [are]ʼêl-leh [specific, notable] the generationstôwlᵉdâh [family history, descendants] ◂of PerezPerets [breach, breakthrough] ◂PerezPerets [the one who broke through] was the father ofyâlad■ [to beget, give birth to] HezronChetsrôwn [surrounded by a wall, protected]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ | and these | Conjunction, particle |
| תּוֹלְד֣וֹת | [are] [the] descendants of | Noun common, feminine plural construct |
| פָּ֔רֶץ | Perez | Noun proper masculine |
| פֶּ֖רֶץ | Perez | Noun proper masculine |
| הוֹלִ֥יד | he fathered | Verb, Hiphil, perfect third person masculine singular |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| חֶצְרֽוֹן׃ | Hezron | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, |
| KJV | ¶ Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, |
| ASV | Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez begat Hezron, |
| YLT | And these are genealogies of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, |
| WEB | Now this is the history of the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron, |
| BBE | Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron; |
All translations agree on the meaning of תּוֹלְד֣וֹת as 'generations'.
The structure is straightforward, presenting a clear lineage with a main clause followed by specific details.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
subjectפֶּרֶץ
verbיָלַד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Ruth 4:18
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Generations of Perezgenerated
Ruth 4:18 presents a genealogical account that traces the lineage of Perez, emphasizing the importance of family heritage in Israel. This passage connects to the broader narrative of Ruth, illustrating how her story intertwines with the lineage of David, as seen in 1 Chronicles 2:4-8 and Matthew 1:3.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Chronicles 2:4–8 | Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all. |
| 2 | 1 Chronicles 4:1 | The descendants of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. |
| 3 | Matthew 1:3 | Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. |
| 4 | Luke 3:33 | the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תּוֹלְד֣וֹת, tol.Dotgenerated
The noun תּוֹלְד֣וֹת (tol.Dot) refers to generations or descendants, specifically in genealogical contexts. It emphasizes familial lineage and the passage of time through family history.
This term is in the feminine plural construct, indicating multiple generations. It is often used in the Bible to introduce genealogies, highlighting the importance of ancestry and heritage.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered consistently across translations, with all versions recognizing the genealogical context.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb הוֹלִ֥יד, he fathered, governs the sentence, with a noun phrase as the subject and another noun phrase as the object. This structure clearly delineates the relationship between Perez and Hezron.
The main clause is straightforward, presenting the lineage in a direct manner, typical of genealogical records.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the word for תּוֹלְד֣וֹת is rendered as γενεαί (geneai), which means 'generations' and carries a similar genealogical implication.
This choice reflects a continuity in the concept of lineage, emphasizing the importance of ancestry in both the Hebrew and Greek traditions.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ruth 4:18 outlines the generations of Perez, stating that Perez was the father of Hezron. This verse is part of a genealogy that connects the story of Ruth to the lineage of David, highlighting the importance of family history.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Perez was the son of Judah and Tamar, known for being an ancestor of significant families in Israel.
It refers to generations or descendants, emphasizing family lineage.
Genealogy establishes heritage and fulfillment of promises, connecting individuals to God's covenant.
It highlights Ruth's place in the lineage that leads to King David, showing her significance in Israel's history.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can I learn from the genealogies in the Bible about the importance of family?
- How does understanding my own family history help me appreciate my identity?
- In what ways can I honor my ancestors and their legacy?
- How does this verse encourage me to think about my role in my family's future?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ruth 4:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleNow these are the generations of Pharez,.... The son of Judah, by Tamar before mentioned, Ruth 4:12, for the intention of this genealogy is to confirm the truth of Jacob's prophecy, of Shiloh the
Read John Gill on Ruth 4 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryNow these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, These are the generations of Pharez - i:e., his descendants.
Read Robert Jamieson on Ruth 4 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsRth 4:18 Now these [are] the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,Ver. 18. These are the generations.] This catalogue showeth that Shiloh came of Judah, according to the promise.
Read John Trapp on Ruth 4 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 18. Now these are the generations] The Targum gives a copious paraphrase on this and the following verses, I shall insert the principal parts in their proper places.
Read AdamClarke on Ruth 4 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges18. these are the generations … begat] Standing formulae of P, e.g. Genesis 5:3-32; Genesis 6:9 ff; Genesis 10:1; Genesis 11:10 ff. etc. Though cast into P’s form, the genealogy is constructed out of ancient materials. It is attached to Perez, because he is named in Rth 4:12.
Read Cambridge on Ruth 4 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleIt is probable that there was a family book for the house of Pharez, in which their genealogies were preserved, and important bits of history were recorded; and that the Book of Ruth was compiled from it.
Read Albert Barnes on Ruth 4 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible18. Pharez — Son of Judah by his daughter in law Tamar. See Genesis 38:29. Thus David and Messiah trace their lineage directly up to Judah.Hezron — Mentioned in Genesis 46:12, and 1 Chronicles 2:5.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ruth 4 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,
Now this is the history of the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron,
Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,
These are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,
Tyndale line
¶ Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,
Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez begat Hezron,
Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez begat Hezron;
Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,
These now are ye generations of Pharez: Pharez begate Hezron,
Strictly literal
Now these are the generations of Pherez. Pherez begot Hezron,
And these are genealogies of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,
And these are generations of Perez: Perez begot Hezron,
And these are the generations of Perez: Perez begat Chezron;
Now these were the descendants of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron,
From the Latin
These are the generations of Phares: Phares begot Esron,
Simplified
This is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron.
Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint share significant agreement, with four out of seven words matching directly. This indicates a strong consistency in the genealogical record across these texts.
וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ תּוֹלְד֣וֹת פָּ֔רֶץ פֶּ֖רֶץ הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־ חֶצְרֽוֹן׃
4 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Ruth 4:18
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אֵ֫לֶּה (el-leh) means 'these' and is used in various grammatical contexts, often in apposition to a noun with a pronoun suffix. It can appear with or without the definite article and is sometimes paired with other terms like וְאֵלֶּה (and these). The word conveys a sense of proximity or specification, referring to particular items or people.
אֵ֫לֶּה pr.pl.m. & f. these
in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)
repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those
with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)
with preps.
base
H428 אֵ֫לֶּה these . in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)
. repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those
. with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)
. with preps.
428 'el-leh ale'-leh
prolonged from 411; these or those:--an- (the) other; one
sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those,
thus, which, who(-m).
see HEBREW for 0411
אֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) — these.
1) these
1a) used before antecedent
1b) used following antecedent
Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · particleHC/Tm
תּוֹלֵדוֹת (towldah) refers to generations, particularly in genealogical contexts, encompassing a man's descendants and their history. It is derived from the root meaning of descent and can also imply a broader historical account. The term is used in plural form and highlights familial lineage and genealogical lists.
[תּוֹלֵדוֹת] 39 n.f.pl. generations, esp. in genealogies = account of a man and his descendants
base
H8435 תּוֹלֵדוֹת generations, esp. in genealogies = account of a man and his descendants
8435 towldah to-led-aw'
or toldah {to-led-aw'}; from 3205; (plural only) descent,
i.e. family; (figuratively) history:--birth, generations.
see HEBREW for 03205
תּוֹלֵדוֹת (to.le.dah) — generation.
1) descendants, results, proceedings, generations, genealogies
1a) account of men and their descendants
1a1) genealogical list of one's descendants
1a2) one's contemporaries
1a3) course of history (of creation etc)
1b) begetting or account of heaven (metaph)
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural constructHNcfpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
פֶּ֫רֶץ (Perets) refers to a male name meaning 'breach' and is primarily associated with a son of Judah and Tamar, mentioned in Genesis 38:29. He is the brother of Zerah and the father of Hezron and Hamul, linking him to the lineage of David. The name appears in various contexts, including geographical references.
פֶּ֫רֶץ n.pr.
m. son of Judah and Tamar
loc. in
פֶּ׳ עֻזָּא near Jerus.
הַר פְּרָצִים
base
H6557 פֶּ֫רֶץ n.pr. . m. son of Judah and Tamar
. loc.
6557 Perets peh'-rets
the same as 6556; Perets, the name of two
Israelites:--Perez, Pharez.
see HEBREW for 06556
פֶּ֫רֶץ (pe.rets) — Perez.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.38.29;
son of: Judah (H3063) and Tamar (H8559);
brother of: Zerah (H2226I);
half-brother of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209) and Shelah (H7956);
father of: Hezron (H2696H) and Hamul (H2538)
§ Perez or Pharez = "breach"
twin son with Zarah of Judah by Tamar and ancestor of two families of Judah, the Hezronites and Hamulites; from the Hezronites came the royal line of David and Christ
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Perez
=Pharez, (q.v.), breach, the son of Judah (Neh. 11:4). “The chief of all the captains of the host for the first month” in the reign of David was taken from his family (1 Chr. 27:3). Four hundred and sixty-eight of his “sons” came back from captivity with Zerubbabel, who himself was one of them (1 Chr. 9:4; Neh. 11:6).
(breach). The "children of Perez," or Pharez, the son of Judah, appear to have been a family of importance for many centuries. (1 Chronicles 27:3; Nehemiah 11:4,6)
divided
Perez-Uzza
division of Uzza, or of strength
→ See PHAREZ
פֶּ֫רֶץ (Perets) refers to a male name meaning 'breach' and is primarily associated with a son of Judah and Tamar, mentioned in Genesis 38:29. He is the brother of Zerah and the father of Hezron and Hamul, linking him to the lineage of David. The name appears in various contexts, including geographical references.
פֶּ֫רֶץ n.pr.
m. son of Judah and Tamar
loc. in
פֶּ׳ עֻזָּא near Jerus.
הַר פְּרָצִים
base
H6557 פֶּ֫רֶץ n.pr. . m. son of Judah and Tamar
. loc.
6557 Perets peh'-rets
the same as 6556; Perets, the name of two
Israelites:--Perez, Pharez.
see HEBREW for 06556
פֶּ֫רֶץ (pe.rets) — Perez.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.38.29;
son of: Judah (H3063) and Tamar (H8559);
brother of: Zerah (H2226I);
half-brother of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209) and Shelah (H7956);
father of: Hezron (H2696H) and Hamul (H2538)
§ Perez or Pharez = "breach"
twin son with Zarah of Judah by Tamar and ancestor of two families of Judah, the Hezronites and Hamulites; from the Hezronites came the royal line of David and Christ
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Perez
=Pharez, (q.v.), breach, the son of Judah (Neh. 11:4). “The chief of all the captains of the host for the first month” in the reign of David was taken from his family (1 Chr. 27:3). Four hundred and sixty-eight of his “sons” came back from captivity with Zerubbabel, who himself was one of them (1 Chr. 9:4; Neh. 11:6).
(breach). The "children of Perez," or Pharez, the son of Judah, appear to have been a family of importance for many centuries. (1 Chronicles 27:3; Nehemiah 11:4,6)
divided
Perez-Uzza
division of Uzza, or of strength
→ See PHAREZ
The Hebrew word יָלַד (*yalad*) means to bear, bring forth, or beget, and it encompasses various forms of childbirth and lineage declaration. It can refer to both the act of giving birth and the role of a midwife. The entries also note its use in contexts of distress and wicked behavior, as well as in reference to birthdays.
יָלַד 497 vb. bear, bring forth, beget
Qal
bear, bring forth
less often beget
of both parents
Niph. be born
Pi. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
Pu. be born
Hiph.
beget (a father a child)
bear
Hoph. day of one's being born = birthday
Hithp. declared their pedigree
base
H3205 יָלַד bear, bring forth, beget .. bear, bring forth
. less often beget
. of both parents
. be born
. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
. be born
. . beget (a father a child)
. bear
. day of one's being born = birthday
. declared their pedigree
3205 yalad yaw-lad'
a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget;
medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show
lineage:--bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring
forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be
delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch,
labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be
the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
יָלַד (ya.lad) — to beget.
1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to bear, bring forth
1a1a) of child birth
1a1b) of distress (simile)
1a1c) of wicked (behaviour)
1a2) to beget
1b) (Niphal) to be born
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to cause or help to bring forth
1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife
1c3) midwife (participle)
1d) (Pual) to be born
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to beget (a child)
1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity)
1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive)
1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singularHVhp3ms
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
חֶצְרוֹן (Chetsrown) refers to both a geographical location in the extreme south of Judah and two individuals: Hezron, a son of Reuben and a son of Perez, grandson of Judah. The name is interpreted as meaning 'surrounded by a wall.' There is some overlap in the references to Hezron as a location and a person, indicating its significance in both contexts.
חֶצְרוֹן, חֶצְרֹן n.pr.loc. et pers.
n. pr. loc.
place in extreme south of Judah
another town of Judah in south
n. pr. m.
son of Reuben
son of Pereṣ and grandson of Judah
base
H2696 חֶצְרוֹן, חֶצְרֹן . n. pr. loc. . place in extreme south of Judah
. another town of Judah in south
. n. pr. m. . son of Reuben
. son of Pereṣ and grandson of Judah
2696 Chetsrown khets-rone'
from 2691; court-yard; Chetsron, the name of a place in
Palestine; also of two Israelites:--Hezron.
see HEBREW for 02691
חֶצְרוֹן (chets.ron) — Hezron.
A man of the tribe of Reuben living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.9;
son of: Reuben (H7205);
brother of: Hanoch (H2585J), Pallu (H6396) and Carmi (H3756)
§ Hezron = "surrounded by a wall"
1) a son of Reuben
2) a son of Pharez and grandson of Judah
3) a place in the extreme south of Judah
חֶצְרוֹן (chets.ron) — Hezron.
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.12;
son of: Perez (H6557);
brother of: Hamul (H2538); married to daughter_of_Machir (H4353I) and Abiah (H0029J);
father of: Ram (H7410), Jerahmeel (H3396), Caleb (H3612H), Segub (H7687H) and Ashhur (H0806)
§ Hezron = "surrounded by a wall"
1) a son of Reuben
2) a son of Pharez and grandson of Judah
3) a place in the extreme south of Judah
חֶצְרוֹן (chets.ron) — (Kerioth)-hezron.
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Hezron
Enclosed. (1.) One of the sons of Reuben (Gen. 46:9; Ex. 6:14). (2.) The older of the two sons of Pharez (Gen. 46:12). (3.) A plain in the south of Judah, west of Kadesh-barnea (Josh. 15:3).
(surrounded by a wall). A son of Reuben. (Genesis 46:9; Exodus 6:14) A son of Pharez. (Genesis 46:12; Ruth 4:18)
the dart of joy; the division of the song