Genesis 38:7-17

7 But ¹Er, Judah's firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life.

8 Then Judah said to Onan, "²Go 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 ³offspring 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 ⁴took his life also.

11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "⁵Remain 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 ⁶Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

13 It was told to Tamar, "Behold, your father-in-law is going up to ⁷Timnah to shear his sheep."

14 So she removed her widow's garments and ⁸covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and ⁹she 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, "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 young * goat * from the flock." She said, moreover, "Will you give a pledge until you send it?"

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Genesis 38:7-17 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 9

1. Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19; 1 Chronicles 2:3
2. Deuteronomy 25:5, 6; Matthew 22:24
3. Deuteronomy 25:6
4. Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19
5. Ruth 1:12, 13
6. Joshua 15:10, 57
7. Joshua 15:10, 57; Judges 14:1
8. Genesis 24:65
9. Genesis 38:11, 26

Footnotes 13

[a]. Lit "seed"
[b]. Lit "seed"
[c]. Lit "spilled on the ground"
[d]. Lit "seed"
[e]. Lit "said"
[f]. Lit "the days became many and"
[g]. Lit "Judah was comforted, he"
[h]. Lit "saying, Behold"
[i]. Lit "removed from herself"
[j]. Or "shawl"
[k]. In Josh 15:34, "Enam"
[l]. Or "Come, now"
[m]. Lit "kid of goats"

Genesis 38:7-17

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Genesis 38:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 38

Cross References 9

Footnotes 13