Genesis 38:1-10

Judah and Tamar

1 And it came about at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers and visited a certain 1Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
2 Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was 2Shua; and he took her and went in to her.
3 So she conceived and bore a son and he named * him 3Er.
4 Then she conceived again and bore a son and named * him 4Onan.
5 She bore still another son and named * him 5Shelah; and it was at Chezib that she bore him.
6 Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
7 But 6Er, Judah's firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life.
8 Then Judah said to Onan, "7Go in to your brother's wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother."
9 Onan knew that the 8offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother's wife, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother.
10 But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He 9took his life also.

Genesis 38:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 38

This chapter is wholly taken up with matters relating to Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, from whom the Jews have their name, and from whom Christ sprung: it treats of his marriage with a Canaanitess, his children by her, their character and end, Ge 38:1-11; of his incest with his daughter-in-law, though unknown by him, Ge 38:12-23; of his resentment against her, when he heard she was with child, and his confusion when he found it was by himself, Ge 38:24-26; and of the birth of twins by her, named Pharez and Zarah, Ge 38:27-30.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Joshua 15:35; 1 Samuel 22:1
  • 2. 1 Chronicles 2:3
  • 3. Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19
  • 4. Genesis 46:12
  • 5. Numbers 26:20
  • 6. Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19; 1 Chronicles 2:3
  • 7. Deuteronomy 25:5, 6; Matthew 22:24
  • 8. Deuteronomy 25:6
  • 9. Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19

Footnotes 7

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