Genesis 38:2-5

2 There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was 1Shua. He took her and went in to her,
3 and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name 2Er.
4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name 3Onan.
5 Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name 4Shelah. Judah[a] was in Chezib when she bore him.

Genesis 38:2-5 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 4

  • 1. [1 Chronicles 2:3]
  • 2. Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19, 20
  • 3. [See ver. 3 above]
  • 4. [See ver. 3 above]

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.