Genesis 38:2-12

2 Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was 1Shua; and he took her and went in to her.
3 So she conceived and bore a son and he named * him 2Er.
4 Then she conceived again and bore a son and named * him 3Onan.
5 She bore still another son and named * him 4Shelah; 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 5Er, Judah's firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life.
8 Then Judah said to Onan, "6Go 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 7offspring 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 8took his life also.
11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "9Remain a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up"; for he thought, "I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers." So Tamar went and lived in her father's house.
12 Now after a considerable time Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when the time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers * at 10Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

Genesis 38:2-12 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 10

  • 1. 1 Chronicles 2:3
  • 2. Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19
  • 3. Genesis 46:12
  • 4. Numbers 26:20
  • 5. Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19; 1 Chronicles 2:3
  • 6. Deuteronomy 25:5, 6; Matthew 22:24
  • 7. Deuteronomy 25:6
  • 8. Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19
  • 9. Ruth 1:12, 13
  • 10. Joshua 15:10, 57

Footnotes 8

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