Genesis 38:15

15 quam cum vidisset Iudas suspicatus est esse meretricem operuerat enim vultum suum ne cognosceretur

Genesis 38:15 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 38:15

When Judah saw her, he thought her [to be] an harlot
By her posture and the place she was in: because she had covered her face;
with her veil, that he did not know her; for this is not given as a reason why he took her to be an harlot; the reason of this was, because she sat in the public road; but having covered her face he could not discern who she was, and therefore, from the other circumstance, concluded that she was an harlot, and sat there to prostitute herself to any that passed by.

Genesis 38:15 In-Context

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

15 quam cum vidisset Iudas suspicatus est esse meretricem operuerat enim vultum suum ne cognosceretur

16 ingrediensque ad eam ait dimitte me ut coeam tecum nesciebat enim quod nurus sua esset qua respondente quid mihi dabis ut fruaris concubitu meo

17 dixit mittam tibi hedum de gregibus rursum illa dicente patiar quod vis si dederis mihi arrabonem donec mittas quod polliceris