Genesis 38:4-14

4 rursum concepto fetu natum filium nominavit Onam

5 tertium quoque peperit quem appellavit Sela quo nato parere ultra cessavit

6 dedit autem Iudas uxorem primogenito suo Her nomine Thamar

7 fuitque Her primogenitus Iudae nequam in conspectu Domini et ab eo occisus est

8 dixit ergo Iudas ad Onam filium suum ingredere ad uxorem fratris tui et sociare illi ut suscites semen fratri tuo

9 ille sciens non sibi nasci filios introiens ad uxorem fratris sui semen fundebat in terram ne liberi fratris nomine nascerentur

10 et idcirco percussit eum Dominus quod rem detestabilem faceret

11 quam ob rem dixit Iudas Thamar nurui suae esto vidua in domo patris tui donec crescat Sela filius meus timebat enim ne et ipse moreretur sicut fratres eius quae abiit et habitavit in domo patris sui

12 evolutis autem multis diebus mortua est filia Suae uxor Iudae qui post luctum consolatione suscepta ascendebat ad tonsores ovium suarum ipse et Hiras opilio gregis Odollamita in Thamnas

13 nuntiatumque est Thamar quod socer illius ascenderet in Thamnas ad tondendas oves

14 quae depositis viduitatis vestibus adsumpsit theristrum et mutato habitu sedit in bivio itineris quod ducit Thamnam eo quod crevisset Sela et non eum accepisset maritum

Genesis 38:4-14 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.