Genesis 38

Judah and Tamar

1And it came about at that time, that Judah #38:1 Lit went downdeparted from his brothers and #38:1 Lit turned aside tovisited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua; and he took her as a wife and had relations with her. 3And she conceived and gave birth to a son, and he named him Er. 4Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and she named him Onan. 5She gave birth to yet another son and named him Shelah; and it was at Chezib #38:5 Lit whenthat she gave birth to him.

6Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord took his life. 8Then Judah said to Onan, “Have relations with your brother’s wife and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up a #38:8 Lit seedchild for your brother.” 9Now Onan knew that the #38:9 Lit seedchild would not be his; so when he had relations with his brother’s wife, he #38:9 Lit spilled on the groundwasted his seed on the ground so that he would not give #38:9 Lit seeda child to his brother. 10But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord; so He took his life also. 11Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”; for he #38:11 Lit saidthought, “I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

12Now #38:12 Lit the days became many andafter a considerable time Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when #38:12 Lit Judah was comforted, hethe time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13And Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14So she #38:14 Lit removed from herselfremoved her widow’s garments and covered herself with a #38:14 Or shawlveil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of #38:14 In Josh 15:34, EnamEnaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife. 15When Judah saw her, he assumed she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 16So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, “#38:16 Or Come, nowHere now, let me have relations with you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may have relations with me?” 17He said, therefore, “I will send you a #38:17 Lit kid of goatsyoung goat from the flock.” She then said, “Will you give a pledge until you send it?” 18He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” And she said, “Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and had relations with her, and she conceived by him. 19Then she got up and departed, and #38:19 Lit removed from herselfremoved her #38:19 Or shawlveil and put on her widow’s garments.

20When Judah sent the #38:20 Lit kid of goats by the hand ofyoung goat by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her. 21He asked the people 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.” 22So he returned to Judah, and said, “I did not find her; and furthermore, the people of the place said, ‘There has been no temple prostitute here.’ ” 23Then Judah said, “Let her #38:23 Lit take for herselfkeep them, otherwise we will become a laughingstock. #38:23 Lit BeholdAfter all, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her.”

24Now it was about three months later that Judah was #38:24 Lit informed, sayinginformed, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has prostituted herself, and behold, she is also pregnant by prostitution.” Then Judah said, “Bring her out and have her burned!” 25It was while she was being brought out that she sent word to her father-in-law, saying, “I am pregnant by the man to whom these things belong.” She also said, “Please examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?” 26And Judah recognized them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not #38:26 Lit know her yet againhave relations with her again.

27It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb. 28Moreover, 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.” 29But 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 #38:29 I.e., a breachPerez. 30Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named #38:30 I.e., a dawning or brightnessZerah.

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Genesis 38: NASB2020

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