Judah and Tamar
38 And it came about at that time, that Judah [a]departed from his brothers and [b]visited a certain (A)Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was (B)Shua; and he took her and went in to her. 3 So she conceived and bore a son and he named him (C)Er. 4 Then she conceived again and bore a son and named him (D)Onan. 5 She bore still another son and named him (E)Shelah; and it was at Chezib [c]that she bore him.
6 Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But (F)Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord took his life. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, “(G)Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up [d]offspring for your brother.” 9 Onan knew that the [e](H)offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife, he [f]wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give [g]offspring to his brother. 10 But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord; so He (I)took his life also. 11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “(J)Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”; for he [h]thought, “I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.
12 Now [i]after a considerable time Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when [j]the time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at (K)Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 It was told to Tamar, “[k]Behold, your father-in-law is going up to (L)Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14 So she [l]removed her widow’s garments and (M)covered herself with a [m]veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of [n]Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and (N)she had not been given to him as a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, for she had covered her face. 16 So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, “[o]Here now, let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” 17 He said, therefore, “I will send you a [p]young goat from the flock.” She said, moreover, “Will you give a pledge until you send it?” 18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” And she said, “(O)Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 Then she arose and departed, and [q]removed her [r]veil and put on her widow’s garments.
20 When Judah sent the [s]young goat by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her. 21 He asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no temple prostitute here.” 22 So he returned to Judah, and said, “I did not find her; and furthermore, the men of the place said, ‘There has been no temple prostitute here.’” 23 Then Judah said, “Let her [t]keep them, otherwise we will become a laughingstock. [u]After all, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her.”
24 Now it was about three months later that Judah was informed, “[v]Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the harlot, and behold, she is also with child by harlotry.” Then Judah said, “Bring her out and (P)let her be burned!” 25 It was while she was being brought out that she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “I am with child by the man to whom these things belong.” And she said, “(Q)Please examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?” 26 Judah recognized them, and said, “(R)She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as (S)I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not [w]have relations with her again.
27 It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were (T)twins in her womb. 28 Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named [x](U)Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named [y](V)Zerah.
Footnotes
- Genesis 38:1 Lit went down
- Genesis 38:1 Lit turned aside to
- Genesis 38:5 Lit when
- Genesis 38:8 Lit seed
- Genesis 38:9 Lit seed
- Genesis 38:9 Lit spilled on the ground
- Genesis 38:9 Lit seed
- Genesis 38:11 Lit said
- Genesis 38:12 Lit the days became many and
- Genesis 38:12 Lit Judah was comforted, he
- Genesis 38:13 Lit saying, Behold
- Genesis 38:14 Lit removed from herself
- Genesis 38:14 Or shawl
- Genesis 38:14 In Josh 15:34, Enam
- Genesis 38:16 Or Come, now
- Genesis 38:17 Lit kid of goats
- Genesis 38:19 Lit removed from herself
- Genesis 38:19 Or shawl
- Genesis 38:20 Lit kid of goats by the hand of
- Genesis 38:23 Lit take for herself
- Genesis 38:23 Lit Behold
- Genesis 38:24 Lit saying, Your
- Genesis 38:26 Lit know her yet again
- Genesis 38:29 I.e. a breach
- Genesis 38:30 I.e. a dawning or brightness
Cross references
- Genesis 38:1 : Josh 15:35; 1 Sam 22:1
- Genesis 38:2 : 1 Chr 2:3
- Genesis 38:3 : Gen 46:12; Num 26:19
- Genesis 38:4 : Gen 46:12
- Genesis 38:5 : Num 26:20
- Genesis 38:7 : Gen 46:12; Num 26:19; 1 Chr 2:3
- Genesis 38:8 : Deut 25:5, 6; Matt 22:24
- Genesis 38:9 : Deut 25:6
- Genesis 38:10 : Gen 46:12; Num 26:19
- Genesis 38:11 : Ruth 1:12, 13
- Genesis 38:12 : Josh 15:10, 57
- Genesis 38:13 : Josh 15:10, 57; Judg 14:1
- Genesis 38:14 : Gen 24:65
- Genesis 38:14 : Gen 38:11, 26
- Genesis 38:18 : Gen 38:25; 41:42
- Genesis 38:24 : Lev 21:9
- Genesis 38:25 : Gen 37:32
- Genesis 38:26 : 1 Sam 24:17
- Genesis 38:26 : Gen 38:14
- Genesis 38:27 : Gen 25:24-26
- Genesis 38:29 : Gen 46:12; Ruth 4:12
- Genesis 38:30 : 1 Chr 2:4