Genesis 38:28

WEB

When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "This 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.

Commentary

And it came to pass when she travailed,.... Her birth throes came strong and quick upon her: that the one put out his hand; whi ch showed that she was like to have a difficult and dangerous time of it; that the birth was not like to be according to the usual and natural order, which may be considered as a correction for her sin: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, this came out first; she tied this to his wrist, that she might know whose hand it was, and so which was the firstborn; which, to know was a matter of consequence, since to the firstborn there were some special and peculiar privileges.