Genesis 38:22

22 So he went back to Judah and said, "I couldn't find her. The locals even said, ‘There's no holy woman here.'"

Genesis 38:22 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 38:22

And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her
That is, the Adullamite returned to him, and informed him that he could not find the harlot to whom he was sent to deliver the kid and receive the pledge, after he had made the strictest inquiry for her he could: and also the men of the place said, [that] there was no harlot in this
[place];
by which it appears, that near the place where Tamar was, there was a town or city, and which was so free from such infamous persons, that there was not one in it that was known to be of such a character, at least, that in such a public manner exposed herself: it would be well if the same could be said of many other places.

Genesis 38:22 In-Context

20 Judah sent the kid goat with his neighbor the Adullamite so he could take back the deposits from the woman, but he couldn't find her.

21 He asked the locals of that place, "Where's the consecrated worker who was at Enaim on the road?" But they said, "There's no consecrated worker here."

22 So he went back to Judah and said, "I couldn't find her. The locals even said, ‘There's no holy woman here.'"

23 Judah said, "Let her keep everything so we aren't laughed at. I did send this kid goat, but you couldn't find her."

24 About three months later, Judah was told, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar has become a prostitute and is now pregnant because of it." And Judah said, "Bring her out so that she may be burned."