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Genesis 38:13-30

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13 It was told to Tamar, "Behold, your father-in-law is going up to 1Timnah to shear his sheep."
14 So she removed her widow's garments and 2covered 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 3she 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?"
18 He said, "What pledge shall I give you?" And she said, "4Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand." So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.
19 Then she arose and departed, and removed her veil and put on her widow's garments.
20 When Judah sent the young * goat * by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman's hand, he did not find her.
21 He asked the men of her place, saying, "Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?" But they said, "There has been no temple prostitute here."
22 So he returned to Judah, and said, "I did not find her; and furthermore, the men of the place said, 'There has been no temple prostitute here.' "
23 Then Judah said, "Let her keep them, otherwise we will become a laughingstock. After all, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her."
24 Now it was about three months later that Judah was informed, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the harlot, and behold, she is also with child by harlotry." Then Judah said, "Bring her out and 5let her be burned!"
25 It was while she was being brought out that she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "I am with child by the man to whom these things belong." And she said, "6Please examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?"
26 Judah recognized them, and said, "7She is more righteous than I, inasmuch * * as 8I did not give her to my son Shelah." And he did not have relations with her again *.
27 It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were 9twins in her womb.
28 Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "This one came out first."
29 But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, "What a breach you have made for yourself!" So he was named * 10Perez.
30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named * 11Zerah.
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Genesis 38:13-30 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 11

  • 1. Joshua 15:10, 57; Judges 14:1
  • 2. Genesis 24:65
  • 3. Genesis 38:11, 26
  • 4. Genesis 38:25; Genesis 41:42
  • 5. Leviticus 21:9
  • 6. Genesis 37:32
  • 7. 1 Samuel 24:17
  • 8. Genesis 38:14
  • 9. Genesis 25:24-26
  • 10. Genesis 46:12; Ruth 4:12
  • 11. 1 Chronicles 2:4

Footnotes 15

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.